The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-07-31
THE COLONEL


Tho phalanx Of solid business men.
comprising the bulk Of the member
ship Of Garfield Post No 3. Grand
Army Of the Republic. had regarded as
. downright grievance call TO attend
a meeting for the transaction Of special
business, appointed at the very inconvcn-
lent hour OF two in the afternoon.
They had responded to the order under
protest. taken part in the proceedings
with an distracted air. fumed at the
break in their daily routine. ostenta-
tiously consulted their watches with the
anxiety OF men who were neglccting inn
portant engagements. and when the
meeting at length adjourned gathered
into cory knots here and there, and
settled down for a comfortable chat and
the revival Of old army "reminiscences
The first speaker. lin Brewster. was
= lumber merchant who had acquired
extensive tracts Of land covered with
forest growth second only to the biz
trees IL the Calayeras and Marposa
groves lie hal 80 prospcred IN his
business ventures that his name had be-
come identified with the natural product
he ruled in the commercial world, and
he had gained the sobrlqnet Of the Prince
Of Re wood He had lately purchased
large piece Of land at the foot Of sixth
street, including within it, boundaries
that unsayory but classical region on
the banks OF Mission Creek known As
s.the dumps where the Italian scav-
engers had from time immcmorlal de-
posted the contents Of their carts, ana
raked the putrid and decaylng masses
OF paper. scraps Of old iron ana other
articles Of commerce. AS well a the
pieces Of plate beneyoleuily dropped
into the ash-barre by careless servants
Mission Creek. ut high tide, =
for considerable distance a naylgable
stream. and it was generally conceded
that Brewster's branch yard was .
shrcwd venture. and would soon turn
the tide Of traffic from the crowded thor
ouxhfare Of Steuart street Inc l'rincs
OF Redwood himself had felt all th'
glow Of prudent man complacencl
over thi, evidence of his own sagaclty
but stormy interview IN the under
writers Office that noon had d sturDe'
The serenity with which h. had hitherto
viewed lis new acquisition. Meeting
some old comrades. men 81 his owl
with him through the four years Of IN
Civil war. ne east aside The perplexitie
az the dav and plunged with eager zes
into the animased discussion Of pas
camrairns. in the course of which b
mad. the INQUIRY that heads this chal
Ter. The question was repeated ~ Q
echong chorus.
.i.ennir?' The speaker who voui
a itffIl
very agreeable and highly entertainir
class OF individuals who are common
accredited with the possession Of un
xersal knowledge. anu whose inform
Ton i about a. difuse and ineNact !
the average encyclopedias Of bltgraph
~ cnoir's wife died just before he y
mustered out In C5 Broke him all
Tor awhile. hut he rallied and we
down IL florida. invested in an oran
grove. and lived on the fat Of the land
He was an odd fellow Lenolr
remarked GRAY bearded Nctrr
Who endeavorcd a. reconcile hi pres
lection for powder and cold steel
ke.p:ng A run shop ia Bush street
odd, there wasn't noble. FELL
IN the service lie was hero. u e.
one existed Brewster spoke v
such unwonici energy that the oth
looked al him III surprise, ior nc
generally regarded a. rHirgmAtic
society and cola boosted IN hs Dusln
relations. lie cooled down little
he observed the sensation his rem'
had created. and exchanged his snt
sia~m for dry. argumentatlyc tone
You know | was a mere boy VINE
enlisted. Some Of our folks NJ
Lenoir; my mother spoke 70 nm
day we marched. and could
Won thing or two about the Colo
that none 81 YOU ever knew. m
going " gush over the man. but
may be interested TO hear ~ little
cident that happened in Eastern
n.-see. You remember July, y
when We marched through the MOI
aims and camped in narrow y
thex called kattlesnake Passg
George. shall never forget the r
a. the day OF my death; shut In
stecn rocky walls, loose sand NJ.
foot not green leaf OF blade 81
~ ~ seen. outside Of y scant r
fringe bordering the starvcllng y
thai tlickled along one side. ! noI
such things and cared more about
fhan the older men. When 10
The army was just turned clgh'
and chock-full 81 patriotic lire, ia
over the Justice Of our cause. amor
10 earn distinction. greedy for car
and boodShcd Cine year had q.
me- down IN wonderful way, anc
cause might have gone 70 ihunue
all cared that night. would
rclinquiShed the eoriesi battle that
was fought % be pack again On
meadowland knee deep IN the
cool Grass. driving the cows home