Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-20
BEN FARGO'S CLAIM.
BY TOM p. MORGAN.

''runnlng of OF the hrst issue OF the New
Boston Clarion had been successfully ac-
complished.
The first number of the Clarion was not
imposing in appearance, but its editor re-
garded it with as much pride and salts
faction as if it had been huge "blanket
sheet" instead of being small almost to
insignifcance, consisting of but two pages,
each eight by twelve inches in size, with
three columns to the page. This was as
large as could be printed on the jObber,
the only press that Mr.. Small possessed
Just then, owing to his having become
''late of Jack Oak" so suddenly. His
stay at the last-named place had not been
an extended one, but it had been full of
experience for Mr.. Small, then late of the
East. Among other things he had learned
that in border settlements Boom is abso-
Lutte monarch, and that even journalism,
which possibly in the "effete East" may
mold public opinion and make and un-
make whom it will, must be subservient
to King Boom. This had been forcibly
impressed upon him by a self-appointed
committee of wrathful citizens. The
course of his paper had been such that the
failure of a certain cherished enterprise
for the advancement of the boom was laid
to his charge, and Mr. Small speedily ac-
quired added journalistic experience. He
had been visited by this committee, who
dumped his large press into the creek, and
gave the molder of public opinion ten
hours in which to leave the country for
ever.
Half of that time had scarcely elapsed
before the editor had loaded his jobber
and other material on to wagon, and
placed the county line between himself
and the unappreciative settlement. He
had gone to New Boston with his job
press and augmented experience, and had
found welcome from its citizens, who
considered newspaper one of the requi-
sites of an embryo "city," which hope
fully felt itself already big with a pros
pective boom. Now intrenched behind
his recently acquired experience, Mr.. H.
P. Small felt that ne was in no danger of
becoming ''late of New Boston," He
pridefully regarded his salutatory, which
occupied one entire side of the little
Clarion. 1t declared the determination
of the paper to be found at all times
wholly for the advancement of New Bos-
ton and the boom. In it the editorial
1--WE" appeared generous number OF
times and to the whole was appended the
editors name, 'Hercules P. Small"
The salutatory apologized for the in
fantile proportions of the paper, worked
in pleasantly in regard to the journal
istic infant having plenty of room in
which to grow, and promised much for
the next issue, when the new press should
arrive. A paragraph said that the press
was already on the way, and was expected
to arrive almost Immediately. Even then,
in all probability, it had been turned over
to the freighters at Metropolis, where the
railroad ended. The reverse of the Clarion
presented an editorial laudatary of New
Boston, column of complimentary men
tionings of prominent, well-known and
prosperous citizens-the adjectives i'm
! partially distributed-and several items
of news. Said one of these:
"Just as we go to press we learn that
Ben Fargo's claim has been jumped again
Ben's return is expected to-day or to
morrow, when we predict that he will
attend to the eviction in his usual promp
and thorough manner. We will chronicle
particulars in our next issue"
No fault could have been found witt
this item, except perhaps that it nigh
have been a little indefinite to the I'm
initiated reader. New Boston fully under
stood it, and had heard the news eve,
before it reached Editor Small. An;
taught by the past, when Mr.. Cyru
Hickson, the mail-carrier, brought th'
news, the settlement felt already appriset
Of what would follow.
"Who's jumped in this time9" asket
Colonel Pride, as Cy Hickson retailed tn
news to the ''prominent" citizens loung
ing on the porch of the Eureka Genera
Store.
"Dun know" answered the mail
carrier. "Didn't stop to find out; but
seed enough as I rid past to know tina
Ben Fargo's claim was jumped agin
Smoke was comm out o the shack, an
a scan 'lous-lookin' linch-pin wagin an
pair O rickety ole mules was standin
, by"
, "Waal," predicted Colonel Pride
3 "about five minutes after Ben gifts there
them rickety mules III be pullin' tha
scandalous-lookin' wagon away from tha
7 claim at double-quick time"
: "You bet" agreed some one "Ben
got SOS he don't let 'em stay long,"
"'Pears like Ben Fargo's claim is ALT
bein' jumped" said another.
, eyes; an unjumped, so to speak, jul
rs Often" spoke Colonel Pride. "It ust
to be that he'd try strategy or moral SUI
sion, but now he comes to the point {
once"
"Had to laugh, th'other day, as I WI
5 ridin' past" said Mr.. Cy Hickson. "Fe
Ter from Mizzury d jumped the claim th
! lime, an was maxim himself as comf'ab
rs you please, bakin' johnny-cake
Ben's skillet an over the fire he kindlt
. from the Goals Ben d left early in Il
mornin' Five minutes to git yo1
Johnny out O. my skillet, says Ben. TT
I, year 1901 will find me right yere,' sa
. Mizzury Says Ben: This is my clair
an 'Mcbby 'twuz fore jumped il
:. broke in Mizzury, turnin' over the john
t cake. yes, N twill be agin soon's W
6 anjlmp it, which III be In bout thr
minutes saJs Een. Crack yer Whi--