The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-10-07
HIGH HANCOCK JOKE AT MINERVA,


On Thursday morning last week the Republi'
cans at Minerva were Oonfounded at seeing near
the top Of their 100 feet Garfield pole stTeamer
waving several feet above the Garfield streamer
with the word HANCOCK plainly inscribed.
Very naturally indignation in the hearts OF the
hearts Of the faithful; and, while they blamed
the Democra is that they had Tor so many years
abused and imposed upon the wonder grew how
In the world the Hancock streamer ever got there
Climbing the pole to that height was simply Inn
possible; and 1t really looked as II some power
from above had performed the miracle.
The indignation soon took shape and 1t was
determined that that Hancock streamer must
come off that pole even II they had to take the
pole down. Preparations were soon made 10
lower II so that some one from the top OF bulld'
iug could reach that wicked Hancock streamer
and tear down that Haunting flag"
Before setting to work however, Mr. Walter
shipe, Democrat, stepped up and told them not
to take the pole down, that he would find man
to take 1t Off without disturbing the pole. He
said he was satisfied the matter was done in a
joke, and not with any view Of interfering with
their rights or creating animosty or trouble. They
treated Mr.. shipe very curly and intimated they
neither wanted Democratic advice or help In the
matter. The pole was accordingly lowered and
that Hancock sreamer jeTked off and ttrn to
shreds with malicious Joy. The pole was up
again and all righr before noon.
The feeling however, did not at once subside,
and IN the afternoon Mr. Waiter shipe said to the
Republicans of the town that he wanted no i'll
feeling to grow out OF the joke, and he would tell
them all about it, They gave him listening ears,
and he then told them that he himself did i.with'
out assistance or help from any one, and that 1t
was done as joke and he had 1t so arranged thas
without climbing the pole he could have taken 1t
down.
1t seems Mr.. shlpe, about clock in the morn
ing, with the sreamer aud its arrangements fixed
on the end of pine stick 16 feet long, climbed up
the pole till he could reach the desired tpot
several feet above the Garfield streamer and with
in four feet or so Of the top, He succeeded per
fectly only consuming about an hour in the ope'
ration II seems the fastening was several coils
OF strong wire, open at one side and kept open by
a small block OF wood By tapping on the pole
the block was finally knocked out and the wire
clasped the pole firmly, thus holding well and
gaily the Hancock streamer above that of Gar
field.
Mr.. shipe declared If he had supposed any bad
feeling would grow out of 1t he would not have
put it up. 1t still puzzles the Republicans never
theless, to understands how the tsrnal thing wal
done, 1t is a little cOmplexious and bother
umpticus. We hope 1t will not be done ag. in
for we know Of no place where the Republicans
would take such thing more seriously TO hear
than the intense DeGolyeI men Of Minerva. They
feel so bad over the result in Maine that thei
minds ought not to be racked just now with sucf
terrible confOunding surprises.