Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19

1t Went Plump into the Fire and the
Boys Scattered at Daylight.

Boys Scattered at Daylight.
From the New York Sun
Versailles and l." said Col Watkins Of
the south and west several rights ago, are
strangers now. 1t Is a beautiful town. right
in the heart Of the Kentucky blue grass,
and its whisky is as mellow as old sherry
Business took me there three or four times
year until two years ago. That was q
night for you! Some of the old gang had
the nerve to return to town after that
nights racket. / never did: heard there
was an indictment loafing around the court
house for me, and havea found 1t neces-
sary to go back. Never knew exactly what
started the gang that night, except It was
In the air. There may have been as lively
crowd of young men in many other towns
that have visited. but I have never found
them. Versailles was always q picnic for
me.
IAN the young men In town who amount
ed to anything were members Of the TIRE
company; there was only one such orGapi-
ration, and 1t was the proud possessor OF
an oid-fashioned side-bar pump engine. 1t
was dandy. and when the foreman stood
on II and urged rhe boys to whoop IL UP
they made the old machine creak. But i m
getting ahead Of my story. On this night
the members Of this engine company-any
versailles man now can len yoa its name
were out for sport. always Travelled with
the boys when / struck town, and We went
to the biggest saloon. which was q general
Lexington. and his bartender was in charge
Say, II you've never frank good whisky in
the blue grass region half OF your life has
you. and after a few drinks YOU re on st.lts.
''SoIn one suggested that we should get
the bartender drunk and run the saloon
ourselves. 1t took patience, and when at
o'clock We stretched The bartender out the
boys were having an elegant time. ] was
initiated as bartender. and mixei every
thing; suddenly tSs there was an alarm OF flre
grtst mills burning upr Well, we didn't
stay to close the saloon. we just bolted.
The old engine was ranked cut. and we
went Keeling and stumbling Gown the road
with IL. The mill was in 1eep alley, and
when we reached the top II the steep hill
that overlooked it We stopped and prepared
to do business.
II never knew what was the trouble.
Probably the coupler botchcd his work Al
any rate we began % pump. Clickety-
The crowd jeered and we pumped harder.
.Whatsh upT asked the foreman.
stomach. Clickety-ciack! Went the old IA MAJ rne
chine. but it was no use. BY this time the
walls of the mill had fallen IN, ana We We're
"'Uncouple those ordered the foreman.
We stopped pumping and broke the hose.
GIVE her a. push was the next order. We
caught the idea Twenty men placed their
shoulders against the machine and pushed
together. Down the hill sh. started, gath
ering speedway. and straight into the Ere
plunged the pride of Versailles i tell yor
1t was sight worth seeing We sat down
and cheered and swore like madme,,. The
townspeople who were up didn't dare to at
TACK us; heard afterward that the irons
or the old machine were found In the ruins,
daylight sobered us a bit drove TO
Lexington. Some Of the other boys rode fo
nearby towns and caught trains At any
rate, the grand Jury met tne next day. and
rot member of the engine Company was
IN town. When some Of them Struggled
That's why don't go to Versailles.