The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-30
HAD FuN WITH THE DRUMEER.
The knight Of the Gripsack Came Out as
Well as Could Be Expected.

The knight OF the Gripsack Came Out as
Well as Could Be Expected.
'In 1882" said Harry Caruthers,
of Missouri, ~ was drumming lOr a
St Louis hardware firm in western
Texas IL was in the stormy days
OF free-grass agitation. There was a
general uprising against the fenc. ng
in of large tracts OF grazing land on
which the small cattle owners stock
had from time lmmemorial pastured
gratis. The people were up in arms
because grass was no longer 10 be a
free commodity. TO emphasize their
displeasure and 10 discourage the
fencing ia OF the lands they Degan,
in many counties west OF Fort Worth,
to cut the barbed wire fencing so
that their lOnghorns could again
roam at sweet Will over the broad
acres thickly carpeted with the nutri-
tious mesquite grass.
'Of course the owners OF the
fenced territory objected, and a good
many shooting scrapes followed. The
.knignt OF the nippers, as the fence
cutters were called, came In collision
with the law, but still they perSe-
yered ic their work, aud In the silent
hours OF the night, on the des0late
stretches OF the prairie, bands OF res
olute fellows would lay low miles
upon miles OF detested wire. Final
ly the Governor OF the stat, called a
special session of the Legisa ture,
which made wire cutting IA felony,
and gradually the business was
broken up
"W hile the excitement was at It's
height | was making Cne or my reg
ular trips. Journeying in buggy, as
there was no railroad in that section
then, and on "A ce. tain August after
noon was nearing Brownwood, the
county seat OF Brown County, In
which there was the iiercest opposi-
tOn TO fencing up the land. As
got within about three miles OF town
there came advancing toward me a
band OF at least twenty rough-looking
fellows on native ponies, every man
OF them carrying "a Winchester rifle.
There was nothing to alarm me In
this, however, as stockmen In that
country usually carry heir guns with
them. and there was no reason 10
apprehend d inger. But in few
seconds 1 was undeceived, and Will
frankly own 10 being one OF the worst
scared men that ever ielt his heart
sink down into his boots 1 was or
dered TO halt In language made
pointed by reason o. It's irrevcrence,
and the leader OF the company re-
quesied me To throw up my hands.
Up they went, and l expected TO be
perforated by bullets every second.
Now, you d. tenderIOot, tell US
what you are; declare yourself right
here il you expect to see another sun
rise. Are ye fur rec grass or agln
it,"
at was critical moment, and |
did some rapid thinking. l felt a
little bit OF relief in knowing that l
hadn't encountered Il gang OF robbers,
but how TO answer that question
stumped me- il | answered wrong
/ might as well say my prayers. |
couldn't guess whether the crowd
had suffered from the depredations OF
the free graZcrs or in sympathy with
them.
"A bright idea struck me, and
without asking permission 10 drop
my hands | hauled out my bag OF
samples, opened it hurriedly, and be-
gan 10 crate: Genticmen, pardon, 1
beg you, stranger In the land from
expressing any positive views on a
subject that he does not comprehend
like yourself eS Please take glance
at my samples You will, l know,
excuse a poor St Louis drummer
from taxing sides, but you can get
here anything you like. l am pre-
pared to sell you Darbed wire aud
wire slretchers, or | you prefer
hatchets and wire cutters IL would
afford me equal pleasure To supply
your wants IN that line.
Then 1 made low bow and tried
to smile, but 1 guess 1t was n sickly
effort for | still wasn't sure but that
Id be assassinated. When the en-
tire gang, that had looked solemn aS
owls all the time, Lroko into DO ster-
Gus laughter as soon as my speech
was ended l fe Z that my life was
saved. The rascals had only been
having little fun with me, but tbs
fun was all On one side.