New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-09
sEyArKET CLEARED FOR ACTION.
JESSE sKiDMORE WAS BLOWING UP TREE
sTI-MPs. But THE FARMERS THOUGHT
TUF, SPANISH HAD COME

Long Island in the neighborhood OF Port Jeffer-
son and setauket had genuine war scare on
Tuesday People around there about II O'CLOCK III
the morning heard what seemed like tremendous
cannonadng. the heavy reports sounding exactly
Ike great guns fired in such rapid succession mat
every convinced that the spahiarus "e'e
attacking some point on the coast
Tho cause Of the uproar was the blasting win
dynamite that was necessary for the openlhg Oh
Old Field Lane which has recently been declare"
a regular highway By the BrookhaVeh ii'En""'
Commissioners The lane IS about two miles long,
and leads from Old Field Road to Old Field Light
house. which IL situated on a point Of land pro-
i,c,ing far ont into Long Island Sound The widen
Ing OF the lane was begun last week. and on lues-
day Jesse Skdmore who operates the dynamite
blasts in this part of Long Island. got his gang OF
men together and promised them some run lie
had a contract to blow up the stumps OF about TWO
hundred trees which INSTRUCTED the lane ana ne
.rrarred Il so that the charges OF dynamite could
hs eraS IN rand succession. causing SOUND ike
bombardment.
Al tho hour mentioned Jesse had his charges OF
dynamite all ready. No signal was ho'sted' nut AZ
II o'clock Jesse began 10 press the buttons "hlch
,gni.ed the charges Bang" went the nrst uls-
cbaree and the roar could be heard reverberating
along the shores OF Long Island for many miles
Nearly the entire population within Teach OF inc
sound stopped work to inquire about the uoise.
BEFORE an answer could be obtained three moro
reDOrts OF dynamite were HcdIu' anu '''S """"NN
and windows shook. a., ,..,, Utah.
ITS the Spanards attacking Old Field Light
house" said every one. and in an instant every
man began hitching up his horss some WIN tne
idea of fleeing toward Middle Island, and DINERS 20
go to the scene of the conflict Old-fashi2need
muskets fowlinC pieces. and in some cases plcl-
forks. were clutched with trembling hands as the
doughty farmers OF Setauket FASTENED their piepa-
rations Half dozen reports were heard.
and those with pitchforks began 10 think better OF
their yalor while those with old muskels ana fowl.
ing pieces began TO boil with fight Before any or
the leans could get into the road there was sue
cession OF explosions which might well appall me
bravest Then followed the steady rapid reports
AZ of a BON bardment. and dense volumes OF smoke
could be seen rising into the sky In the direction
OF old Field Lighthouse. - go
The roads were by this time filled with teams
and men eager reach the scene Still the reports
Vent on growing louder and louder In all. about
TWO hundred were heard in the space OF about four
minutes each one OF them as loud as d heavy gun
Two hundred reports Of this kind inside OF four
minutes might. well scare any one not to mention
n Long Island farmer, while the volumes OF smoke
rave all the color that was necessary TO convince
Tho doubtng ones. When the crowd arrived al the
scene thew found Jesse Skidmore serencly contem-
plating the ruins his dynamite had caused among
the stumps OF the trees
~ told you that would give the natives taste
Of war" said Jesse. smilingy, gazing at the vexed
crowd. And he had