Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-17
n. .im, .heu tbs e1pee.ed ....el would

the time When INC e PeS~ ~S-s 80
Thronsb the peep-holss which had been
Made nv boring holes through the casings
~ x;ndovs and doors constant watch WAS
Ie pt from early dawn until about cloGa,
when the word was whispered, nsre hs
comes." A hush so profound you coaia
have heard q pin drop at once successes,
only 10 be broken by the turning VI .nS
kew in the lock. After trying the doI snv ~
finding il fastened he made the ROUNDS y.
the house, trying each shutter IN turn, oat
Ending ali fast he quietly Withdrew ieas-
inc ms in suspense as to his future move
Movements. So long was he gone thar tho
watchers tired out, left their posts, and
Jo,.ea the Circle Rsusd the Fire.
where various coniectures were %,
dne One thought be bad gone
for beln. another he had gone for
an are md third that he had gone Tor
GOOD and left us to starye ourselves out.
and for long time this last appeared " %
a fact, "a il was nearly dark and ne nad nos
: returned, but suddenly the chimney sexes
as II IL had changed ends, a. the smoke CINE
INTO the chimney, with eyes turned up, VS.
soon withdrawn and the fact announces
that the top was closed. A seat was soon
snlit 10 pieces, but il was found on trying
that the fire. place was too low 10 admit
s,icl long enough 10 reach the top, and the
fire had TO be put out to keep II frorn shloto-
eripe us. This made US feel little blue,
as the temperature outside was below tteeL
ing point, and the cold soon began to % te.t
But short respite was allowed os.ofe the
assault. was continued from another guar
Ter. In the middle OF the ceiling was
scuttle hole leading to a trap, door IN .no
roof, but as il had been boarded over on ting
under side and white-washed, this weak
place in our detences had been.oSetIo NJ,
but the rafting OF the boards on the moo.
revealed the fact that the trap-door had
been forced and piece Of scantling useu
ss a batteripg. ram to force of the boardS,
for there stood the master with the. scant'
ling in his hand. with his face wreathed IN
grim smiles as he scanned the group below.
This " as but for moment and was toiloT-
ed by
The Appearance OF Baekets or water
which reached almost every one IN the
room, doucing MS completely sho
driving MS into the corners
TO escape the water. Seeing
this he attempted to descend into the room,
but here he rrckoned without his host, tof
the sticks which had been prepared TO push
the boards from the top OF the chimney
were quickly placed against TIE most
prominent part Of his body that resented
itself rs he was descending, feet foremost.
and he WAS hoist.d out 0n 70 the roof, fro
which he slid to the ground, fortunately
without injury. This closed the assault
for the night, leaving us to repair damages
as best We could. This We were not SLOW
to do, az soon as We were SATISFIED the
enemy bad drawn of. One of the boys was
helped UP through the scuttle 70 remove
tn. covering from the 'op Ut the chimney,
and We soon had rousing lire, whicn
wss most grateful as We were shiverins
With the cold. After the trap door
had been closed and as securely fastened as
possible, the hole In the ceiling WAS stuffed
with the ends Of the long benches used Tor
seats, by standing theR ON end. This NIGHT
VAS passed with .much less comfort than
the preceding night, owing to the dsmpness
and want OF the benches for beds, which
had been taken to stuff up the hole IN the
ceiling. So uncomfortable were we that oy
daylight the next morning the most Ot Us
were ready for an unconditional surrender,
hut "A the day advanced and Va had our
breakfasts, our courage rose TO the fighting
point, and We waited with impat'encs the
appearance of the master, who did not show
himself till after 10 o'clock. THIS gave Us
time to
Prepare 10 RepuIse Any Attack
that might he made from the same points ~
I ose of the day before. sticks - long As
would go in were got into the chimney snd
spliced after they were in until they were
long enough to reach the top. The benches
that filled the hole in the ceiling were last.
enrd together with cleais TO prevent their
being thrown down or drawn up through
the hole. With the master came two men
carrying heavy piece Of wood which they
brought to the door where they laid IL
down. The master then demanded imnle-
date admittance, threatening, in case Of re-
fusal, to patier down the DIOR. To resist
this benches were piled against II In I'D.
dition TO the cleats that were nailed across
il and the stone that were piled against IL,
and the boys with pointed sticks stood
ready to defend the opening should one DO
made.
After waiting a moment this ram was
brought To bear on the door, making things
crack This wns dona two ar three times,
but undoubtedly with no intention OF
bursting in the door, rs it, though good,
strong door, would not have withstood \
single stroke ifspplied in earnest with the
power Of three men. At this juncture the
master asked u parley and demanded our
terms. There were furnished In writing
and were for bushel Of apples. four gal.
Ions of cider. four full sheets Of ginger
bread and vacation till Monday following
New Yesrs. After reading. and apparently
considering the matter for some time, he
promised TO give US an answer
The Next Day.
This was evidently TO worry rs little
longer, hut as We could not force the fight
ing we had To accept the time. dssgreesble
as II was, though satisfied our terms would
be completed with. The next day the
master was even more tardy than the day
before. as II WAS high noon when he came
and agreed To the conditions, only stipulat-
ing that 1t should DO share and share alike,
he with us, which was cheerfully agreed "
on our part, and 70 ends the siege.
One reason why the writer thinks the
custom originated as = pss,ima Is that for
some years Of bis early chiidhood the mas
ters took It all in good part. aud tas sGmts
they made were mere make believes" a.
PAS the case in the above instance, and not
serious efforts. II was well undestood,
however, that II the master canIs of COZ.
queror be ", uld exercise the privileges Of
y coB9ueror and punish nj will. The cu+
tom, before iis abandon ment, becaips very
obnoxious " the masters and wss1oOked
upon ~ the greatest insult that could be
offered them. PfoSxER.