Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-02-23
such falsehood TIL find out his trick

such a falsehood TIL find out his trick
il can"
l have always felt ashamed of the
artifice 10 which we resorted, for do
not think that it was quite honorable,
even with the motive of exposing a de-
ception. What we did was to 60 out
side the fair grounds fence and come
round in the rear of the cage. Beg
"show'' was placed on one side Of the
grounds near the fence. Through
chink in the upright boards we watched
his operations for an hour or more. 1t
was some time before we gained the
least hint as to the true nature of his
gift, but we noticed that the cage had
q double bottom, or rather two bot
toms. about three inches apart, each
of sheet iron, and that when Bee wished
to set the turkeys dancing he thrust
the iron rod between the two bottoms
and ratified it against them. But this
was no adequate explanation, aud we
were still in the dark.
Three or four successive exhibitions
of the dance were given while we were
watching. Probably:the poor turkeys
were getting tired; for we observed
that during the last dance Bee had to
rattle vigorously two or three times.
After few minutes another 50 cents
was subscribed; we could hear the
crowd calling out: ION with the
dance! Keep it going!" Then we saw
Bee step back between the cage and the
fence, so as to be concealed from the
spectators by the curtain. As he poked
the fire under his oven he slyly threw
three hand-shovelfuls of the burning
coal from the stove between the two
sheet iron bottoms of the cage. Then
he ratified with the shovel, and, STEP
ping out, pulled open the curtain. In
moment the turkeys were dancing
smartly; we could hear them hop and
futter very plainly.
I smile even now when recall the
look of mingled triumph and disgust
on Toms face as he glanced at me to
see if I, too, had comprehended.
"That's his gift!" he whispered.
''The cruel little scoundrel! That's the
way he's taught the poor things to
dance-by roasting the bottoms of their
feet! I'll wager that he blistered them
more than once before he educated
them to hop Highland Fling!"
"But he doesn't seem to put in hot
Goals every time," said.
but that part is plain enough" re-
piled Tom. He has got the poor erea-
lures in such terror of a scorching that
the very sound of the shovel or poker
will set them hopping"
1t was pretty evident that we had di-
vined the nature of Beg gift. AS we
stood there we could hear him talking
glibly of the different fairs at which
he had exhibited his turkeys. "Next
week I shall show them to the people
of Franklin county at their annual cat
tie show at F. we heard him add.
YES" said Tom, II am much obliged
for that bit of information. l have q
cousin living there who is lively sort
of fellow. I'll drop him hint as to
what's coming. Something will be sure
to follow
AS we went past the post office Tom
stepped in, bought an envelope, and
sent the following note:
Dear Nose: Look out for a fellow with
seven dancing turkeys at your cattle show
next week. He's tricky and cruel. He will
tell you he has peculiar gift for teaching
them; but the way he does it is by putting
live Goals in at the bottom of the cage.
We caught him at it. Get the boys together
and expose his trick and cruelty.
The manner in which the Franklin
county boys exposed Bee was described
in the Franklin Gazette, in it's account
of the fair, the following Saturday.
give the item verbatim:
Prominent among the side shows was d.
cage Of wonderful dancing turkeys. ex-
hibited by one Bee Samuels, youth not
unknown to fame, who also RECALLED the
multitude with fresh-roasted peanuts and
sweet cider. The dancing exploits of the
turkeys were really astonishing. and
proved feature" at once. A turkey
taught to dance Highland Fling was
novelty which Immediately attracted pub
lie attention.
The exhibitor expatiated upon the pa
thence, Kindness and peculiar gift requisite
Tor training turkeys to such high art in the
Terpsichorean line.
But alas for Bee! It was discovered that
PSSAAAs~A II
Goals from his peanut rooster under the
thin iron bottom of the cage in which the
poor birds were confined.
Now the people of Franklin county are
great admirers of roast turkey, particular
~ toward Thanksgiving: but the idea of
roasting the turkey alive did not appeal
to them. Not much was said at the time.
but very early the following morning.
when as yet few people had arrived at the
fair grounds, a select party. headed, it is
said. by one Nose Evans, called round upon
the gifted Samuels, took him summarily
IN hand, and having removed his shoes and
stockings. popped him bodily into his own
cage. Our special constables, who would
doubtless have interposed, appear not to
have arrived at that hour, and quite re-
CARELESS of Beg protestations, the visit
ing Wags proceeded to fire up beneath the
cage.
1t is limited that in the matter of the
Highland Fling, Bee far outdid his tur-
keys for space Of at least five minutes.
and would have undoubtedly leaped much
higher had the top Of the cage permitted.
lie sang, meantime, upon very elevated
key.
He was finally let out with a hint that
travel would probably prove the best balm
for his heated soles. This advice he acted