Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-08-01
PULLING DOCS TOOTH
AN EXPERIENCE WITH REAL HUMOR
AND PATHoS IN IT.
Frontiersman Who Had His Teeth Made
Beautiful by n Quack Dentist Had .
Sad Time Later Riding Thirty six Miles
For Pair of Army Pinchers.

For a Pair of Army Pinchers.
Why he was called Doc Reister he
couldn't tell, and 1t Is question II any
ono else could give'the reason for the title.
The only possible suggestion for the name
was that he might have taken his degree
in swearing. He was considered one of
the best cooks following any Of the cow
boy outfits along the western trails. To
us he was one of the most interesting char
acters we had ever met. Tho thing, or
rather the things. that struck you first in
looking at Doc were his teeth. They were
beautifully white and marvelously regular.
We were gathered around his campfire
one August night, and as we wrapped our
selves in our blankets VIC wondered wheth-
or the Flat Top mountains, where we were
to hunt for deer in few days, would be
any colder than Rcister's camp. Doc told
us how his teeth became SO even. The tale
was as follows: He had been ranging cat
tie in the Indian Territory and acting as
cook to a cowboy outfit Of %. One night,
Just as he was calling all hands to grub a
stranger appeared with n box under his
arm and announced that he was travel
ing dentist. Two dollars per head was the
nominal charge for all repairs.
well sir, :" said Doc "thc next morn
in the whole outfit sat on the ground,
and that there gent with his files and nip
pcrs and scrnpcrs got in some pretty good
ticks. When my turn come, he used that
flo on my jaw in II way TINT made my in
sides creep. He carried one of them hand
lookn glasses round with him. and after
he had done his job he let us take look
mt It, My teeth had been pretty crooked
on the edges, but when that gent was
through with me they were rs even as the
prairie pears to be. He got his 81 from
most every man in camp, and then he left
pretty fast--and it was lucky for him he
did, for the next mornin there was about
90 swcllcd jaws in that outfit from that
awful file, and every mothers son Of 'cm
had gun ready to shoot that there dem
list tho next timo he passed that way.
ado you know from that day to this
and that was bout six years agony teeth
have dono the dancin every fallY'
Doc put his hands to his cheeks and
swore eoquently for five minutes. "I'll fix
you!" he suddenly exclaimed, and solicit
ing my aid he proceeded to his tent and
brought forth II strange looking black bot
Ito from under his cot. Then he began to
search for cancels hair brush which ~
man who had hunted in the White river
country had left there II year before, AT
last he found it, and whilo his back was
turned ! took tho black bottle to- the light
of tho candle and read the label, which
was "Kcndal's SPAWN Cure"
Doc stretched himself out on the cot, and
| soaked tho gums around tho jumping
molars until the hot stuff brought tears to
the sufferers eyes, but never word of
complaint escaped his lips.
Next morning wo found Doc up bright
and carly and driving in tho relay stage
horses His remark was: THAT id cure
for man and beast lasted about three
hours, and she's jumpn worse II over. But
III fix her today" Directly after break
fast he told us where to find food for our
midday meal. He then jumped on marc,
bareback, and we supposed he was going
only n short distance, but hc did not put
In an appearance until just before dusk.
Then, dismounting he triumphantly
waved pair of old army pinchers before
our astonishcd eyes and said, I've rode 36
miles to got these burned things, and
guess they'll do the bi2ncss. " He had
borrowed them from II "ncighhor,' who
lived far back In tho mountains, and
whose tathcr had been IL surgeon in the
army
"lt isn't often l have company, said
Doc, land when u man pulls my tooth l
want him to have some sense. You mon
havo eastern ways, and God knows when
another man will stop over with me, so
ono of you please yank out this cusscd
jumper We both declined tho honor and
tried to persuade him the tooth might be
saved, and after supper we gave him some
laudanum from our little medicine chest
to put him to sleep.
1t was about | O'Clock that night when
was awakened by the growing of Major,
Docs dog, and ut the entrance of our A
tent stood Doc u candle in one hand and
the pinchcrs in tho other.
~ can't stand 1t any longer, he whis-
pcrcd, for he was afraid of awakening my
companion. "For Gods sake get the nip
pcrs on this - tooth and ynnk her out
no, don't got out of your blankets, III
stretch myself hero 'longsido you And
with that Doc lay fiat on the ground in
tho most humble attitude.
Evidently 1t WAS desperate case |
thrcwa Navajo blanket around my shout
dcrs, sat on Docs chest, and by tho aid of
tho candle discovered from the intamed
condition OF his check and gums, that he
had tried To perform the operation himself.
"l'No tried for two hours to get tho cusscd
thing out, but it was no GO" he said.
ran tho prongs down between the gum,
fastened hold, and, half asleep, half dcs-
pcratc, gave pull that sCnt me flying
backward, accompanied by pinchcrs and
tooth. 1t is grewsome thing to carry in
ones pocket, hut l have that tooth yet,
and with n little scientific treatment 1t
might he in Docs mouth instead
Old Major, tho mongrcl cur, seemed to
experience the delight of his master and
jumped all around me. My sleeping com
panon only turned over In his blankets
and murmurcd something drowsily ms l
showed Doc the result of my amateur
operation. Gratitude is q feeble word
when used to- express tho look on that
frontcrsman's face He said; II amt
got Inuch to offer, hut you can stay round
thi, hero camp Of mine rs long rs you
like, an won't Erudgc you one bite Of
Philadelphia Times
Chest Seats.
Something new in fashionable drawing
rooms arr small carved oak chests, the
Il v tsh