Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-13
before seen him accord to anything

alive or dead. He handled it gently at
arms length, while the audience saw
to it that there was always a clear
space in the line of the plug. Never
before did an unholy, inanimate object
If that jug could be called inanimate
receive such respectful treatment. .
Grasping the stopper cautiously
with both hands, Mike called for vol
unteer to cut the rope An innocent
youth from the middle west, in some
what cynical Indifference, stepped for
ward The rest Of us stepped back
The critical moment had come. Mike
braced himself for the shock and nod
ded to the youth to cut. Not a
soul breathed as the old case knife
slowly chewed it's way through the
rope 1t was cut. There was mo-
ment's silence while Mike slowly re-
leased his hold on the plug.
Mikes face fell, and ripple OF
laughter ran through the crowd. We
could not hear what Mike said dis
tinctly, but what we heard was
enough. He proceeded to investigate.
There came report like full-grown
cannon, a yell of agony as the youth
reeled backward to the ground. the
shrek of escaping gases and geyser-
like explosion obliterating the interior
Of the tent in pungent white mist.
i When the air had cleared sufficient
u ly to see anything, there was Mike, the
jug on bench in front OF him, both
hands clapped over the opening, and
!. every muscle strained to repress it's
struggles. The youth sat in far cor
ner nursing his face Both the men,
as we'll as everything else in the tent
were completely plastered, but Mike
! was radiant.
"Boys and boys" he shouted, "but
, that's powerful stuff! Hand me that
dish-pan, somebody"
} The crowd was wild with delight
Swing to her, Mike! Hold her! Give
, 'em fair play! Watch her, Mike, shell
4 down you yeti"
) No one would help him to an unfair
5 advantage. Every effort he made tt
, move one hand cautiously toward thu
3 coveted pan was met by a scream o
Y wal ming from the jug and howl o
delight from the crowd. A half dozeI
r such attempts had failed. The Jul
2 seemed to have him where 1t wanted
: him, but Mike would not go back OF
! the work of his hands; he continued t.
+ mutter between the intermittent gey
t sers, Boys and boys, but that's pow
! erful stuff"
Q The situation was becoming despel
! ate. He had proved his ability t
f make powerful stuff" all right, bu
It could he break it in for use, that wa
s the question.
y Realizing the crisis, Mike prepare
it for supreme effort. One more dyin
e shrek and the jug was upside dow
e in the dishpap. Mike beamed triun
phantly on the cheering crowd. w
e all pushed forward to see the wonde
d full result-a scant half-pint Of furiou
y yeast raging frantically around tn
Z, bottom of large dishpan-defeate
k but not disheartened.
If Some Spicy Items From Altar.
ID A Sioux Falls exchange quotes til
o. following spicy items which come d
N rect from the Rosebud reservation
h South Dakota, and which seem to b
It taken with as much concern as item
ID about Smith or Brown. The old sayinl
ID whats in a name?" could be easil
z. answered after this list of society item
', is read, and it is safe to say tn,
1t should one visit this unusual plac
it would be unnecessary to form ar
a Impressions Of ones own, when sue
ID vividly explanatory names are give
at when the personages of the comm
liz nifty are introduced. The items follow
ID Mrs. Shot at Hail is on the sick lis
I'd Thomas Red Elk was transactir
ID business at Cody Monday
~ Joseph Fire Heart visited relativ'
to at He Dog camp last Friday
st King Man, from He Dogs camp, VI
Of tied friends in this camp Sunday.
Mt Stands For Them from Corn Cree
st spent Sunday with Eagle Wolf al
IT. family.
ty Big White Horse from Pine Rid,
IT. visited with Ugly Wild Horse la
week.
Ike Rafting Leaf stopped in our can
4n on his way from the farmers to Il
1t. agency with an important letter to t
ug agent.
re- Nelson Caught The Eagle and Bl
er Thunder went to Antelope creek to v