The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-17
OLD TIMES AT FORT LYON.

Nonfs Cristo Mountalnecr-

Nonfs Cristo Mountasnee-
Mention % Col J. Il MeLauEhisn's
name recalls q lu6icrouS incident IN lis
army life which never before got into
print When Cox Christians Twenty
sixth regiment % New York volunteers
was mustered. tire BOYS OF Company /
elected James Mclaughlin. Of orisSany
Falls ~ = for captain. ard after being
drilled fer q short tire ~ IRE camp -
instruction az Elmira. The Twenty-stxth
was sent 20 construct Fort Lyon. one 81
the desenses OF Washington. Capt Jiua
had long been noted in Central New York
Ss an expert wrestler. and AZ Fort LYON
he quickly became champion % the brig
sde. and the Company ! bows kept a
standing challenge open - al corners.
4 Vermont regiment was finally hrigade6
With the Twenty SIKH. and word came
over that quite a few % tire Vermont
srs were fson the wrexffs" One dzy word
came down from The auarfsrnastsr's that
the ladies' % Southern Onsfda county. Y
+. had sent 8 number 81 boxes % under
clothing rnitters and nice ccrzfcrterx for
the boys % the Twenty sixth, ard that
Company had been especially remsm-
bered- On behalf OF the boys capt jim
went Up 20 receive and forward the pres
ents cut TO camp. Those we're the DAYS
before the great sanitary and CnrfSftah
commissions had been organized, Gud
many OF the ladies' would pin cards 10
their presents stating who they were sor,
and in many cases adding the fair donors
name. Among other pleasant tokens OF
remembrance. a very handsome pair OF
ismbfs wool stockings were checked out
% Capt. jim. and as they were passed
over IL was remarked thar they were
about four sizes too large fer him. Il was
In the forenoon and the captain then and
there proceeded 10 put the warm lamb s.
woods on. pulling the heels high on his in
step and folding the toes hack under the
balls OF his feet. A tall Yankee stood
nesr quietly taking in the entire perform
ance. and sometime early IN the after
noon a large squad Of the Yermonters
strolled over to Company rs quarters and
in the most natural way I'm the world be-
gan TO boast about their champion
wrestler. He was a huge young fellow
who wore his army brogans thick Upon
him. and finally Company Is boys
biuffed him 10 wrestle with Capt Jim
The vermouter demurred. saying that he
wasn't used to New Workers. ways OF
raslin with their clothes took OF and a
surcingle on but ~ their champion would
rassle IN good old Vermont style ne was
his man" He was told TO get into shape
and said he would wrestle square holt
with coat and shoes of" Capt. Jim. Cor
getting his big stockings. consented The
news quickly spread and an Immense ring
was formed. The champions shook hands.
seized each other and the battle OF the
giants began. the Yankee acting entirely
on the defensive, until observing the
stocking on Capt. Jin's right foot pro-
truding wall beyond his toes. the Yer
monter suddenly stamped hts broad No.
u heel down hard upon IL. and heaving
at Capt. Jim with might and main got a
kind of half Nelson and half hip lock on
his tna hang Tins mined down
tight. threw him with tremendous force
fat upon his back. The NermonteTs
screamed with delight and bore their
champion back to the regiment on their
shoulders. 1t was the only time Capt. Nc
Laughlin was ever thrown during his
term OF enlistment in the Army OK the
Potomac.