The Glenwood post., 1922-01-12

stalwart. hard-faced blacksmith OF
about twenty-five with broad, heavy
shoulders. whose name has gone into
history. They had been drinking some
but no one of them was in the least
degree off his balance. They scuttied
around the jug for moment in per
feet good nature and then Abe ana
Mrs. Waddell provided them with the
best remnants of the dinner. They
were rather noisy. Soon they went
up on the roof to help with the rafters
and the clapboarding. They worked
well few minutes and suddenly they
came scrambling down for another
pull at the jug. They were out for
spree and Abe knew it and knew furtl.
er that they had reached the limit
of discretion.
"Boys, there are ladies' here and
we've got to be careful" he said
Lies stick to the Job till four O'Clock.
Then we'll knock off for refresh.
ments."
The young revelers gathered in
group and began to whisper together.
Samson writes that it became evident
then they were going to make trouble
and says:
"We had left the children at Rut.
ledge's in the care of Ann. went to
Sarah and told her she had better go
on and see If they were 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 and the others
followed her"
Those big. brawny fellows from the
Grove when they got merry were look
ing always for a 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 1t. 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
it was half emptied, drained 1t and
flung 1t high in the air. Another
called him hog and grappled him
around the waist and there was dcs.
perate struggle which ended quickly.
Armstrong got hold on the neck Of
his assailant and choked him until ha
let 60. 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 a wild whnop
he threw off his coat. unbuttoned his
right shirtsleeve and rolled 1t to the
shoulder and declared In loud voice,
as he swung his arm in the air, that
he could "out jump. out hop, out run,
throw down, drag out an lick any man
in New Salem."-
In letter to his father Samson
writes:
"Abe was working at my elbow.
saw him drop his hammer and get up
and make for the ladder. 1 knew
something was going to happen and
l followed him. In minute everyone
was off the roof and out of the build
ing. I guess they knew what was
coming. The big lad stood there
swinging his arm and yelling like an
Injun. 1t was q 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. I
didn't know just how good a man
Abe was and was kind o. scairt for
a minute. l never found 1t SO hard
work to do nothin' as did then. Hon
est, my hands kind O. ached. wanted
to 60 an cuff that fel!er'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 cordv rs &c think ye are. You say
you caiTi throw down any man here.
1 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 friend.
ly rassle.'
"In q second the two men were
locked together Armstrong had
lunged at Abe with yell.s 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 man who would bite
your ear Off. 1t was no rassle; 1t was
fight. Abe moved like lightning.
He acted awful timber an well
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
of and shook him as you've seen our
dog shake woodcEuck. Abe's blood
was hot. II the whole crowd had
piled cn him I guess he would have
come out NIL 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
piece. It's kind Of lightning. guess
It's what our minister used to call the
pnwar of tha spfrft