The Topeka state journal., 1913-09-27
AWFUL Loss!
A TuribIe Calamity Happsnd at
Ramse SmiIey's Barn Raisin
Which Was a Hard Blow to all
the Barn Raisers Present Who
Went Home in Disgust Horrible
Details Below

Ransom Smiley had a barn raisin last
week. Ramse has been talking about
having a barn raisin ever sirst two
years ago, being as he said he was a
gong to bid new barn whereas the
old one was ali tumbled down and not
t1t to use no more, SO last spring Ramse
logged enuf lumber often his wood lot
to bid the barn with and had it sawed
at Snake Bend and the lumber drawed
to the barn site where Lem Brown, our
expert carpenter, has been working on
the foundashio1 tirnbers and uprigl1ts
getting same ready to be raised and
put into place, which he done last week,
and SO Ramse he give out notice that
the barn raisin would be held on last
Thursday and he would be much obliged
to his nabers if they would come and
help him with the job
Ramse also let it be knowd that he
would have 15-ga1. keg of hard cider
which was made this fall two years
which all who was thirsty might drink
freely. Soon as this news of the hard
cider was whispered around our most
respeckted citizens of Bingvil1e and
vicinity couldn't scarsely wait until the
day of the raisin, and when Thursday
arrived the men folks begin to arrive
at Ramse's not long after daylight and
askt where the 2-year-old hard cider
was, being as they didn't see it on tap
as Ramse said it was agoing to be-
Ramse he told the early arrivals that
he didn't think it would be advisable
to drink the cider first and then raise
the barn timbers afterward, and if they
would go ahead and put the timbers
into place he would then reveal the keg
of hard cider to their expectant eyes
Well, the boys present laid holt and
the way they lifted them big barn tim
bers into place was a caushion. BY g
a. m. they had the barn timbers half
raised, and being as it was a purity hot
day and the fellers had worked so hard
and faithful, Ramse thort it would be
as little as he could do to let them
knock off a few rninnits and tap the
keg of hard cider and give each man
tin dipperful all around, so Ramse
he hollers, Hi, fellers, kin you knock
off work long enuff to take little hard
ciderP" If a person could of saw how
the men who was raisin the barn tim
bers responded to this invitashion they
would of thort that all hands could
knock off all right. They dropt what
ever they was at like it was a hot
potater, and ali run lords Ramse. Jake
Hanover and Bill Williams, who was
at that ninnit Juggling heavy floor
sleeper lords the barn, let go of it like
it was a red hot iron and it fell and
broke right in two in the middle. Enos
McCracken, who was standing 10 #
up on a cross timber when Ramse give
out the invitashion, give a jump into
the air, and when he struck the ground
he strained his ankle SO that he's lame
yet.
Rarnse he led the fellers to the old
well back of the old barn where he gifts
water for his stock in dry weather and
pu1d the top often the well and told
the fellers that he had put the 15-gal.
keg of cider into a grain short sack
and then tied rope to the sack and
lowered sack and keg into the worter
of the well to keep it cool, and if they
would kindly take holt of the rope and
pull on same the keg would rise to the
occashion
Soon as Ramse said this willing hands
grabbed holt of the rope and up come