The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-23
A DRUM @ E a TO HER
r. Vi. G. BoICE IN ROLE OF AN
UP-TO-DATE BARBARA FRIETCHE.
Would Shoot Before Her Sacred War
Relic should be in n Popo-
cratic Parade.

An interesting story of the campaign is
that of the experience of Mrs. M. {. Boice
in heroically taking a Republican drum
from a Democratic stronghold last Satur-
day near Gowdy PostQffice, in Rush county.
Mrs. Boice is an u-nassuming little woman
living at 1883 North Illinois street, but she
possesses the courage of a battalion of
soldiers and this quality is inherited, to-
gether with an ardent preference for the
principles of the Republican party. The
political history of her family is of UNI
broken Republicanism and she has its
principles so thoroughly instilled in her that
she will fight for them if necessary, as
was demonstrated Saturday.
Mrs. Boice's husband and brother lost
their lives lighting for the flag. Her brother
was a drumme in his regiment and the
drum he carried was secured by her after
his death on the battlefield. She at that
time lived near Gowdy Postofice, the old
homestead. When she moved to Indian
apolis some months ago she stored her
goods in her house on the farm, but her
son Forest, aged twenty-five, remained in
GoWdy. During the fore part of last week
d welding occurred in the neighporhood
and Forrest with a number of other young
fellows treated the newly welded couple
TO d charivari. On this occasion Forrest
took the drum and it was until
after midnight. The fun wearied the boy
and, not caring to bring the drum back
home that night, left it at the home of a
friend named Bert Wagner, who is a DEM
ocrat.
Thursday Mrs. Boice went to Gowdy to
see her son. She stopped at the home of
the postmaster, Mr.. McDaniels. Saturday
afternoon while sitting in the house Bert
Wagner and George huffman. she claims,
came to the house and had the drum with
them. AS soon as she saw it she recognized
it and asked Mr.. McDaniels what they were
doing with it. 81 guess they are going to
take it to the Bryan meeting in Rushville
Wednesday," he replied. Mrs. Boice could
hardly speak for anger. well they won't"
said she emphatically. The two boys HEIR
ing the words that had passed, had sud-
denly left the house. taking the drum with
them.
THE DRUM WAS SACRED.
Mrs. Boice, finding they were gone, re-
~urned to Mr.. McDaniels and said:
THAT drum was used to call up volun-
teers to fight for our country. 1t was car
ried in battles by my brother and now do
you think that 1 will calmly see it desc
Grated by being beaten in a Democratic
rally? No, never; that drum will not be
taken to Rushville. I'll die first"
With that she. procured a revolver and
learning that the drum would probably be
hidden at the home of Richard Whitinger,
living in the country, she gave the revolver
to her son and Harvesting up a buggy told
him to go to Whitinger's farm and secure
the drum if he had to shoot for its posses
sion.
IF you don't get the drum she said as
he was leaving, come back and I'll take
the revolver and go. after it, and I'll bring
tect property and If that fails, the revolver
rest drove to the Whitinger farm and
mere found the young men with the drum.
There was a lively, but wordy, dispute,
which ended in the drum being delivered
Q him without the further carrying out
he'd. 1t was night when he returned home
md Mrs. Boice was overjoyed to receive
she ran to neighbor Patterson's. near by.
lie had a large dinner bell mounted on a
'ost in the, yard. Her son followed, and,
;eizing the bell rope, began ringing the old
)ell as it was probably never before rung,
While his mother beat the drum until her
arms ached. The ~neighborS were aroused,
linking there was a fire, and turned out
1ell-mell. AS soon as they learned the
ause of the noise the Republicans set up
| great shout. and other Republicans be-
ran focking to the scene until, despite the
midnight hour, there was an fmpromptu
Republican rally around the bell post, while
he drum doomed forth enthusiastically on
the night air.
A PRESENT TO MRS. BOICE.
The next day the news spread like Wild
fire and was the talk of the hour. The
Democrats had nothing to say; the Repub-
licans were jubilant over the determine
ton of Mrs. Boice to uphold her respect
for the Republican party. 1t did not end in
talk. The Republicans later in the day
made Mrs. Boice an elegant present as a
token of their high regard of her act.
Four years ago Mrs. Boice showed her
political spirit on another occasion. A DEM
ocratic barbecue was held in Shelbyville.
Harrison's pictures were hanging in the
windows of Mrs. Boice,s home and other
houses along the road. The Democrats had
served notice on the Republicans that these
pictures must be taken down that day, as
Democrats would pass that way en- route
to S~helbyville. a number were taken down,
but when Mrs. Boice was told to take
down the pictures in her windows she re-
piled that they Would not be removed and
loaded a shotgun and placed it convenient
Iy near her to back up her assertion. On
the day of the barbecue a troop of Demo-
Gratis went along the road stopping at
houses and taking down the Harrison pic
lures. When they reached the Boice home
they started in, but hurriedly left, as one
man shouted out: Don't go in there; that
woman would shoot as quick as lightning"
The niotures remained in the windows