Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-06-28


no one evinced the least desire TO 90
! cept my challenge Parker came to
| where was standing in a crowd OF
they would stay with me and said
angriiy:
".Lookee here. old man, / don't
know that you've get any business to
interfere with our celebration. SEEM
you don't belong here. You'd better
pull in an ride little slower. fur yer
gittin' onto dangerous ground.
big Tom laid heavy hand on the
bully's shoulder, and in a low but de-
termined voice said:
Hes not headed towards no bog
as / kin see. Matt Parker. an he's
a goin' to hold his gait Stead o. pull
in in on the reins. he'll work his spurs
an keep a hittin' the ground in his
own way. This are the Fo'th o. July
an we're square American citizens.
an fair plays the fust rule O. patriotism
wherever that yonder flag is firth
in the air. The race is goin' on an it's
a goin' on squar', an I'll hop onto the
trail O. the fust sneakin' coyote that
interferes with the Mexican gal an
run him down, an if you or any o yer
pizen whisky suckers happens to git in
the way thars a goin' to be purifica-
ton in this community. Eli, boys?
"A cheer was the reply, and the
bully saw that champion having
arisen on the other side his power
was gone. He realized that if his girl
won the race she must do it fairly.
and trembling with rage and with
fear that he would lose the money he
had wagered he went to his scowling
offspring and offered her clothes fit
for princess if she would put forth her
| very best efforts and win another heat
L need not dwell on the result
| Marta won the two remaining heats
easily, and when she came to me with
her beautiful face aglow with smiles
of triumph and gratitude, her express
sive eyes done some effective work In
my susceptible breast
THE crowd called on me for q
speech, nor would it be silenced until
had mounted goods box rolled to
me to be used as platform 1t was
no new business for me, Jack, for l
| was a famous debater at college and
had since often taken part in political
| campaigns, speaking to large audiences.
| warmed up after talking a few mo-
| ments, and before knew it was reel
| ing off a patriotic Fourth of July
speech that set those people wild. Lord.
| how they cheered every patriotic ut
| terance. Matt Parker stood out in the
edge of the crowd and wore a sheer on
his repulsive face as l talked union
| principles and advocated reverence and
love for our glorious old flag. After
| time he seemed to become interested,
| and once he clapped his hands and
nodded approval as the crowd cheered
| some loyal sentiment l seemed in
| spired, and eloGuence rolled from my
lips as 1 rained heavy blows at those
| who seemed not yet aware that the
| war was over, and that the former foe
men were now friends and brothers.
THE town was wild that evening.
There was NO fighting or quarreling,
but everyone seemed in the best OF
hunor and determined to make that
! Fourth a memorable one. During the
evening / sauntered away FROM the
hotel to see what was going on. Hear
ing loud voice raised in vociferous
song in Parker's place / approached
| the door and looked in. Old Matt,
drunk as a lord, was standing on the
end of whisky barrel singing, or try
| ing to sing, The Star Spangled Ban
ner,' to an enthusiastic crowd. He
! caught sight Of me, and springing 70
the floor came forward and grasped
my hand and insisted that l should
take a drink an be friends / told
him l did not drink intoxicants, but
would take a smok. with him. and he
pulled me up to the bar and called on
all in the house to take a union drink. ,
As he raised his glass aloft he cried:
II ere's 10 Yankee Doodle an Hail Co
lumby, an long may she wave!' II
was a wild night"
| And Marita?" / asked.
| 20, you know the rest Same old
story. / am yet backing her for all
| I'm worth"
CAPT. JACK CRAWFORD.