The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-29


head and butternut pins, which were
the embleIns Of disloyalty. was very
Offensive to the sentiment Of that
neighborhood; and while they would
be very glad to have them and their
friends from Jefferson county remain
for the religious services. 1t would be
best for slem to remove the pins.
Very quickly crowd gathered about
this center The elder of the broth
ers declared that they were entitled
to wear any kind of pins which they
desired, and that It would be just as
unreasonable to ask them to take on
their clothes as to take Oh their pins,
and very emphaticalIy announced that
they would not remove them. Ny
father carried what was known as =
cavalry Colts revolver. having bar
rel about twelve inches long. but to
me, as he drew it out at that time, it
| looked to be about three feet long.
Mr.. Ankrum had hardly ceased speak
| ing when he found himself confront
| ed BY that rather formidable weapon,
and heard my father saving to him
Tat he would give him just about q
| quarter of minute to take of the
Objectionable pin. Every man on the
ground instantly displayed revolver.
The Ankrums and the four or five
men with them we're surrounded.
They saw that resistance would be
hopeless and becoming very much ex-
| cited and alarmed, in their excite
ment found it very difficult to unfasten
the pins. Many of our men we're also
quite excited and were impatient.
Among others was Mr.. Alexander
Mccall, ..ervous and infiammable
/ Irishman, who pushed his way into the
i inner circle of the crowd surrounding
the Ankrums. and did thing which
III fancy one of those brothers never
4 forgot. He held in his hand q six
inch Colts revolver, which was cock
ed. and with finger on trigger. he be
gan in wild and reckless way e
punch its muzzle into the stomach Of
one Of tae leaders 1t was ucklisf
performance, and the state of mind o.
the attacked can be more easily
d imagined than described. However
Il the Irishman was pulled away an6
through good fortune, his revolver was
not discharged. The surrounded mel
in their agitation, the most of then
unable themselves to remove the pins
!. begged our men to take them on To-
q them, witch was promptly if not th'
most carefully done.
7 In the meanwhile the other mem
bers of the invading band. thorough,
alarmed by the display Of firearms OF
the part of the men of our communal.
!, took to flight and disappeared in tn
, woods and were not seen thereafter
, The Ankrums and their friends. hay
ing been stripped, of taeir rebel en-
'blems. asked that they might be pei
:. mitted to depart But my fathe
said. You have come over to r.
! ligious service which will now shorl
!, begin. You viii not be permitted 4
! leave until after the heaediction.
!, Therupon the six or seven men wer
! marched down - a front seat befor
: the platform, the services being lel
4 in the grove, and Mr.. Hayden. annonn'
: ed the opening hymn and went TO
. ward with the services. He delive
: cred a sermon in which he introduce
{. proper amount of patriotic feelinl
! to ali of which the friends from Je
i ferson county were compelled to II
4 ten. When the doxology had bee
j sung and the benediction pronounce
,s the Ankrums and taeir associate
: were assured that they would be vel
d / welcome to attend any future service
4. there. but we're advised. Il they shou
/. think well OF coming again. that
4 would be better for them to leave Il
\, copperhead and butternut pins
- home. They departed in wiser
Il not a more pious state Of mind tfia
y when they came, and that was I
1s last invasion OF our neighborhood
ut our enemies on the north
lie
It Thanks to Congressman Kennedy.
a -