Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-05
ARomnnee or one Orusaders.

leAhs olitinRs.
We doubt much that anything more
thrilling than the conduct of the lead.
erS of the Crusaders at the siege of
Antioch can be found in the pages Of
Virgil or Homer.
The Crusaders stood in grim battle
array under the fortified walls of
Antioch, anxiously awaiting the signal
to attack. Godfrey encourages his
Knights TO noble deeds OF valor. But
who shall be first to climb the
storming ladders II is a risky pro
ceeding to climb that ladder, for on TOP
OF the wall stands the Saracen chief.
Dennis 0lToole, posing a brick, while
around him, with clubs and revolvers
in their hands, are Tim Sullivan, Mike
McCool, John Kelly. Mike 0'Raferty,
Parnel, Cardinal MeGlosky, and a loi.
more of the Paynim hurdles, who are
suffering to get a fair glance at Sir
Godfrey, Peter the Hermit, Don
Quixoto de la Mancha, and other
noble knights.
Sir Godfrey takes hold Of the ladder
With both hands to ascend the dreaded.
path to death, when a voice was heard
from the ranks:
:! say, Colonel, don't carry off that
ladder"
The taunt was uumerited, for Sir
Godfrey was not that kind of a knight.
never having been a member OF any
Legislature whatever. There was no
danger Of him stealing that ladder,
Tor he only took hold of it to steady it
for the darned fool who really wanted
to go up. The paynim on the walls
redoubled their bowls of defiance. Sir
Godfrey de BouiIlon was about to say
something, when half a brick, hurled
by Cardinal McClosky and caromed on
the helmet Of the grandest knight Of
his day.
"Sir Godfrey" exclaimed Robert de
Flanders, "let me climb the ladder. |
used to be a clerk in a dry goods
store, and know all about the step
ladders. | have a wife in Chicago, ii
she hasn't got a divorce since We left
that seaport, aud as she's not so very
ugly, and | have an accident policy
for $1,000 in a good company, | reckon
she will find another husband without
much trouble or expense, so let me be
the first to go up the dreaded path to
DEATH"
Muttering a silent im~precation,
Robert dc Flanders cleuched his
teeth, grasped the ladder with both
hands, and was about to climb, when q
loud, manly voice called out:
"Forbear, Sir Count Fulcard
holds him back. Fulcard is a young
man without kith or kin, brave as 4
circus lion.j Listen to me, Sir Count
Thou art the son of st. George Thy
admiring brother knights honor thee
with glorious name, and were we Ia
lose thee we would not know where "a
find thee, or anybody to take your
place in running the business. If |
fall, none viii bewail my fate, for the
only friends | have at home in New
York are my creditors who have lonQ
since given up all hope of my ever dc
olaring a dividend. In Heavens name
Sir Count, | implore thee pervoli me
not, for | nm the bully boy with a glasi
eye, having been q member Sof a New
York fire company,and by my halidome
among you Paynlm miscreants | per
ceive Mike Donahoe, who used tc
be on the police force under Captain
Williams, and who dubbed me one
might when | was coming home late
and tired from an oyster supper with
Jim Bennett and Tom Oohiltree
Allow me to climb this ladder and
erect a mansard roof over his left
optic"
Give way, Sir Count Allow Sil
Fulcard his request" pleaded the
knights,
"Ill give you a boss write up il