Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-07-16

the hands of his friends He had at last
consented to endure the honor thrust
upon him.
Gessler was elected by a large maiori-
ty, but his political course was sharply
criticised from the start by the Opposi-
ton. He wanted to pave the streets Of
Uri with asphalt, while the opposition
was in favor of cedar blocks peeed.
This led to a bitter fight, with the Cess
Ter faction on one side and the chamois
pronounced shammy) chascrs 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 notched stick at forty PAGES. Bill
was singularly handsome young man
with q lurid glow of red, silken JO-Jo's
that had never yet felt raZOr's edge,
and pair of sturdy legs slightly dished
from hunting ShammieS on the hillSideS.
On account of his personal appearance
and skill as a 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 meeting for the furtherance of
their cedar block scheme.
Three young men of Ruth, MGssrS.
Stauffacher, Furst, and MeIchthal, re-
sponded, and together with BIZ they
held an Indignation meeting in the UNI
derbrush on the banks of Lake Lucernc
near UntcrWalden.
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 other S
hands, so they raised them to the limit.
When morning dawncd they had fully
made UP their minds to oppose the ad,
ministratiOn and GeSsler's asphalt schen G
on the gro md that he stood in with the
contractor Of course Gessler heard Of
this He said he would show the Tell
gang what was what. SO he placed his
hat on a pole in the market place at Alt
dorf, and said that whosoever 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 d cold day whom any road com
missioner rung in his little bluff on him.
SO, taking William Henry Tell, years
old, going on 10, by the hand, he went
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 fro en- smile that he had
learned in the political arena
"Hello, Cess, old man." replied Bill,
short and curt-like and without once
looking at the poe.
He knew his business.
"Your little boy?" observed the asphalt
advocate, as he gently chucked the kid
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 all
that vast asscmblage he alone was in it.
Clearing his throat and jerking his
thumb toward the pole the indomitaDle
Bill spoke up in c ear, cold tones
excuse me, Mr.. Gessler, but where
did you get that hat?"
Naturally Gcssler 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 to