The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-06-03


and Fair Ground we're used for parade
and drill purposes.
How we'll do remember Col. Samuel
A. Rice, Lieut.. Col. c. HI. Mackey and
Major Gibson and Capt. Denny M.
Gum in their bright. new uniforms
when the regiment was out on the COM
mons for dress parade and inspection.
i spent about half my time in the
camp, ate bakers bread, boiled meat,
cabbage and potatoes and drank black
coffee with the soldiers every day. !
peddled papers, too,-the Hawk-Eye
and Gate-City. We didn't get the Chi
cago papers in those days. The sol
dierse were the first to get n-plas-
tiers and when they offered them in pay
for my papers, wouldn't take them.
Soon silver was all gone and | had to
take the shin-plasters or quit business;
took them. When the regiment left
that fall it marched to Eddyyille and
II and several other Oskaloosa boys OF
about my age followed. We were soon
rounded up by the city marshal of that
town and sent home in lumber wag.
on. We got to Eddyyille about noon,
and | at once went to the depot and
hid under the platform SO that when
the train was loaded and ready to
pull out could jump aboard and go
with them. | hadn't had anything to
eat since early morning and along to-
wards evening my hunger became very
acute There were dozens of big dry
goods boxes just above me on the plat
form filled with bakers bread and got
a big loaf and put it under my coat
land started for my hiding place when
a bunch of Eddyville boys who had
[where | was and ordered me in very
NOISY way to put the loaf back. While
l was arguing the question with then
the city marshal, attracted by the noise
came up and after asking me few
questions, concluded | was the lad hi
was looking for and took me up t.
headquarters. We reached home tha
might more dead than alive, about hal
frozen. | wanted to be drummer BIO!
like Tommy Cox. If there ever was {
boy that envied, it was he. | under
stand that he is still living at Pella.
| The Herald has been regular week
lly visitor at my fathers home as ia
Iback as | can remember, and while
was at home and for many years after
wards in my own home, it's coming wal
ALWAYS looked forward to with grea
pleasure. During the war it was 10
Gated in the second story of the bricl
building on the west side of the square
built by w. B. Street and G. w. Baer
John K. Needham was the editor, ant
Henry C. Leighton-and w. H. Needhan
were the type stickers and AL Swain
was "the devil" They went to tn,
war. When it was over, they returned
to Oskaloosa and in the course of TIM
became owners and editors of the Her
aid and moved it to the two-story fran,
building on the alley west or the Ma
Ihaska State Bank. While it was Their
became devil" in the office an,
lseryed in that capacity for three years
One OF my first duties was to go to tn
other printing shops in town for a.
'italic shooting stick" l looked 70
lice in the types" and "Jeffed" witt
1.-THE boys for drinks (soft ones). Man,
patrons of the Herald of that time will
remember the little red-headed carrie
who brought the Herald to. them ever.
Thursday morning, rain or shine, snow
lstorm or what-not, and on New Year
lday would come around to them will
his New Years greeting-a little poem
printed in the highest style of the ar
at that time-and gave it to them.
always received a quarter in return
One OF the Herald's present owner
and editors, Charles Hoffmann, sue
ceeded me as devil" and | was trans
ferred to the composing room.
] hope some day to be permitted t
visit Oskaloosa, for time and absenc
have not oblfterated the desire to view
and mingle with the scenes of m
youthful days.
| Very truly,
w. P. HEIILINGS.