Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-12-02
ALL NIGHT IN A COFFIN.
It Happened in >nsas to One David
J. r.. is.

It Happened in nsas to One David
]. Re is.
A career that among its incidents
comprises whale catching in Wales
and sleeping in a coffin in Kansas at
least has the merit Of variety, and
these are two Of the variations in the
life of David J. Roberts, foreman Of
the first division of the Government
Printing office, q man who has run the
gamut of the usual experiences Of
tourist" printer in the days before the
Mergenthaler machine revolutionized
the usages of the craft.
''The picturesque and ancient town
Of CarnarvOn, Wales" said Mr.. ROB-
erts, sis on the Menai Straits and was
the scene of great excitement one day
in 1873 while 1 was there doing the
in the water was very deep in the
straits, and q school of whales had
foated into the narrow channel with
the tide. AS these were very valuable
it was in the interest of the towns
people to prevent their escape; SO ev-
boats available were drawn across the
entrance to the straits, and each boat
was apparently loaded with crowd
of maniacs, for guns, pistols, tin pans,
and shouting were the means employ
ed to drive the huge animals up the
channel and to keep them there until
low tide should prevent their escape.
The efforts were successful in regard
to three Of the monsters, which were
driven ashore, and with much diff
Guilty killed. Then came my part In
this stirring adventure. l had been in
one Of the foremost boats when at
last the whales were driven high upon
the beach and was much interested in
their killing-so much SO that, ap
preaching too close, one of the beasts
in it's last struggles, struck me q gianc-
ing blow on the leg with it's TAIL
throwing me about twelve feet.
awoke in the hospital, where I remain
ed for weeks. My only souvenir Of
the days fun is a bad scar on my leg,
which [ shall carry to my grave
1.-THE winter Of $780," continued Mr..
Roberts, who was in reminiscent
mood, 'was a very severe one in Kan
sas, as | have reason to remember
1 was publishing a weekly paper at
Americas, town Of 500 inhabitants.
My office was in a room about 100
feet deep. Of this l occupied about
forty feet, the balance being filed with
the surplus stock of a merchant next
door, and this surplus was collins. At
first they were rather grewsome to
look at, but soon grew accustomed to
their presence-even familiar with
them, as you shall learn. The room
was heated by good stove at my end
Of the building, but as the chimney
was at the extreme other end of 1t
necessitated the use of very long
stovepipe that ran back over the piled
up caskets One bitter cold night |
sought my bed at the hotel and tried
to sleep, but it was too cold. l got
up, dressed, and with all the blank
cts around me I made another attempt,
but in vain. 1 felt myself slowly
turning into an elongated icicle. So,
in despair, went across the square to
the office, intending to start a good
fire and at least keep warm. Stuffing
the stove full Of corn bundles l soon
had a roaring fire and drew up my
chair to enjoy it. But, oh, how [ did
want to sleep! I nodded, awol1e with
a start, and nodded again. Then l
noticed how hot the stovepipe had
grown-the collins must be warm, too
In another minute l had climbed to
one Of those directly under the pipe,
pulled off the lid, slipped in, and found
solid comfort The question of cold
bed or bed room troubled me no more
that winter, nor morbid thoughts of a
last resting place, either."-Washing-
ton Post.