Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-08
THE LAMPPOST WAS LOADED.
It Started Il Fight ard Landed Il Quartet
In the Gutter.

~ otarIed Il IISlt ara t>3ilued quartet
In the Gutter.
A grounded electric light wire made
things decidedly lively around the south
east corner OF Madison street and Wabash
avenue Just before midnight. The big iron
lamppost got in the circuit and shocked
every one who got near enough to receive
the current.
The trouble began when two men got
of car ut the corner. They were just
drunk enough to be quarrelsome, and the
lamppost was loaded.
"Wait while | strike match" said
ono man.
He essayed to strike it on the lamp
post The next second something struck
him, and he sat down suddenly and with
unnecessary violence When he got up,
he was mad. Something had struck him.
There was nothing in sight but the lamp
post and the other man. 1t couldn't have
been the lamppost, so it must have been
the other man. Whereupon he struck the
1ther man on the nose, and the two went
Down in heap.
There is n mailbox on that lamppost.
John Collins is Il mail carrier. who has
he task Of clearing that Eox. The other
Two men had rolled into the gutter and
we're fighting weakly. Uncle Sam s man
was in hurry, and he took little notice of
he struggling pair. He drew a copper
key from his pocket, which was attached
by steel chain to his suspender button.
After arranging his mailsacs he inserted
the key in the box, gave wild yell and
collapsed into his mailbag. lie broke his
kew chain in the fell and also broke the
current. but he wasn't thinking of cleo
.rieity when he got up; he was thinking
that one of those two men in the gutter
had kicked him on the shins, wherefore he
fell upon the men in the gutter with both
feet and a mailsack.
Over on the other corner central detail
policeman saw the disturbance and came
over. He asked what the trouble was, and
the carrier said he wanted those two men
arrested for delaying the United States
mails. One of the men had fall Nelson
on the other and wouldn't break it.
aye won't break away, won't YEP" said
the officer as he drew his club and braced
himself against the lamppost.
Something dropped just then, and the
policeman rose slowly from puddle and
rescued his club from cable car.
at was banana peel, he said briefly,
and went back TO the fighters.
The mail carrier got another shock while
ne was trying to open the box and stood
back considering the thing, a girl trip
ped ont of the Continental hotel and when
she caught the current screamed, and said
it was shame TO heat mailboXes like that
Then the policeman braccd" himself for
great effort. He caught hold of the lamp
most and the two men at the same time,
yelled, and landed in the same old puddle
As he gathered himself up greet white
light struck him, and he went and called
the wagon. The wagon came; its men
investigated; got shocked; reported to CEN
trial. and the electrician shut off As of the
citys electric lights.
Then peace reigned on the corner OF
Madison street and Wabash avenue, but u
mail carrier lost Is minutes, y policeman
seiled his uniform and hurt his feelings,
and two friends fought Also Wabash av-
enue. Madison, Monroe and jackson streets
were dark for blocks for the rest OF the
rfeyht fllicaorp Tribune