Evening journal., 1898-03-24
DIR. PORTER IN TOWN.

DIR. PORTER IN TOWN.
Strange voices have been troubling
the various saloons in the city for sew
eral days. Yesterday numerous city
railway men, conductors and Others,
were startled by voice clear and loud
calling out: Hello = Hello
W - Hello c." Mr.. Vande-
grift wants you"
J. said "Oh, IL, go see where
he is" TWO Of the good spenders left
one saloon, TO the disgust Of the pro
prietor. and others hid. Yet no one
could find Mr.. Vandegrift. Some of the
girl help refused TO go into the cellar,
because someone died there fifty years
ago Trouble was the word all
around. Farmers went rushing out to
the stable to see q sick horse, but found
the animal all right They were so de-
lighted TO find the horse sound, that
they said "Set It up for the house.
But. when they found out that DR.. Por-
ter. the ventriloquist, was the cause of
all the trouble there was a general hot
time in the old city Look out for him.
He will get you ALL
MYSTERY PARTIALLY CLEARED.
A man from Chesapeake City, Cecil
county, Nd, related to the Wayfarer an
amusing thing that occurred in that
place several years ago. at the time
that the new green-stone church was
completed. II was on Christmas eve,
and the trustees Of the church held a
special meeting to decide whether the
bell should be rung for the first time
at ~ O'Clock on Christmas eve or at 10
o'clock next day. There was spirited
arguments on each side and some OF the
trustees, TO use his expression. were
getting a little hot in the collar. When
the vote was taken, however, It decided
that the bell should be rung on Christ
mas morning at 10 o'clock, and the
meeting broke up with some dlssatis-
faction, OF course, to the trustees who
wished It ring at midnight. The out
come OF the meeting was not long In
going the rounds of the town.
AT the time spoken of there were
many Wild young men In the town, who
would not hesitate to hurt persons
feelings If there was a little fun in
sight. When these young men heard
of the decision of the trustees they held
curbstone meeting, decided that the
bell should be rung at midnight and
laid their plans accordingly They de-
tailed one Of their number to gain ac-
cess to the belfry OF the church by fair
means or foul, and drop the bell rope
out OF the window so that it could be
reached from the ground outside. This
WasIaccOmplislfed successfully and an
other Of the five rascals secured a long
piece Of tarred rope, tied 1t to the bell
rope and took II over In Metz's carriage
factory yard, They were just about to
pull the rope when a team came along
and caused them TO drop the rope and
run. When things we're again quiet
they secured the rope and, taking 1t to
the' opposite Side of the street, gave a
tremendous pull, and the bell was rung
for the first time.
The bell-ringers ran in different di-
rections. Two OF them went back of
Harry Bouchelle's house and it so hap
pened, they did not know each others
name. One of them fell into a deep
ditchaoOntaining black mud and green
slime. and was unable to get out until
his friend found him. He was in a
pretty pickle, being covered with mud
and dirt.
Two more Of the FIVE took to the
water in boat and remained out until
the excitement had died out The fifth
hiuoNt clNdh' lNi iiliIotll dS 10 where Ut
went but he was out Of the way Of the
searching parties.
IAN amusing thing occurred to a citi
zen who. il is said, was a member oi
the board of trustees. He was close L
the church when the bell pealed fortt
and, thinking 1t was fire alarm, n,
rushed to the church. Then he lost hil
head thinking that, as he was In favo
OF the bell being rung at midnight, the.
would think II was he who rang thl
bell. The next person who came hear,
him running and gave chase at once
He escaped, and. as he was never pub
ficly known In the matter, it would b
unfair to name him here
The unauthorized ringing OF the bel
put the town in an upnoar. Trustee
looked with suspicious eyes at thei
brother trustees. Finally the blam
was placed at the door Of a prominen
member Of the church, and some har
things were said about him, but n
proof OF his guilt was apparent for h
was able to prove an alibi. As a mat
ter OF fact, he was wholly innocent
"A reward Of $50 was offered to an
person who would divulge the name
OF the parties concerned The WAY
farer has been informed who all tb
parties We're, but, as $50 is merely
bagatelle TO him, he will not becom
so personal as to mention them.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
The Wayfarer hears of a good iol
told at the expense Of one of the eli
engineers. II seems that he was o,
surveying a line on one of the street