Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-09


fighting they really went through the
drill in very creditable fashion; anc
Captain Ramsey had good reason for
telling them, as he did before breaking
ranks, that he was proud of them.
well, demonstrated some of the men
IF we can do it so good already, whats
the use of keeping US freezing our toes
just to do it some more?'
You wouldn't burst to talk back that
way to Gen Scott, if he was drilling
you" retorted the captain, who lost NJ
opportunity for reviving the recollection
that he had served In real war under that
herO's command.
Maybe so, but you amt no Gen
Scott" argued the men with cold feet.
He gOod-naturedly admitted the point
well taken; and after announcing the
usual ''dress-parade" at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, gave the order to ''break
ranks"
The American Eagle taYern-the prin-
cipal house of entertainment in town
had more patrons at dinner that day
than it could accommodate at one time,
so, in compliance with established custom
on such occasions, the first table was re-
served for ladies, and. while they were
dining, the men sought comfort elsewhere
in places where it could be had in IA fluid
and promptly assimilable form. One of
these places, despite the cold, was on an
open lot, little way above the tavern,
where a thrifty citizen had built an at
tractive log fire, and near it tapped a
barrel of "heart-of-cider," of his own
making.
Now, this" exclaimed Uncle David
Henderson, as he strolled up, spread him
self before the blaze and stretched out
his hand for a glass of the potent but
seductive beverage, SIS the sort of thing
| admire. A good fire to warm the toes,
a clean liquor of Natures brewing to
warm the heart, and all right out in the
pure, open air. 1 poked my nose into
McClOskey's. as 1 came along. looking
for friend, and l declare the heat and
the smoke and the vile smell of the liquor
cen almost made me sick"
Its a wonder to me-" remarked
neighbOr. touching glasses with Uncle
David, that young men find any pleasure
in such nasty places. I'll be bound you
weren't poisoned by the like when you
were young, or you never would have
grown to be the man you are"
Uncle David admitted that might be
true, though, so far as he was aware. he
had simply grown up big and strong be-
cause it was his nature to do so.
did you ever meet man as strong
as you are?'
"NO; that he didn't, I'll be boundv'
answered another for him, and a MUIR
INJURED chorus rumbIed around the circle
about the fire:
'''Tain't likelyw
Guess nOt"'
"Ain't but one Uncle Daver'
Uncle David" Henderson was one of
the most famous of the early settlers Of
Western Pennsylvania. and all through
that part of the country surprising leg
ends are still current relating to his giant
strength. He was an extraordinarily
large man, his stature slightly exceeding
six feet and four inches, but so admira-
Bile were his proportions that, unless
chance favored comparisons with others
a stranger would not be likely to appre-
ciate readily how enormous he was. He
had a kindly face, blue eyes and very
soft, brown hair, we'll inclined TO curl
that at this time was frightened, here
and there, by threads of silver, and his
close-curling beard was
almost white. No better-tempered man
lived, yet few had more frequent fights
if so might be termed the brief muscular
exercises with which he saddened those
who assaulted him. No i'll feeling charac-
terized the attacks upon him. Other big
and strong men simply wanted to have it
determined whether he was their physical
superior or not. He never had to settle
that question twice for the same man; but
in community that almost worshiped
bodily pr0wess-a condition inseparable
from frontier life, and one which persists
long after the direct causes have passed
away-its repetitions became monoton-
Gus.
On one occasion, while he was building
the Venice court house, as he sat doing
in the public room of the little hotel
where he boarded, after a long day of
very hard work, a burly West Virginian
presented himself and persisted in. wax
ing him up. Bystanders shook their heads
and said it was i'll advised; Uncle Dave
had been handling and hauling stone all
day, was tired and mightn't like it. But
the stranger was troubled with the same
old question.
Git up n fght!' he shouted, shaking
the drowsy giant I've heard of you
way down in the Panhandle, N we come
up to give you a tussle n see who's best
man."
Just say you are and let me alone. I'm
no fighter, and I'm tired and sleepy.
c. way protested Uncle David.
"WhoopeeI' yelled the Panhandler,
jumping up and cracking his heels to-
gether. I'm a wolf, I'm Il catamount'
I'm bull! Come n feel of my teeth,
Come n ride on my horns. Nobody can
lick me. WhOopee." And he dealt
Uncle David sounding smack on one OF
his placid e rehss
Just how happened he never after
ward could tell, but the rash mans first
sensation was of being poised in the air,
up near the ceiling; the next, of flying
through space, as if he had been shot
from a catapult; then of fearful crash
and darkness and the fading away of all
things. When consciousness returned. he
stiffly struggled to his feet. hobbled 10 the
door. and only pausing long enough TO
remark: "Gen'fmen. dern fool is gwine
back to the Panhandle of West Virgin
ny" passed out into the night and was
gone. Uncle David had hurled him, as
a strong boy might ball. against 4 wall
full twenty feet away. Then he sat down
and dozed again.
On the present occasion, the already
reported conversation among the group
of friends and neighbors about the
'hesrt-of- cider" barrel naturally led tc
drawing Uncle David out. 10 show some
thing Of what he 'ould do. and, upon the
pretext of a trihing wager. he was led Il
perform a feat that is still talked OF in
Washington County and has been unSuc
ceSSfully attempted since by thousands Of
oyher strong men.
Not more than 4 quarter Of liquor, the
owner said. had been drawn out OF thS
barrel, so that the weight Of the heavy
package and its contents could hardly
have been less than three hundred
pounds. Grasping the climb. or beveled
ridge made by the ends Of the slaves
which afforded only tre2eherous hold
for the ends OF his fingers. he. without
any apparent difheulty, lifted the barre