Bismarck weekly tribune., 1884-12-26
4 BATTLE OF GIANTS.
They Wanted the ..Fellow who Wrote
That Article
1Westem etter Il: syS:Ss

<SssssS ~
They Wanted the ..Fellow who Wrote
That Article 5s
Western letter. 4S Il:
About twenty-five years ago, when Ger.
tain western state was territory, and with
few inhabitants, young lawyer from New
York emig rated thither and settled in the
town of lis He had been there nearly
two years when he was induced to print q
weekly newspaper, of which he was the edi-
tor. Squire S. was very little man, but
he used the editorial I'VE" as frequently as
If there were dozen of him, and each as big
as q giant"
Strange to say, there were At that time
men in Office who were not q particle more
honest than they should be; thing which
probably never happened before, and never
will again. Squire S. felt all the patriotism
of q son of 76, and poured out grape and
canister against public abuses This soon
stirred hornets nest about his ears; but as
there was no other paper in the territory
there was no reply for time.
At length he published an article more se-
we're against malfeasance in office than any
that had preceded it. In fact, though it
pointed at no individual in particular, it was
"scorcher."
Some three or four days afterward he was
sitting alone in his editorial office, which was
about quarter of mile from the printing
estal l.shlnent. His pen was busy with
paragra:h h, when his door opened, and in
stalked a man about six feet in his stockings.
He asked: Are you s., the proprietor Of
this paper:' Thinking he had found a new
patron, the little man, with one OF his bland
est smiles, answered in the affirmative. The
stranger deliberately drew the last number
OF the paper from his pocket, and pointing to
the article against rosues in office, told the
affrighted editor that it was mtsndeu for
"him"
It was in vain that S. protested that he
had never heard Of him before. The wrath
of the visitor rose to fever heat, and from
being so long restrained boiled over with
double fury He gave the editor his choice,
either to publish very humble recantation
OF take fogging on the spot. Either al
tentative was wormwool, but what could
he do? The enraged office-holder was twice
his size, and at one blow would qualify him
for an obituary notice. He agread to re-
tract; AMI as the visitor insisted upon writ
ing the resraction he himself sat down to
the task Squire S. made an excuse to walk
to the printing office, with g. promise he
would be back in season tn sign it as soon as
it was finished.
S. had hardly gone fifty yards when he
encountered man who inquired where
Squire SIS office was and ii he was at
home. Suspecting that he too was on the
same erranl as the other visitor, he pointed
to the office and told him he would find the
editor within, writing a most abusive arti-
Gle against office-holders. This was enough.
The eyes of the newcomer flashing fire, he
rushed into the Office and assaulted the
stranger with the epithets, "liar, scoundrel,
coward" and told him he would teach him
how to write.
The gentleman, supposing it was some
bully sent there by the editor, sprang to his
feet, and a fight ensued. The table was up
set and smashed into frewood, the contents
of large jug of ink stood in puddles on the
floor, the chairs had their legs and backs
broken beyond the skill Of surgery to cure
them. This seemed only to inspire the COM
batants with still greater fury. Blow fol-
lowed blow with the rapidity of lightning.
First one was kicking OH the floor, then the
other, each taking it in turn pretty equally.
The ink on the floor found its way to their
faces, till both Of them cut the most ludi-
crous figure imaginable.
Inc noise ana uprOar were tremendous.
The neigh!ors ran to the door and exclaimed
with astonishment that two niggers were
fighting in Squire SIS office. None dared
separate them. At length, completely ex-
hausted, they ceased fighting. The circum-
stances Of the case became known, and the
next day, hardly able to sit on horseback,
their heads bound up, they started home
ward, carrying with them the most striking
evidences Of their attempt to redeem their
honor