Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-12-12
CAPTAIN jim.

Capt Jim went to Lots Corners short
~ after the great Panther mine was
opened. The place was hardly town at
ali. 1t consisted Of a company store, with
100 houses of the same pattern arranged
about the terminus of q scraggly spur Of
railroad known as the Pumpkin Vine,
which insinuated itself through a narrow
pass in the hills. The only evidence Of
civilization about It was the red school
house, where Capt. Jim drilled an educa-
tional awkward squad. There the old SOL
der instructed such Of the coal miners
sons who were not old enough to be hop
per boys or gate tenders.
Capt. Jim had been graduated early in
the Cos from little hilltop Ohio college.
His most successful enterprise was lead
ing 4 company at the battle of the Will
derness. The war records bear testimony
TO a gallant and heroic charge led by
Capt. James Fortescue Of Co. 4, One
Hundred and til regiment, Ohio vol
unteers. The gentle occupation of lead
ing soldiers to fields OF carnage cannot
last forever, SO Capt. Jim, at the close Of
the war, turned to bookkeeping. survey
ing and various other occupations, and
finally ended up schoolmaster.
The boys seem to be getting ugly"
the old soldier remarked to his landlady.
rs he blew 4 long Whit OF smoke toward
the ceiling.
The captain was sitting in the parlor
of the Widow Kerrigan, who kept the
only boarding house at Lots Corners.
1oung Harris, the superintendent of the
mine, who had just come ill., looked at the
old captain for Il moment and then light
ed a cigar
Yes" said Harris, 1--WE are going to
have machines. Machines don't get full
Of bad whisky and they don't go on
strikes. It's all very well for you to talk
aIo,,4 cI,1 i
ter. We gave those fellows fair warn
ing, and we don't propose to stand any
more fOolishnesS. Good night"
Harris took q drink from the f1agon Of
cider at the captains elbow, and with
4 mock military salute to the old soldier
left the room.
y *
Capt. Jim pored until midnight over his
Caesars Commentaries, reading anew
the battles Of the Roman DICTIONARIES with
flying columns Of Huns and Visigoths
He sat looking into the embers of the
fire, picturing the struggles of Caesar and
OrgetOrix.
The screech of whistle down the
winding course of the Pumpkin Vine
caused him to start to his feet. He
heard the beat Of driver wheels over the
ill-ballaSted railroad. A moment later
he stood in boots and in long army over
coat. He flung open the door and has
8eDeu lONdFu Iue IICl1e SldllOQ. Line QfN
snow crUnched beneath his feet. The
Wintry gust sent finty white crystals
against his face and nearly loosened his
SLOUGH hat from its moorings. Outlined
against the frosted hillside was the giant
hopper, a gaunt and blackened skeleton.
About it Capt. Jim could see figures NOV
ing to and fro, and once he thought he
saw the CLEAN of lighted match.
There's trouble coming" he said, half
aloud, land when these ignorant foreign
ers break loose it's hell
Down the track he saw an eye of fire.
That's no ordinary Pumpkin Vine en-
CINE" muttered the old captain; ''they
send down all their broken-down locomo-
tives to a place like this; that's special
from Columbus, and specials, to my
thinking. are always a sign of bloodshed
around this part of the country"
y
The locomotive. with rumbling wheels
and screech of escaping steam. came
abreast of the station. From the ends
Of the three cars behind descended a
hundred blue-coated men, with rifles