Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-08-08

that you are, in fact what is called
copperhead; We have. come to test
your loyalty by asking you to cheer
our flag"
q am not copperhead," said Mr..
Blank.
But we, have heard' replied the
captain, that you have said a great
}many things against the government
and loyal men will not in these days
/ do that"
/ TN tell you what | have said"
4 answered he; Il have said that so far
1 as / am concerned in this matter, it
lis fight Skunk, fight rattlesnake-I,
! don't care which BEATS
/ WELL" replied the captain, "that
is not the talk of a loyal citizen. If
you are what you should be, you will
cheer our flag"
'Fll never do it," returned Mr.
4 Blank.
i But you must do it," answered
i Captain Vanderpoel.
/ Il say viii not do it," persisted
Inc Olu I1du.
i AS the two old men confronted each
other, both calm and courteous in
) manner. yet none the less determined
4 the situation became both interesting
and exciting.
! Eyes, SIR replied Captain Wander
poel- doggedly, you will cheer the
flag; for, if necessary, We'll make you
do it. Bring up the colors!"
AS the colorbearer came up to
\ where the men stood, and the bright
: folds of red, white and blue, lightly
about the head and face of Mr.. Blank,
he still declared, in a tone as logged
J as the captains, mo sir! I'll die be-
fore I'll cheer your flag"
Then replied the old captain,
you may die! Boys, bring a rail-"
Half dozen sturdy young lumber
: men stepped quickly to the nearby
, fence and brought a knotty tamarack
: pole to the captain; then they await,
ed orders.
t Once more, looking the old man
: straight in the eye Captain Wander
poel deliberately said, "Mr. Blank,
whether you choose to do so or not,
we insist that you shall cheer our
: flag; you will do it before we get
through with you. I'll give you one
more chance, and you'd better cheer
it now
| Il have told YOU replied the old
: 90
, You may do as you please with me,
/ but will not give up to you"
t Boys quietly ordered the cap
tain, Gift him on
| Mr. Blank was soon astride the
rail and riding, to the. tune of ''The
/ Rogue's March, at the head of the
/ company around toward Newman's
4 When the procession was halted he
: was again asked whether or not he
5 was ready to cheer the stars and
stripes, to which he answered mo,
| sir!'
5 new harness line was brought
5 from a shop in the building; this was
: looped about his neck and he was led
partly dragged-to the barn. After
another refusal to cheer the flag, the
4 line was thrown over the beam and
the old man drawn up. The captain
t watched him pretty closely and when
: he had got black in the face ordered
!, that he be let down. Though still
| alive, he was as limp as a rag. He
5 soon recovered his breath and con-
l seriousness, however, and was again
3 asked if he were ready to cheer the
! flag He answered feebly: No, I am
/ not; but want to ask that when you
| draw me up again you leave me till
n am dead. Don't let me down again :"
:, TO this the old captain replied:
j mo, sir. we shall hang you a dozen
f times before you de unless you are
willing to cheer this flag. What do
t you say now?"
4 At this the old man weakened, and
t said he would cheer as well as he
!, could. | had not seen this hanging
/ myself for as soon as the company
} had been dismissed had hurried into
the house and could not, excepting by
/ compulsion, have been got near the
: barn. But when | heard that he was
10 cheer the flag | fastened out to
see 1t done. The colors we're held
over him and he very feebly thur
rahed'' three times. swinging his old
: hat above his head. Captain Wander
: poel then wrote out for him to sign
7 4
never attempt to carry out any of the
vile threats he had made; that he
would never say or do anything not
becoming good and loyal citizen
and that he would ever maintain all
due respect for sour national emblem
. When he had. as well as he could
} signed this. using the head Of our bic
bass drum for a writing table, he was