Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-09-15

on and see If they were all right

on and see If they We're all right
"'Don't you get in any fight, she
said. which shows that the women
knew what was in the air.
Sarah led the way anu the others
followed her"
Those big, brawny fellows from the
Grove when they got merry were look
ing always for chance to get mad
at some man and turn him into
plaything. A chance had come to get
mad and they were going to make the
most Of it. They began to growl with
resentment. Some were wigging their
leader, Jack Armstrong, to fight Abe.
One of them ran to his horse and
brought bottle from his saddle bag.
1t began passing from mouth to mouth.
Jack Armstrong got the bottle before
1t was half emptied drained it and
flung 1t high in the air. Another
called him hog and grappled him
around the waist and there was des-
perate struggle which ended quickly.
Armstrong got hold on the neck Of
his assailant and choked him until he
let go. This was not enough for the
sturdy bully of Clary's Grove. He
seized his follower and flung him so
roughly on the ground that the latter
lay for moment stunned. Armstrong
had got his blood warm and was now
ready for action. With wild whoop
he threw off his coat, unbuttoned his
right shirtsleeve and rolled it to the
shoulder and declared in loud voice,
as he swung his arm In the air, that
he could tout jump. out hop, out rum
throw, down, drag out an lick any man
in New Salem"
In letter to his father Samson
writes:
; "Abe was working at my elbow. I
saw him drop his hammer and get up
and make for the ladder. knew
something was going to happen and
/ followed him. In minute everyone
was off the roof and out of the build
ing. guess they knew what was
coming. The big lad stood there
swinging his arm and yelling like an
Injun. 1t was big arm and muscled
and corded up some. but guess if I'd
showed the calico off mine and held it
up he'd pulled down his sleeve. +
didn't know just how good a man
Abe was and l was kind o scairt for
minute. never found it so hard
work to do nothin' as did then. Hon.
est, my hands kind O ached. wanted
to so an cuff that feller's ears an
grab hold O him an toss him over the
ridge pole. Abe went right up to him
an said:
":Jack, you amt half so bad or half
so cordy as ye think ye are. You say
you can throw down any man here.
I reckon I'll have to show We that
you're mistaken. I'll rassle with we.
| We're friends an we won't talk about
lickin' each other. Les have a friend
~ rassle.'
''In second the two men were
locked together. Armstrong had
lunged at Abe with yell. There was
no friendship in the way he took hold.
He was going to do all the damage
he could in any way he could. Half
drunk, Jack Is a man who would bite
| your ear off. 1t was no rassle; It was
fight. Abe moved like lightning.
He acted awful timber an we'll
creased. In second he had got hold
Of the feller's neck with his big right
hand and hooked his left into the cloth
ON his hip. In that way he held him
off and shook him as you've seen our
dog shake a woodckuck. Abe's blood
was hot. II the whole crowd had
piled CHI him guess he would have
come out all right, for when he's
reused there's something In Abe more
than bones and muscles. suppose
it's what I feel when he speaks a
piece. It's kind Of lightning. guess
it's what our minister used to call the
power of the spirit.
"A friend Of the bully jumped In
and tried to trip Are. Harry Needles
stood beside me. Before I could move
he dashed forward and hit that Teller
in the middle Of his forehead and
knocked him fiat. Harry had hit Bap
McNoll, the cock fighter. got up
next to the kettle then and took the
scum off 1t. Fetched one of them
OeVllS slap WIFI Tue SAuc VI NY udAu
that took the skin of his face and
rolled him over and over. When
; looked again Armstrong was going
limp. His mouth was open and his
tongue out. With one hand fastened
: to his right leg and the other on the
nape Of his neck Abe lifted him al
arms length and gave him toss u
the air. Armstrong fell about ter
; feet from where Abe stood and LAY
there for minute. The fight was ali
out Of him and he was kind Of dazed
and sick. Abe stood up like giant
and his face looked awful solemn.
Boys, II there's any more O. you
that want trouble you can have some
OF the same piece he said.
They hung their heads and not one
Of them made.a move or said word
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