Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-04-19

hdS lOO
Peter Croly was one of those men
who boast loudly of their bravery in the
presence of those who are weaker than
! themselves, but whose Wanted courage
Vanishes like mist before the morning
! breeze when they meet those who are
| stronger.
But this was not the end of the affair.
l was telling the Pelters of the Incl
dent that evening, when Mrs. Pelter
remarked that the ne1gn6orhooa had
never been a peaceable one since the
Croly family moved into it, and that she
would be very glad to have them leave
She had scarcely finished speaking,
when the door opened and in marched
big, red-faced woman, whom I had
never before seen, but Immediately
recognized by the strong resemblance to
ner III-tavored son. Without stopping
to speak to any one, she planted herself
directly in front of me.
''Be's you the schoolma' amp" she
asked.
81 am" I replied.
"What d'you try to kill my boy for?"
Without giving me time to reply, she
proceeded to abuse, growing more ex-
cited every moment.
''Well, let me tell you," she continu-
ed, shaking her ponderous fist in such
close proximity to my nose, that it made
me tremble for the future existence of
that useful ornament, ''people needn't
think they're going to beat my boy to
/ OF of oil Toe
till my man gifts home; he's comm
Saturday; he'll burn your dirty old
school-house over your head! Dye
hear what say?" she shrieked.
made no reply to this abuse, as I
considered it useless to do so. So far
she had made no use of profane Ian
guage, but at this juncture she broke
into fearful storm of oaths; swearing
in the most shocking manner at me, at
Mrs. Pelter for permitting me to remain
in her house, and at the children for
going to school to such mean woman,
who did nothing but murder people.
Mr.. Pelter was absent, but George, q
tall, slim boy of sixteen, rose indignant
| ly from his seat, and told the woman he
would not permit such language used
in his fathers house. He told her she
had better take herself off.
| This threw her into greater passion
than ever; she seized the boy by his
coat-collar and shook him as if he had
no more weight than an infant.
'Tu have none of yer sass, young
mani" she screamed. "Jest keep yef
tongue in yer head, will YEP" and with
another terrific shake, she let the dazed
and bewildered boy go.
Still shaking her fist in an angry
manner, she backed out of the door,
saying she was going to catch that Lou
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
Monroe, and teach them not to beat her
boy. But the boys, knowing what to
expect, kept well out of her way, and
she never had the satisfaction of wreak-
| ING her vengeance upon them.
There was considerable excitement in
the neighborhood, lest damage should
be done to property in the night time by
old Mr.. Croly, who was desperate
character and had, previous to his COM
ing into the neighborhood, served two
terms in the penitentiary.
Four boys = George Pelter, Louis
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
Monroe-laid secret plan to sleep
nightly in the school-house, expecting it
TO be set on fire, and determined if pos
| Bible to catch the culprit in the very
act About nine o'clock on the evening
after Croly returned, they crept to the
building, provided with ropes and
| blankets,-the former touse in securing
their prisoner, and the latter to serve as
bed.
The situation was novel and pleasing
to the boys, because it was so wholly
unlike anything they had ever partici-
pated in before. The time was passed,
until sleep overcame them, in telling
stories and relating anecdotes they had
either heard or read.
About twelve o'clock of this same
night Lou Tompson, who was very
| light sleeper, was awakened by low,
| crealing noise, as of some one trying
to raise a window, softly.
He quickly aroused his companions,
who were on the alert in an instant.
a moment later a sound was heard,
as of some light bundle thrown into the
room. Then they were sure they heard
a man trying to draw himself throsgh
| the window.
1t was an unusually dark night, and
nothing could be discerned at YARDS
distance. To judge by the sound of the
mans footsteps, he had moved to the
farther corner of the room and was
making a slight rustling noise.
''He's brought some shavings along"
George whispered in low key.
''Hush!' whispered Charley, and
nothing more was said.
Suddenly there was a flash of very
bright light, shooting up nearly to the
ceiling.
With a bound and yell the four
boys sprang toward the man, whose
form was now plainly visible in the
glaring light.
Without even stopping to look around
he made frantic leap, and succeeded
in getting part way out of the window,
when John, who was foremost, seized
him by the legs and pulled him back so
that he fell with heavy thud on to the
floor.
He fought like tiger, but was soon
bound hand and foot. Lou Tompson
extinguished the flames while George
| Pelter ran home after his father team,
with which he soon returned.
The boys placed their prisoner in the
wagon and conveyed him to the house
of Mr.. Pelter. from whence he was taken
to the nearest town the following day,
where summary justice was dealt out to
him.
The remainder of the Croly family
left the neighborhood a few days after,