The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-16
SOME STORIES BY THE WAY
Street Scene That Drew a .Crowd-Thrilling
Time with o Burglar Buried Alive
Watching a Pickpocket.

William H. Roll, the carpet merchant on
South Illinois street. is known also as a
very successful evan gelist. and his services
In that line are in great demand. especially
among the Methodisrs in various parts of
the State. so that he spends most of the
winter months In the work of an evangelist.
A year or two ago he received a letter of
inquiry from a Methodist Church about
six miles from Marion. After stating the
number of members and the fact that it
was located in q rich portion of the gas
belt. and the further fact that they very
much needed o revival. the letter asked if
bis services could be had. and when and on
what terms. as they did not wish TO con-
tract with o high-priced workman. In
answer he said that his terms were car
fare TO and from the place and comfortable
entertainment during the meeting, and
that If these terms were satisfactory be
would come for two weeks. beginning at
time given. He soon received answer that
his terms were acceptable and the
time mentioned satisfactory, and he
time ready for work. The first
SERVICES we're at night. INC mouse was Iull
and the congregation apparently entered
into the spirit OF the occasion while the
evangelist laid the foundation of two
weeks revival services. After dismissiDg
them they rushed forward to the pulpit to
shake him by the hand thank him for his
appropriate discourse, and TO express their
hope that great results would follow, and
then filed out of doors, leaving one lone old
dreadful silence with: well. ! reckon
you'll have TO go home with me-" II reckon
SOD replied Mr.. Roll, .'or stay alone all
night in the church" He went along with
to middling.' lacking, however. that best
part OF ENTERTAINMENT, a cordial welcome.
as IL the entertainer was as much accom-
modated as the entertained. The next
night the house wasfull again, and the peo-
pie were so delighted with the prospect of
q powerful revival that they all came
forward again TO shake hands with the
evangelist and speak words of encourage
ment to him. and then all fled out of
church. including his host of the former
night, leaving him alone with the ~janitor;
but just as he was debating In his
mind whether 10 walk SIX miles to the
hotel at Marion or to bunk alone for the
night In the church, his old friend, the
host of the preceding night. returned. and
walking slowly to the lonely evangelist.
said: Il reckon you will have TO 60 home
with me again tonight Il reckon so,r
said Mr.. Roll, "or sleep in the church, or
walk TO Marion" He went home "aginn
with the old man. although it was three
miles away and over the worst kind OF
after leaving word for the church that the
proper thing TO do was TO erect q wind
mill over the church and inscribe over the
doors: This church is run by wind" he
left for home. leaving them TO employ q
cheaper evangelist for the further prosecu-
ton of the hopeful revival. He was out of
pocket his railroad fare and four days
time, but he had gained some new and val
% ynhla axnariGnan What haaarna NJ chat
liberal church 10 not material TO the story.
One evening last week, just at 6 o'clock,
as the myriad stream of toiling humanity
was flowing MP Massachusetts avenue, its
vanguard was arrested at the corner Of
Delaware street by q hot exchange of words
coming from q man deep in the recesses of q
fashionable phaeton and a rather tough look
irg citizen seated on n garbage wagon loaded
with empty barrels. As those in front
fret checked their speed and then halted,
those following piled up against them. I'M
til the t~horoughfare was nearly filed
from curb To curb. and each was
asking his neighbor what the row was
about The vehicles. with their vitupera-
tive occupants. stood facing each other on
the left hand eide of tho avenue going up,
the Uhaeton headed towards town and the
garbage wagon with it's rear end in that
direction. From the former came a voice.
o little thick In its utterance: You don't
need TO think you can run over me just be-
cause y got trunks on Your wagon" who
in the blankity dash blank wants ter run
over yer old buggy replied the driver of
the load Of barrels; Git out of the
right side of the street. an
you're on the wrong side, an
you've got TO 60 over on tn other side of
the street an get out of tn way. or we'll
ANY DerQ till mOrnlntU cana hack and
the man in the phaeton squared his horse
around and backed his vehicle down
against the curb at right angles with II.
His opponent regarded this action for n
moment in silence, and then addressed the
crowd: Il has business on dis side o. de-
street. sect an If dat dutlsr thinks he can
have fun with me he's goin' TO get left. Pm
goin' after q pleecman. i am" tie jumped
down from his wagon. leaving 1t standing
In the middle of the road. and scurried
through the crowd. which gave ven to Its
appreciation In - rousing cheer Ihe be-
fuddled individual dismounted from his
phaeton and addressed himself TO the by
ISLANDERS. He wasn't going TO allow that
fellow To drive up the wrong side of the
street; ne was willing 10 stay there all
night. and when that policeman came he
would show that ragged Reuben of q STOP
driver that the aristocracy was not to be
imposed on. ana he punctured IL all with
sundry h~iccouehs and quotations from pro-
fame history. The policeman came, be saw
and the driver OF the phaeton went.
die didn't go the firsr time he was told. It
was rot until the policeman gently poured
in his ear the assertion that unless he was
gone in a few tiekings OF the clock he would
be run IN for drunk. that he sneaked into
his vehicle. gave his horse "a vicions cut.
and left the scene OF his defeat The ven
der OF everything that is Old mounted his
wagon and clicked To his horse. while the
crowd vigorously applauded him..
+
Ii is a peculiar feeling that creeps over q
man when no awakes about midnight and
finds q burglar making free with his
earthly possessions. A weii-known livery
man Of this city tells of an experience lie