Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-24

the hands of his friends. He had at last
consented to endure the honor thrust
upon him.
Gessler was elected by a large majori-
ty. but his political course was sharply
criticised from the start by the opposi-
ton. He wanted to pave the streets OF
UTri with asphalt. while the opposition
was in favor of cedar blocks peeled.
This led to bitter fight, with the Cess
Ter faction on one side and the chamois
pronounced shammy) chasers on the
other. Among this latter crowd was
William Tell the bold archer of Burg
len, who could shoot a nickel off the end
of a notched stick at forty PAGES: Bill
was singularly handsome young man
with lurid glow of red. Slken .lo-Jo's
that had never yet felt a razors edge,
and a pair of sturdy legs slightly dished
from hunting shammies on the hllsides.
On account of his personal appearance
and skill as bow and arrow shooter,
Bill soon became the chosen leader of
the opposition. Decisive action was de-
cided upon. so on the night of November
II, thirteen days after the election, Bill
called a meeting for the furtherance of
their cedar-bloc scheme.
Three young men of Ruth, Mcssrs.
stauffacher, Furst and Melchthal, re-
sponded, and together with Bill they
held an indignation meeting in the un-
derbrush on the banks of Lake Lucerne
near lnterwalden.
All night long they sat in the BRUSH
says the historian, with their hands lift
ed to heaven. 1t was probably SO dark
that they couldn't see each others
hands, so they raised them to the limit
When morning dawned they had fully
made up their minds to oppose the ad-
ministration and Gessler's asphalt scheme
on the ground that he stood in with the
contractor. OF course Gesslcr heard of
this. He said he would show the Tell
gang what was what. So he placed his
hat on pole in the market place at Alt
dorf and said that whatsoever refused to
bow down to it would have to shoot an
apple off his little boys head. Then he
waited.
When Bill heard of this he said it
would be cold day when any road com
missioner rung in his little bluff Oh him.
/ So, taking William Henry Toll, o years
| down toward the poll Gessler was al
ready there, and when he saw Tell com
| ing he made up his mind to toy with his
| victim
"Ah, there, Bill, good morning." he
| said, smiling a frozen smile tina, he had
| learned in the political arena.
"Hello, Cess old man." replied Bill
| short and curt-like and without once
| looking at the pole.
He knew his business
your little boy?" observed the asphal,
advocate. as he gently chucked the kiG
| under the chin.
"Here, bub, have an apple" he said
producing the fruit.
AS the guileless infant reached for the
apple Bill realized that the supreme
moment of his life was upon him. He
glanced about the crowded market-place
Friend and foe looked on in passive
silence, and then Bill knew that of al
that vast assemblage he alone was in it,
Clearing his throat and jerking his
thumb toward the pole the indomitaple
Bill spoke up in Gear. cold tones:
"EX-cuse me, Mr.. Gessier, but where
did You get that hat?"
Naturally Gessler got hot, and who
could blame him? He instantly ordered
the target and the shooting came Off, the
details of which are too we'll known tc