The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-22

PRACTICAL JOKES in KANSAS.
What They Used to Consider Fun in
the Early Days.


the Early Days.
From the Dodge City Globe-Republi-
can.
Back in the lurid old times of Dodge
City, the fighter may have had his days
off but the practical joker took no va
cation and worked overtime. Even
new settler couldn't be in Dodge more
than twenty-four hours before the
practical joke microbe began to burroW
in his hide like a chigger. Nose Wa
tiers and r. NJ. Wright were past mas
tiers. Their work was pretty strong,
but usually it was directed by third
party. Once, at least, however, they
clashed, and that time is one which
will always be remembered by old
timers in Dodge City. Waters saw
Wright in his store selecting a new
suit of clothes one evening. He had
Wright Swallowed" until he found he
had donned the new garments and
few moments later Wright received a
message from Waters saloon, ostensi-
bly, from a United States army officer
at the fort, presenting the officers COM
pliments and requesting the pleasure of
Wrights company at Waters wine
rooms. Such messages were not rare
in those days and a little later Mr..
polite invitation. About half of the
trip east on Front street led along a
row of fiat top frame buildings. The
walk was covered with board awnings
and on top of these awnings were nu-
merous barrels of water which served
as a makeshift fire protection. Waters
had men mounted near the last barrel
and as Wright emerged from the end
of the walk he was struck squarely by
Of fav hs
ed into whisky barrel. He was lit
orally drenched and the weight of the
water bore him to the ground and took
his breath. Waters appeared from
some hidden corner and piped sweetly
What's up, Bob? Wetting your new
suit"
The town laughed-and waited.
A few weeks later a burly, big-fist-
ed Missourian struck Wright for work
Was willing to do anything" Wright
sized the stranger up. Then he look
ed across at Waters barn. This barn
and the bloOded horses that it contain
ed were the special pride of Waters.
The barn was newly painted a bright
| red. Wright looked at that barn and
twinkle was reflected in his eye
He looked back at the Missourian. He
told him that he had red barn; that
people were making fun of it's color
| and that he wanted it whitewashed
The Missourian took the job. There's
crazy lrishman here in town." ex-
planned Wright, that imagines he
owns that barn. I expect he'll try to
stop you. If he bothers you break a
bucket of whitewash over his head and
I'll pay double price for the work"
| The Mssourian said he would white
wash the barn and he'd like to see any
lunatic stop him.
Half an hour later the big Missou-
rian was daubing the barn as if his
life depended on covering up the red
in given time. Waters English
'ostler' poked his head through a
side window and demanded to know
what the fellow was doing The Mis-
sourian took quick aim and placed a
coating of whitewash two inches thick
across tho hostler's features. The
vanquished Englishman quit the scene
and ran into Waters presence He
was SO bedaubed with whitewash that
he had to introduce himself to his
employer before he was recognized. He
was splitting and spluttering in way
that suggested hydrophobia but he
managed at last to blurt out that there
was a blooming blarsted IDIOT daubing
whitewash all over the barn. Waters
made his way to the scene, ordered
the Whitewater to stop, and the Mis-
Sourian daubed away faster than ever
and his fists began to itch. A consum-
ing desire came over him to get one
good, square punch at the offenders
head. He remembered the plastered
mug of his hostler and kept his eye
on the brush, all the while slowly
edging up closer to get within reach.
He was almost ready to land a blow
when the Missourian suddenly wheel
ed about and forced a large bucket of
whitewash down over his shoulders.
Waters broke away from the bucket
and frantically scraped the whitewash
from his face. There was murder in
his eye when he got down to it, The
crowd was gathering and the fight
was furious. The Missourian saw
that the odds were against him. He
fought and hewed his way through
the crowd, crossed the line onto the
reservation and succeeded in getting
away. Mr.. Wright had been watch
ing the proceeding from a distance but
before the smoke of battle had cleared
away he had ordered his team and
left town. He knew that Waters and
his friends would be good friends la
ter on, but just at that time, until
things cooled off a little, he know
equally as we'll that Waters and him
self couldn't stay in the same town
over night and both enjoy good health.
a few days later mutual friends patch
ed up truce and Wright returned to
town.