The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-03-25
pITGUIST HELD CHIEFS JOB

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man to fill the place OF marshal.
But would he accept such posi-
ton if it were offered him?
That was the one question that
worried the new aldermen consider
ably, but this was finally settled 10
the satisfaction of all concerned, al
ter several preliminaries regarding
salary, ETC., had been arranged ana
the committee on arrangement went
back to the city fathers with the glad
tidings that DeGrOOte would accept
the position.
No sooner had the news spread
over the town than a great hue and
cry was heard from the 'Old-timers'
and the small handful Of ultra re-
spectable"-if you know what that
term means They said, "Well, he's
got nerve. A common prize fighter,
only been a visitor here, and wants
to be chief and show US how to run
| the town Nothing in it, gentlemen,
positively nothing in it." But there
was something in it, to-wit: Ed
DeGroote, pugilist, and they couldn't
stop him The new aldermen stood
pat and DeGroote was sworn IN to
preserve order and enfOre the ordi-
nances of the town.
"Puguilist!" screamed the Opposi
ton. "Pugilist! Yes, nothing but
pugilist."
"Fine!" said DeGroote "Pugilist
is good enough for me, III put my
chips on that"
DeGrOOte Made Speech.
So night or two after his APP
pointment a mass meeting was called
for the purpose of circulating a petit
ton to the governor asking that the
entire administration be removed
from office and their successors ap-
pointed. DeGroote went to the meet
ing and made a speech.
''They's been reading the papers,
he said, 'and they find I'm a scrap
per. You bet I'm scrapper, and |
want to say here that I'm a good
scrapper and no fourth-rater. No
mug ever crawled through the ropes
of a ring who was too big or too
swift or too ugly for me to tackle.
No man | have ever fought was so
strong or so swift that | could not
rough it with him until he was worn
to a FRAGILE No man of my pounds
and inches ever licked me, and no
one can yet. And l want to say to
you people of Lumber City that |
am still pugilist, though now serv-
ing as your marshal, and if any of
your rOWdies and toughs give me the
least bit of trouble during my term
of Office III lick them quicker than
ever did an opponent in any con-
test | ever he'd in the past, and that's |
going some.
WhereupOn there were loud cries
and the opposition took a new track.
He played poker" they said. You |
bet l played poker" answered De-
GrOote, and play poker now, and if |
there is any man in this audience |
who ever sat in with me and didn't !
know he'd been through with me |
want him to stand up so that | can |
see the color of his hair"
More loud cries and tumuIt of mis-
cellaneous noise.
ReOPganized the Force.
Meanwhile DeGroote had reorgan-
lied the police force and appointed |
new deputies whom he knew would
enforce the laws of the town. The |
He cannot write permit or official |
order dramatically, though he is
Now here" replied DeGrOOte. |
"Now here" replied DeGroOte:
Il was born on a large vineyard in
south France and there were nine of
Us in the family. There was a log
school house a few miles away, and
we did no get much schooling be-
cause we had to work pretty hard
to help out our daddy and help sup
port the family. I'll admit | amt
very strong on grammar, but I've got
horse sense. l suppose | could hire
a man to do all my writing for me.
and fix it up nice and grammatical.
| suppose | can do that and it won't |
cost me much, but | want to tell you
folks I'm not going to do it. When
ever a crooked paper is passed up |
to me by the gang for my signature /
and the official endorsement I'll take
the biggest bottle of red ink | can
find and the stubbiest pen, and I'll /
write across it Nothing doing. Ed !
DeGrOote,' and that will be gram
NAUTICAL enough for them to under
stand"
The noise and cheering with
which this announcement was greet
ed was something scandalous. The !
Lumber City people liked DeGroOte's !
talk apparently, for the opposition |
ceased in it's attempt to GUST him |
from his office and he was allowed |
to continue unmolested in his fight |
against the rowdies and toughs of
the town.
All during his encumbrance of the |
Office he ran the town just as he
started out to do. and he was the /
fighting chief" sure enough, real /
and undiluted.
Don't chew the rag and wrestle
all over the street with these rpwdies
whenever you have to arrest them
he was once heard to say to the two
big deputies he had serving under
him. 1T is only a waste of time,
and besides it creates too much eX-
element. Ten to one you can't
throw them and pin them down long
enough to snap the darbie on them,