Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-02-21
Ben Buffers Bridge.
low Massachusetts, New Governor Made th(
Most Marrow Escape of His Life,

MOST NARROW ESCAPE OF ais Lille.
The recent triumph of Ben Butler and
the clever devices with which he neu-
tfalized the effects of the ''splits" in his
own ranks. says Derrick Dodd in tho
San Francisco Post, recalls an incident
ofsthe Generals early career, and which
NinterestiDg as showing that even in
bis youth Ben displayed those strategic
abilities which have since done so much
tor his military and political career.
it appears that young Butler was
Much enanlored of pretty girl who
Hsed on farm about six miles fron
Nat Of the Butler family in the western
part Of Massachusetts. The country
beauty was coquette, however, and
kept quite large train Of admirers in
suspense, each rival doing his best to
gain the advantage of the others. At
ls-s matters were brought to climax,
and the damsel appointed certain
night when she would render her final
decision as to which sui,or she pre-
ferred.
1t goes without saying that they
were all better looking than Ben, but
the latter determined 10 put the inside
of his head against the outside Of those
of his opponents. The nearest way to
the fair ilirts house. and the one taken
by all her eager followers, was over q
bridge formed by a single and some-
what slippery log placed across q deep
brook in the rear of the house. Young
Butler repaired to this bridge an hour
earlier than the accustomed "courtin'
time carrying n pail of lard with
which he carefully annointed the log by
the mellow moonlight, backing himself
across it astraddle.
As he afterwards sat with his sweet
heart, waiting for the other suitors to
appear, a loud splash came from the di-
rection of the brook. Bcn's game eye
twinkled. and in imagination he could
see one of his gorge0usly gotten up fell
low candidates climbing up the oppo-
site bank with his teeth chattering and
heading for home across lots. but the
conspirator looked RS innocent as cat
in the dairy and said nothing.
Pretty soon there came another soiise,
and after awhile another. The beauty
began to look at the clock and show ev-
licences Of decided pi4ue at the negli-
gence of her other admirers-a circum-
Staucc Dcu ulu uOt loll W tuTU W Ills
own profit.
Presently he could family hear voices
in the distance, and he knew that the
last two swaius were approaching to-
gether. Pretty soon came tremen-
dous double splash.
"Dear me-" said the young lady,
chow the fish are jumping to-night"'
The upshot of it was that when the
future governor rose to 20 the slighted
beauty gave him her hand. Sealing
the bargain with an old-fashioned husk-
ing bee kiss, Butler left his prize in such
state of exultation that he forgot all
about the CREASED log, and the first
thing he knew both heels hit him in the
back of his head and he took header
down below. just as his victims had
DONE He climbed up the already WELL
clawed bank and made six miles to
meme, uttefing. Kcarneyisms unfit for
publication. He was taken with chills
and fever as n result, and, when he got
well, found his fiancee had eloped with
hired man. Butler tells this as the
narrowest escape of his life, as he says
the girl began eating onions the very
next day after she became engaged.
The General has been lucky ever
since.