The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-17
A Drummer's Western Experience.


I'm 1882 said Harry Caruthers. Of Mis-
souri, to a Washington Post man. L was
drumming for St. Louis hardware firm in
Western Texas. II was in the stormy days of
free grass agitation. There was a general up
rising against the fencing in Of large tracts of
grazing land, on which the small cattle own
crS' stock had from time immemorial pas
tured gratis. The people were up in arms be-
cause grass was no longer to be a free com
modify. 10 emphasize their displeasure and
TO discourage the fencing in OF the lands. they
began, in many counties west OF ort Worth.
to cut the barb wire fencing so that their
lonRhorns could again roam at sweet will
over the broad acres thlckly carpeted with
the nutritious mesquite grass
OF course. the owners of the fenced terri
tory objected and good many shooting
ScraTeS followed. The knights OF The nip
pers. as the fence cutters were called, came
IN collision with the law, but still they perse-
Vered In their work, and in the silent hours Of
the night on desolate stretches of prairie
bands Of resolute fellows would lay low miles
upon miles OF the detested wire. Finally the
governor OF the state called a special session
OF the legislature. which made wire cutting a
felony, and gradually the business was
broken up.
While the excitement was at its hight I
was making one Of my regular trips, Journey
ing in buggy, as there was no railroad in
that section lhen. and on certain August
afternoon was nearing BTownWood, the
county seat of Brown county, in which there
was the hercest oppoS -tlCn TO fencing up the
lduuS- AS GOT WlJnln ABOUT three miles or
town there came advancing toward me band
OF at least twenty rough looking fellows
on native ponies. every man OF them carry
ing " inchester rihe. There was nothing to
alarm me in this, however, as stockmen in
that country usually carried their guns with
them and there was no reason to apprehend
danger. But in a few seconds was unde-
ceiVed. and Will frankly own to being one OF
the worst scared men that ever felt his heart
sink down into his CootS. | was ordered to
halt in language made pointed by reason OF
its irreverence, and the leader OF the com
pany requested me to throw up my hands.
Up they went, and expected to be perforated
by bullets every second.
" Now, you d tenderfoot, tell US what
you are; declare youself right here ef you ex-
pect to see another sun rise Are We fur free
grass, or agin ity
1t was "a critical moment, and did some
rapid thinking. felt little bit of relief IN
knowing that hadn't encountered gang of
robbers but how TO answer that question
stumped me. If answered wrong / might
as well say my prayers couldn't guess
whether the crowd had suffered from the
sympathy with them.
"A bright idea struck me. and without ask
ing permission to drop my hands, hauled out
my bag OF samples, opened it hurciedly and
began to crate; Gentlemen, pardon I beg
you, stranger in the land from expressing
any positive views on a subject that he does
not comprehend like yourselves, Please take
glance at my samples. You will / know,
excuse poor st. Louis drummer from TAX
ing sides, but you can get here anything YOU
like. | am prepared to sell you barbed wire
and wire STREET hers, or if you prefer hatchets
and wire cutters, it would anofd me equal
pleasure to supply your wants in that line.
Z hen l made a low bow and tried 10 smile
but l guess it was a sickly effort. for l still
wasn't sure but that I'D be assassinated.
When the entire gang, that had looked sol.
emn as owls all the time, broke into bolster
Gus laughter as soon as my speech was ended
felt that my life was saved. The rascals
had only been having little fun with me, but
the fun was all on one side"