Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-06-27

Fourth, Harney's was astir: It was %
be the greatest day Of the young towns
existence. Crowds of people were ex-
pected from the surrounding country
and the neighboring towns. 1t had been
decided to hold the races and other
minor amusement for the populace in
the forenoon. with the great sham battle
at p. m The morning program passed
off acceptably. The most important
event was the three-minute trotting
race. free for al, best three in five.
which was won by the county treas
urers bay mare. Mrs. Langtry. in 3.0T.
although the judges pronounced the
track fully two seconds low. But the
people merely endured these things, and
held back their enthusiasm for the mock
fight.
1t had been arranged that the troops
should mass themselves in the square
IN front of the Massachusetts hotel,
there TO await the attack of the Indians.
They were to dash up from across the
prairie. and shout madly and fire their
guns as they circled around the town.
Al the second turn the soldiers were to
dash out, n in a quick, sharp, engage
ment put the Indians to flight. who
would retreat to the nearby Sleepy
HIS, followed by the others, where
all would dismount, and a general am
buscade and bushwhacking fight would
follow as long as the blank cartridges
lasted, the citizens in the mea me TO
have gathered in the grand stand of
the race track to witness the mimic
slaughter.
AT z o'clock everything was ready.
The troops, three hundred strong. were
IN the CnHlaro I1nIyinr Gr~, fond darLN
and determined. The non-commissioned
officers were bursting with martial
pride. Each man carried his carbine.
and the belts stuffed with blank cart
ridges looked formidable enough. Sud
denly the first far-off whoop of the
coming savages smote the ear of the
spectator and soldier. At this precise
second Colonel Poinsette. who had been
observing his men from the balcony,
was seen striding across the square as
nearly on a run as was consistent with
commanding officer dignity.
.Dismount!' he Numbered, pointing
a rattan a M at the first man in the
line.
1t happened to be Private Yancy.
With a movement like some sort of an
ingenious factory machine the private
oheyed, and stood gazing into space
with a rigidity which gave the sym
pathetic beholder a crick in his back.
Take off that boot!' and the rattan
cane, after a vicious swing. pointed at
the ~private's left leg. Yancy gave a
sudden start. drew a quick breath, but
obeyed, balancing himself on his other
foot n drawing the boot off slowly
and with much care, keeping his leg up
right.
Turn it overt roared the colonel.
The poo private did so. out on the
dusty ground. with a dun rattle, rolled
fifty regulation ball cartridges. long,
heavy, villainous cylinders, with seven
ty grains of deadly powder packed back
of nobody knows how much murderous
lead. A glance showed the startled spec
tator that the leg of every cavalry boot
in the line was of abnormal bigness.
stop hose Indians." shouted Colonel
Poinsette. turning to Chairman Hutch
ems. The chairman rushed away, fol-
lowed by half the crowd.
He reached the edge of the town just
as the Indians were beginning to circle
about it. whooping and shooting pro-
miscuously into the air. Halt" he