The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-07-23
FIGHTING ROWDIES.
THE QUIET, iNoFFENsivE MAN CAME
OUT ON TOP, HOWEVER.

One Of this stories Of the Dell House Of
the Wisconsin Kiyer-Names Of Bad
Men That Have become FIXED Trsdf.
lions In Old Logging Camps.
Near the dells Of the Wisconsin rive,
stands an old house, once famous among
the riyermen az place Of revelry, q har.
Dor for fugitiyes from the pioneer justice
Of the time and . place where physical
prowess WAS the one safeguard OF purse
and person. A good many stories cling ia
the spot. and any good guide can tell OF
battles that chill the blood of the summer
tourist, for in the days when the Dell
House was at its best great RATS OF logs
went down the river iD charge Of gangs OF
men who drank and swore and fought like
all the pirates In Algiers.
Once upon time, 80 the guide will tell
you, Bill Endsen came down with a raft OF
pine from the upper woods, and before
pushing through the narrow gorge now
called THE Dells," he tied up at the Dell
House and told his men they might stay
over night. Among the crew was one
fnDtsore. u bully who bad beaten half the
men la the party. and only waited a proper
opportunity before taekiing old Bill End
sen himself. and although old Bill had for
years been called the best man on the river.
he was afraid OF the savage raftsinan, who
fought 50 like tiger aud whose passion
was never stated until his victim was IN
conscious. Bill had decided that IL ever
trouble did arise botween them he would
kill Flintsore with an Ak rather than meet
him hand to hand
Sitting In one corner Of the Dell House
when the noisvcrew came laughing and
swearing In at the door, sat a short, square
man, with rather large bundle on the
noor beside him. He paid no attention to
the men, and at first they allowed him TO
pass nnnoticei. But rs liquor stirred their
blood they grew more boisterous and in
vited him TO join them. He declined. and
again they gave him some moments of
peace. After awhile the widest raf,er In
the party came over to the corner and
asked the quiet man what he had la his
bundle. lie declined to answer. simply
saying IL WAS his own and that he was tak
ing II down 10 Madison. The rafter WAS
angry and he amused himself by standing
across the room and tossing empty bottles
al the mo,ionless bundle.
TEASING TIE OLD Man.
You stop that" yelled old Bill Eudsen
THE man is not bothering us, and we
won't bother him"
But We will" said FIintsorc, who had
not yet seen so good an opportunity To
quarrel with his rival. Words could but
lead 10 blows with these men. They WEIR
nnarmed, and there WAS no chance for
i,osiponeineni. They stepped outside on
the level, grassy plat of ground and en-.
gage! in u battle which is still remem
hercd by the pioneers. They rolled over
on the ground: they sent In heavy blows:
they kicked, wres,led. bit and gouged till
Old 1911 Was utterly BEATEN and lay de-
ienseless against the brutal blows that fell
upon him.
Fliaisdr~ desisted at last, and the q, her
rsertnen took the victim to the river and
washed his wounds.
Then fhnt>ore went into the house and
approached the quiet man. who alone had
not followed the fighters outside and
watched them.
Now. wha; you got in tina, bundle,' he
demanded.
NO matter what I've eo,," returned the
shoff man ITS none OF your business"
Then you get up and fight"
We'll, you take an hour TO res, up and
Will Eight you" responded the quiet man;
'ANN tNfNAt W as hhHt ia liN eye WHICH DFStfE-
iss'd he would keep his word. You take
nn hour 10 rest up Then VIC will 90 In
the cellar together. lock the door inside
and throw the key GU, through the bars
After that, God have mercy on the weaker
man"
Flintsore was Wild with delight. Here
was chance for two good fights In one
day. lie took a drink To his own good
luck, and then stretched out GU, ON the
floor and waited
When the hour was up the ouie; man
cast one long look At his still ino,iouless
bundle, stripped 10 his shirt and les; the
way 10 the cellar. The basement, was
walled with rock. The door was heavy and
strong. The windows were barred with
iron. The foor Wa earth
IN THE CELLAR TOGETHER
They locked the door tossed the kew nh,
through the grating and moment later
the cro~ding rircrmen outside knew the
light had begun They could see little
through the bars. They pressed their faces
against the window, climbing upon each
other Tor vantage point, Till the only air
passage was chokcd. and the men inside
fought in poisoned atmosphere.
They were there scarcely twenty min.
uies Then the man who had been oui,,
came TO the window and calmly asked for
the key. Aside from him there WAS no;
a sound In the cellar. lie unloctei the
door and they crowded in There in the
middle Of the floor lay Flinisure bound
hand and foot. gagged almost beyond the
point OF breathing, and stripped naked.
The tough clothing which had covered
him now held him a disgraced prisoner.
" hen he had been freed the men asked
him IL he wanted 10 try il again,
mo, said he humbly. That man held
me with one hand, He knocked me down |
wanted to. | couldn't touch |
him. And II tried to clinch he downed |
me and fell on me. My ribs are broken,
Ny heart hurts"
The quic, man still sat in his corner.
do you mind telling us who you are," |
asked one of the raftsmcn politely.
ut don't make any difference who am" |
said the man, but, IL IL will interest YOU |
any. will tell you | make a pretty good |
living as fighting man. This little bun |
lie you have asked me about is my baby, |
My wife died up at l.iston and am going |
% Madison to leave the baby with my
mother, II any Of you men want lessons |
n boxing when come back will accom-.
nodate YOU"
Bill Endsen and Flintsore are historical
characters up and down the Wisconsin.
But the man who was better than either
u them is unknown to this day-ChioaSo
Herald.
A History Worth $4,000.
Perhaps the most remarkable achieve
neut in the WAY pf pr;yato ;lln,,ra,;, |