Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-19
POLE RAISINal
A Garfield Pole that Wouldn't Go Cp-Tho
Ropes Break. tho Tackle Breaks
and the Splice Breaks
Some scenes and
Inn aaafs

1t had been gwen out with great |
flourish of trumpets that an immense
Garfield pole would be raised in front of
Louis Ziegler's hotel, East King street.
The demonstration was to be crushing it |
was intended that it should paralyze the |
Democracy of the Third ward who had |
week before raised a superb pole on the |
opposite side of the street. AS the Gar |
field men could not hope to find 4 pole
that would ''top" the Democratic pole
with any more hope of success than they
could find a candidate the peer Of the
stately Hancock, they resolved to put up
patched pole, half Grant, half Blaine
half Hog Ring and half Bull Ring. Sothey
got two trees and spliced them and, as
the sequel proved, the union of the Oppos-
ing pieces Of timber was just about as sub
stantial and homogeneous as the opposing
factions of the Republican party.
All day Saturday gang Of the faithful
were Oh the ground splicing the pole, dig
ging the hole, making wise suggestions,
drinking beer and chuckling among them
selves at the great victory they were going
to have over the Democracy, not only in
the length of their patched pole but in
the ease and celebrity with which it was to
be put up.
Said the Ner Era
A magnificent Garfield and Arthur pole
will be raised this evening, in front OF
Louis Zie.lers hotel, on East King street,
and we venture the prediction that there
will he no failure about it, as was the case
with the Democratic pole, on the other
side of the street. Music will enliven the
occasion and there will also be addresses.
Let there be a full turnout Of Republi-
cans.
The Examiner also called upon the
faithful to turn out in their majesty.
That there might be no mistake about it,
Bill Beard councilman for the Second ward,
was appealed to, to furnish the lifting ap-
plances of the Pennsylvania railroad COM
pany. Hundreds of yards of cable, and the
strongest and most approved kind Of block
and tackle were brought into rcquisitiOn.
That the pole-raising might not pass off
without all the cclat and circumstance
that SO grand an event demanded, the
Millersville band was hired to parade the
streets, to beat their drums and tOOt their
horns, and gather together a great crowd.
They were measurably successful and by
the time the managers had arranged their
block and tackle, their shears, their bob
props, jim-poles, boat-hoOks, &c., there
was quite crowd present, including every
Republican national, state and county Off
Ger, from the postmaster down to the jani-
tor of the courthouse.
1t was difficult to ascertain who was
boss on the occasion. Councilman Beard,
the railroad carpenter, was there and look
| cd as though he ought to be boss. Pro-
thOnotary McMellen, the great bridge
builder, was giving orders here and there
as though he were chief. Register Edgerley
moved about in a fussy sort of way, show
ing that he meant business. County
Treasurer Croft was happy as a clam, gave
sage advice how to pull the ropes Che has
been there and knows all about it), and
promised to make speech to the boys as
soon as the pole was up. Ex-Strcet Com
missioner Pete Fordney lowered above
his fellows like real general. Jake
Halbach, the great hydraulic engineer, i'll
sisted Oh showing to the multitude that he
knew thing or two besides pumping
water. John w. Mentzer of the Hog
Ring, the little Napoleon Of the Bull Ring,
Josh. Lyte and Ad. Dellet of the Eromin-
cr, the fugitive poet Of the Ner Era, Jake
Barr, alderman, and host of other wor-
thies were in attendance, vigorously if not
skillfully experimenting the job.
Everything being in readiness, the word
was given, and ''up she went I: little.
"Now all together, and up she goes
little more. "Heave-Oh heave-oh ~ and
the rope breaks, letting the pole fall and
scattering about a hundred stalwarts all
over the street.
Oaths, imprecatiOns, quarrcls among the
bosses, and a general confusion of tongues
followed. More ropes were brought into
requisition, the tackle was again adjusted,
made. The pole was raised to an eleva-
tion of about 80 degrees, and a pair of
heavy shears was got under it not far from
the splice, which began to show evident
signs of weakening. Bill Beard was heard
to say, apprehensively, g the blank thing
will break" but nobody paid any atten-
ton to him, and he went away disguised.
"Pull, boys, pull'' was the command, and
''Up she goes" was the answer. Just then
it was ascertained that the butt of the pole
positively refused to slip into the hole,
and showed a disposition to plow hOri-
zontal furrow in the direction of the cOun-
ty prison. Capt. McMellen seized a crow
bar. John w. Mentzer seized pick, and
half dozen others grabbed hold of heavy
levers and worked like beavers to direct
the butt of the pole into the hole. But it
was mo go.' At last somebody in the
crowd yelled out Soap! soap"' and in
less time than it takes to tell it, a messen-
ger was on the ground with a whole arm
full of soap-probably part of Tom Cocli-
rams state Senate soap, about which the
Ner Era had something to say lately The
soap was applied literally to the butt of the
pole and the planks against which it rest
ed, but it wouldn' slip. Elbow grease was
again applied, and again the ropes broke,
sending the workers sprawinS on the
ground in Il long line.
1t was now limited that perhaps the
ropes had been tampered with by the
Hancock Copperhcads, scores OF whom
were present and looking on with grinning
countenances. The broken ropes were
carefully examined, but no sign of a cut
<.l,,JJ l>o c,,u6 Nay anI ctrnnUor rnpoc