Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-25

the blow Erazed his check. Billy
caught him under the chin with a
stin right uppercut
BY that time BeuterbauEh struggled
like n mailman in the clutches of three
or four men. Dozens rushed to the
platform. Some there were who wanted
to lynch, others fought for peace.
The choir. under Brewster's inspir7-
ton. broke into brighten the Corner.
and the struggle RACED.
Finally. policemen succeeded in get
ting a muchiy battered Beauterbaugh TO
cell.
All Right. Says Billy
ITS All right. friends" said Billy,
and resumed his sermon while po-
liceman sat guard at the steps leading
to-, the platform.
The affair had blazed out like a spark
in powder. The meeting had opened
as usual and Billy had prefaced his
sermon with a statement that there is
no doubt how the war will end.
1--WE all know who's side God is on,
he said.
Homer Rodeheaver ana Robert Mat
thews had been called away from the
tabernacle and George Brewster sax
close to the platform steps. The giant
figure of Beuterbaugh, n six footer' and
broad in proportion, doomed up and
brewster grabbed at his sleeve.
With all respect to Brewster, who was
as brave as they make them, he was
powerless Beuterbaugh shook him off
as a bulldog would shake off a pup nip
ping his ears. and STROBE on.
Billy turned. and Beuterbaugh adj
vanced. smiling Then the blows, and
like a flash willard Cope, former news
paper man, who sat in the press box,
landed on the intruder's back.
Never was a hght scene more Ora
matically staged. There they fought,
evangelist. Cope. Beauterbaush and 9TH
ers beneath the glare of the big light
above the pulpit, high above the heads
of thousands who looked on.
Major r. j. Quinn and others dashed
forward. The mass struggled on the
edge of the platform. They swayed and
lunged and all rolled over the edge.
Cope. Major Quinn and the others kept
their hold Charlie Outlaw sprinted for
ward. Ben Padgett and dozens of others
focl1ed to the platform and Joined in the
melee
Blows Rained on His Head
Blows rained on Beuterbaugh's head
and he ducked.
xiii him. someone shouted.
Another stood on one chair and. raised
another high to bring it down on the
prisoners head. while others hammered
and pounded at him. Women tainted
and were carried to the hospital.
Mayor Gambler pushed his way into
the crowd and fought Off those who
thirsted for Beuterbaughs blood. Some
one frantically waved a policeman's
badge with a shout, I'm a policeman,
let me to him"
Above the din rose the melody of
Brighten the Corner Where You Are"
Those who first grabbed Beuterbaugh
held on with one hand and fought off the
crowd with the other. On and on the
choir sang, women's clear voices ringing
high above the din.
People began to trail back to their
seats. Policemen Dodd, Shumate and
Frye. who had been assisted by officer
Stegau and others. finally pulled their
prisoner from the mass of shouting
clawing, swaying humanity and got him
to a cell
It's the old time religion the choir
sang.
Billy turned to his pulpit, nursing
sprained finger. He had shown how he
could fight the flesh. II was time for
I'm all right. my friends" he said.
Let US know if you want him killed"
some one shouted.
I'm an old Confederate veteran"
yelled another, rising from his seat to
offer his services.
But Billy mentioned something about
he must be German" and lit into his
sermon
He preached as if nothing had hap
pened. Preached true TO form about
death and judgment, and the, meeting
wound up true to form with hundreds
OF trail hitters
Laughed over Attack
In his dressing room Billy told The
Journal that once before he had been
attacked, but it didn't amount. to much.
He laughed over the Beuterbaugh af-
fair as he changed clothes. He held no
malice The police had the fellow. Billy
lad nothing 70 say.
Sergeant Bob Waggoner offered the
service Of plain clothes men, and sew
eral went home with S8illy 10 stand
guard during the night He is to be
carefully guarded during the rest of his
stay in Atlanta,
At his automobile Billy was greeted
by cheering dozens, while rumors flew
thick and fast OF a band of aSsassins'
and German spies.
Beuterbaugh. who attempted to see
Billy last Monday at the High home
on Peachtree road. where Billy and his
party arc living. and who knocked Bob
Matthews down when he refused TO ad-
nit Him: r-7s arrested and subsequently
freed. came TO the tabernacle early.
He made his way to the ropes that
barred him from the section reserved
for ministers. -.-
I want TO sit on the platform, "''he
told Charlie Outlaw. who stood near
by.
There is no ROOM" ar. Outlaw told
him.
Beuterbaugh replied that he was a
visitor and wanted to sit among the
preachers. He worked his way under
the ministers section. Clamhered up
and found & seat where he stayed until
Billy began preaching.
1t the police station Beuterbaugh re-
fused tn talk TO Desk Sergeant ;. !.
Roberts. Letters in his pocket gave