Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-14
TOOK A BEE TREE.
THRILLING PRANK PLAYED ON
TWO YOUNG Mss LAST NIGHT.
Mr.. FRiSCHKORH WAS DESERTED.
A Cburch-HiIl Fireman left His
Fallen Companion md Fled for
His Life-virginia Soldier Did the
Same Tbing-A Successful Joke.


two miles and half from Richmond.
There Is a rich story twined about that
tree like Ivy. The Ivy shall lose It's emer-
aid hue before the thrilling incidents OF
this tale fpie from the minds of those
most closely connected with it. The fire.
men of the Twenty-ffth street engine
house will never forget it.
To be more specific, u substitute OF
Steamer Company No. and an ex-mem-
Der OF Company NJ. Second Virginia Regi-
ment. will certainly never forget the ter
rible experience last night brought them.
1t is equally certain that neither will
ever tell about IT,
1t all came about this way: Day be-
fore yesterday Mr.. Barney Frischkorn
was around at the engine-house on Twen-
ty-hfth street. chatting with his friends.
II know where there is a fine bee-tree
not far from Richmond" he said.
What says sub-ireman, all attention
in minute-"where is it2'
"Oh, down in the woods, and I am go
ing TO take IT, declared Mr.. Frischkorn,
III / can get any one to go with me-"
I'm go" says the sub. my wife was
raised on honey" 80 will l." says the
ex-soldier.
The others sitting about were on to the
joke. Mr.. Frischkorn began then to pick
out those ne wanted to go with him.
DON'T GET TOO MANY.
Presently the sub. came around and
asked to have a word with Mr.. Frisch-
korn. He begged him not TO take too
many. as they would not get much honey
apiece when they divided up. Every
thing was arranged The plan was TO
take these very young" men to the bee
tree. They were 10 cut ii down, while
Mr.. Frischkorn and several others. who
were to share the honey. held the lights.
The owner Of the tree and several other
men with guns and pistols were sudden
ly 10 rush upon them and fire. Mr.. Frisch-
korn was TO fall-shot
The very young men were TO do the
rest. They did il. The plan was carried
out to perfection.
The men at the engine-house laughed
themselves TO sleep last night-all save
two.
Last evening about $50 o'clock the
party set out from Twenty-ffth street.
1t consisted of Mr.. Frischkorn, with
bicycle lamp; Mr. George West, with q
Gray, with another bucket; Mr.. Louis
Ball. a carving knife to dig out the honey:
Mr.. A. w. Bethel, also light, and last
~ the sub-fireman and the ex-soldier,
each with an axe They started off, the
merriest company one ever did see. The
fireman was in the greatest glee.. 1t was
a holiday with him, for he had been ex-
cused from duty, at his request, to go.
'Mr. Frischkorn," he asked, how much
honey do you think is there"
About 15 pounds" was the reply.
How large is the tree?" he asked.
"Why, it is about the size of my body"
the rotund gentleman addressed made re-
turn.
well. anyway, Wen soon cut her down,
and it will be worth the trouble"
ANOTHER PARTY GOES OUT.
SO they logged along. In the mean
time another party of at least forty men,
with guns and pistols. like young regi-
ment, We're going out TO the bee-tree
by another route. 4 The tree is located
down under Todds hill, between the
Did Peasants estate, on Thirty-frst
street. and the York-River railroad They
were not long In reaching the place The
and the ex-soldier were soon
throwing axes in true woodman's style.
The chuck of the blades resounded
through the silent woods. Barney and
the torch-holders stood around They
were chatting gleefully. All at once there |
was a pause-a deep silence--so says the |
fireman. There was a mighty rustling |
)f leaves, a breaking of boughs, and in |
SANITY the forms Of angry men sprang |
from the underbrush twenty yards away. |
What the ID are you doing here, cut
ting my bee-tree?" a hoarse voice yelled. |
There was no time for reply. A crash |
Tell upon the air.
POw-pow, crack, crack, went guns and |
pistols. Mr.. Frischkorn fell 10 his knees, |
and then, with dreary moan. sank to |
the ground. Messrs. West. Bethel, Gary, |
and Ball rushed to Mr.. Frischkorn's side. |
Barney" are you shot? they cried. Mr.. |
West looked up. The fireman was max |
ng streak in the black air. The ex-
soldier, in another direction, was parting |
the bushes and plunging at break-neck |
speed. Bob" called West at the top Of |
his voice. come here and help me with |
Barney he is dying"
GOT NO TIME FOR BARNEY.
AS the man passed out i'm the dark
ness, a voice screamed out: "An't got |
no time to look after Barney now" The !
man who went In the bushes at the other
angle made no reply at all. Barney sud-
itIis came W me- AnI party WIN ulI
the shooting joined them, and they all
lay down on the pine-tags rolling and
shaking with laughter. They laughed
ill they were so weak that they had |
10 rest before being able to walk home
They got back to the engine-house about ,
% o'clock. A Dispatch writer was there
10 greet them.
where's the honey?" he asked.
ASK that gentleman coming across |
he street." said one.
Sure enough, there was the ex-soldier |
getting in like he had rather be going
anywhere else in the world-or out OF it
han just where he was. He was |
meek and pale, and when asked where
he was going, said, laconically, TO bed"
He told a man before he reached |
he engne-house that all had been shot
oUt himself saying. And l alone. am
eft to tell the tale"-innocently quoting
Scripture.
About ten minutes later the fireman
reported for duty. His face looked worn
and aged. His clothes were torn and his |
hands and face were bleeding from the
or briers. Some one asked the
Dispatch writer If he wanted To interview
lim. The reporter had seen the look on
he freman's face as he came In, and