The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-02-07
IN idle MOMENTS.


THERE WE'RE NO prisoners in the
i city prison on Wednesday and
the visitors at city hall were few. This
was perhaps fortunate for the prison
ers who might have been there, and for
the visitors who usually throng the
building, for the entire police force was
in most warlike mood. Weapons OF
almost inconceiveable size were -four
ished about the place and when the
Salvation army lassie, who visits the
police station every morning, put in
her appearance most dangerous look
ing firearm about two feet in length
was held up in her face.
Fred Romy, the police patrol oper-
ator, walked into the police station on
Wednesday morning and calmly draw
pocket laid 1t upon the table. The
regulars who always surround the
table, hastily drew their chairs back
to the walls and glanced uneasily
around to discover possible means Of
exit in case the thing began to shoot.
Upon examination the giant proved
to be large old fashioned, Colt, Of
the Remington make. 1t is Of the first
cylinder variety that is loaded by hand,
and exploded with percussion caps.
They work both ways and are al
ways mounted on a carriage when in
tended for business.
Not very long after Romy came in
with his gun, a great big rusty weapon
walked into the station with Sam
Becherer, the turnkey. This weapon
even antedated the one Of Romy's and
1t took six men to hold it while Sam
administered a dose OF carbon oil to
get the rheumatism out of its joints.
Mayor Robertson became interested
in the gun question and told OF an
aged weapon which he possessed. He
produced some old lead balls about the
size of an eyeball to try in Romy's
cannon.
This, however, was not the last of the
dangerous looking arsenal into which
the city hall was converted. Janitor
Charley Goodman and Sanitary Police
man James Sell consumed the whole of
the dinner hour in trying to clean up
several pounds of steel, which had
been fashioned into the shape of a
revolver at some date long ago for
gotten. People were almost scared out
Of their wits when they happened to
catch sight of these warlike demonstra-
tions. Many imagined that the guns
were dogs Of war-mastiffs at that
which are so often talked about and
never seen.
Somsbody suggested that the council
weapons mounted upon gran
lite pedestals and placed in the lawn
city hall.
The eXpcdients to which workmen
resort in order to keep the work of
constructing Cartons new buildings
going in zero weather are interesting
to the spectators. All are familiar
with the firepots that are used so free
ly this winter to allow bricllaying
even on the coolest days, but new
wrinkle was sprung on the public We'd
nesday by workman on Seventh
street. He was attempting TO cut
stone, but the weather was so cold
that the stone was as hard as flint.
Becoming dlsgusted, or wishing to fa-
cilitate his work, he poured Oil over the
big stone and set fire to 1t. While the
flames were curling about his hands
he piled the mallet and chisel and
made rapid progress.
The trick may be en- old one to stone
cutters, but it was a new one to the
ordinary citizen.
You can dePend on it-there will
be very small peach crop next year."
said an uptown citizen who takes more
than passing interest In fruit grow
ing.
Upon what do you base your state
ment?" asked by-stander.
because the trees cannot stand the
degree of cold weather we have had
during the past few days." was the
reply. when the thermometer gets
down to ten degrees below zero you
may Gs well say goodbye to all hopes
Of a large peach crop. This fact has
been noted and discussed by the Peach
Growers association at its meetings
and after number of years OF observa-
tion have found it to be very general
ly true. Mack my words and see IL it
is not So"