The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-06-29

to gather the largest crowd of men ever
collected In Pot Luck and march in body
down TO the Gap on the morning of the
Fourth, now ten days away.
The ditch and hune long contemplated
by the Pot Luck miners was suddenly
found to be an Immediate necessity, and
word was sent down to the valleys and to
neighboring camps that 900 extra men
were wanted to begin work upon it July l.
Not tramp came to town but was offer
ed a chance to do light work for his board
until after the Fourth, a move which of
itself almost doubled the population Of
the town, the news spreading with such
mysterious rapidity that every Weary
Watkins within It's reach quickly turned
his face toward Pot Luck as the Mecca he
long had sought. Pot Luck knew the Gap
never figured upon entertaining more
than 500 or 600 people at the most and
determined to muster at least that number
In its invading host.
Less than week before the Fourth,
that the Gapers might not have time to
discover the trap set for them, Pot Luck
sent this reply to their invitation, an epis-
tie upon which 'Ceptin johnson and the
whole committee expended much time
and ingenuity:
To the Chairman and Members Of the Fourth
Of July Committee of Dutch Bills Gap:
GENTLEMEN AND FELLER CIrYzENs-In &C.
ceptin the invitation 30 cordially extended Us
to participate in the good time you intend
havin on the Fourth, allow as, on behalf Of the
citizens Of Pot Luck, to thank the good people
Of the Gap fer . courtesy which L. doubly APP
preciated ON account Of our present boom
havin upset our own preparations fer cele-
bratin. We assure you that every Pot LOCKER
a. A.
to see you on our nations glorious birthday.
TIE FOURTH or jury CoMdrxzEE or PoT
I LUCK. tz4 a.r7fss szHstE9 Y t.iF 5Ee f5s
7 This reply had the precise effect intend
ied-namely, II assured the Gapers that
selves at blufhng, and big Jake Tohmer' e
fat sides shook with laughter when as
their chairman he read It to the committee.
Luck had accepted the invitation In good
faith. s gig
| Jake reared again. '.Good faith moth
limp said he. "They want us to think so
and 60 ahead and prepare for 'em, and
then not Pot Tucker come near our oele-
bration. That's their game. We WASH
born yesterday; not all of us. The idee
l'of a boom at Pot Luckl That's too
good" - :,
And SO things went on, the Gapers
making preparations for their usual
crowd only, while Pot Luck strained It
self to add men enough to its population
to "eat the Gap out Of house and home,
as Ike Bledsoe put it.
Two days before the Fourth Jake Toh-
ner's boys, Fritz and Jake junior, went
fishing far up the creek toward Pot Luck
d & 49,
element.
Dad said the breathless Fritz, dash
ing into his fathers grocery, "the Pot
LOCKERS are goin to bu' st our Fourth wide
open"
$50 long, you young rascal" said his
father. "What you tryin to play on your
old dad nows They amt goin to cele-
brste at all up there"
EThat's just it, dad, and say, the
woods is plumb full of men up that way.
never saw such droves of 'em, an me an
Jakey heard 'em talkin, an they're every
ore of 'em goin to march down on us
| Fourth of July mornin an eat an drink
Speverything in sight, run all the Gapers
of the dancin floor an off the groun's an
just par'lyze us gen rally. Them's the
very words they said, amt they, Jakeyp"
~
mind of Jake senior Not waiting to hear
Hitz's news confirmed, he spread big
sheet Of wrapping paper on his counter,
hastily penciled call for meeting that
night not only of the Fourth of July com
mittee, but all good citizens of the Gap,
and tackled it up outside his door.
Jake's grocery store wouldn't begin to
hold the Gapers who answered the call,
4 fol hot
seemed nothing but bloodshed could result.
Some of the more impetuous Gapers were
for arming every man and going to meet
up as too hazardous. Pot fuckers were
known 10 be fighters to a man and would
doubtless greatly outnumber the Gapers.
Others suggested moving to q grove a
dozen miles down the river early In the
day and thus escaping the ravaging horde
from Pot Luck. But this smacked ! OF
cowardice and could not be considered fol-
moment. $50
THE chagrined Gapers blamed their
committee for getting them into such 9
dilemma. while accusations Of bungline
and stupidity passed freely between the
committee members themselves. Big
Jake Tohmer was almost the only man
pl6otub VINO Sl0 nOb AOk6 0AS tc1upezt ALI
when the meeting seemed shout to break
CUP III a free fight he banged loudly Upon
his grocery counter with sugar scoop and
as chairman OF the meeting commanded
order. ~ s5t'''9e =
~ What 'Ceptin Johnson1 was' so Pot Latok
jale Tohmer was ITO the Gap and the
noisy crowd was hushed to silence when
be lose 70 speak. .ht,,f An
sfFsiier citizens" said big jake, - own
lTm ~ fnuchat6 blamei in thiS mAttef q
anyS zone; perhaps, more. 4 don't believe
any OF you Will cali me . coward, and you
ali know Iain't man 10 set my Judgment
upaEainst the win or the ma oSaty.. WHAT
| goes with the crowd goes with me, but Il
you'll allow me to say 50, It's, inst astruck
mo III Of q heap that we ain'S been treotin
the Pot Luckers just right fer some years
| bach s5 fs8o lga gf Cess
Now, about this celebration. We
wasn't satisfied to beat 'em 80 bad that
| they didn't have the heart to try to cele-
/ brnt4 at all, knowin rastractiuns would
Z draw alt the crowd from the country round
about Not satisfied with this, as say,
we must taunt them by sendin that sham
invitation. That Of itself was challenge,
| and they're only takin 1t up as they have
| right to. Now, I IL tell you, friends, to
| my notion there's just one way fer us to
| get ont Of this scrape like men. That is
| fer us to pervide the best there Is in the
4 -