The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-12-20
CORPORAL BELCHER QUElLS
A RIOT

't0doi IL thS oSi II q
tested a physical superiority had
obviously, to be considerable Of
man from the viewpoint of phys
ique and agility. Corporal Bobby
Belcher had been a London cab
driver, as typical a Cockney as
one could find. Born and reared
within the sound of the Bow bell
his life had been a struggle
against odds. He is the only man
l ever knew who l was convinced
really enjoyed fighting better than
he did eating. He got a thrill
out of the mere prospect OF a bat
tie, although not once during the
years l knew him did he ever pick
one. In a free-for-all, the particu-
lar brand of combat he seemed to
relish most, they could not come
too fast for him. There never was
a more accommodating individual
than he when in the presence of
one or more men who were itch
luS lOl III OQOiO+ l. - oNi oNA
a foul blow, but he could swear
faster and more vehemently, es-
pecially when a physical encount-
er was going the hardest, of any
man in the entire northwest. Some
of the epithets he applied to his
a~dversaries while in the thick of
L.+x11 --@,1I horn h1iCfQrnd thQJr
souls had they been able to un-
derstand his dialect.
In a sober conversation, it both
cred him not at all that the per-
son to whom he was talking could
understand only a word here and
there. He %contended that he was
the only one in Canada who spoke
pure English, Happy-go-lucky,
rough and ready, it was a privi-
lege to be in his company if one
had nothing serious on his mind.
During certain parts of the year
it was the duty of the police to
perform Crown timber duty, which
meant patrolling the government
forest preserve to prevent en-
croachment by individuals or the
lumber companies. The district
was composed of lumberjacks,
trappers, and others who lived by
exertion and whose recreation
was drinking and fighting. The
ruggedness OF the people is illus
trated by the fact that once each
year the floor in front of the bar
and the top of he bar itself were
recovered by the saloon keepers.
If business was good they might
be covered oftener than once a
year. The huge h%ob-nailed shoes
of those woodsmen dug deep into
the floor, and a bartop was the
stage upon which many a drunk
en- clog-dance was stepped. These
PEOPLE w5re clannish, and the
leaders were aeiected by a pro-
cess Of elimination, ability as a
fighter being the standard by
leadership was measured.
Frequently two o. more of these
clans congregated in the same sa-
loon ard a battle royal followed
Interference by an inquisitiye or
officious stranger was the signal
for a combination of forces, with
the i%nterloper the unfortunate vic
tim. If he escaped with his life,
he usually was marked by the
prints of many hob-nailed shoes
his anatomy. The lumberjacks
preferred to fight among themsel-
and they resented the at
by the Mounted to main
tain peace and harmony.
1t was into the toughest of the
Crown timber country that Corpor-
al Belcher was sent. The engege-
ments he took part in while con-
yincing those timber workers he
meant business will go down in
history as classics Of their kind.
Singlehanded, he completely sub
1ued that country, and, may it be
said for him, he was the only
who ever tackled the job
alone. Those he had been sent to
discipline learned to respect his
ability and to Love him for his
,efreshing jollity.
Belcher had not been on the
,imber patrol a week before there
ccured a battle that presaged
MS success in the district. He
walked into a saloon one payday
evening just when a powerful log
was telling his comrades
What he would do if the new po-
icemap crossed his path. The bull
v was standing with his back to
he door, and as he flayed the
,ir with gesticulations, the cor
)oral walked up behind him ana
ouched him on the shoulder. Inc
sneaker caught a glimpse OF the
ed coat in the mirror, and ne
yhirled with a blow that couio
manned an OK.
1t never landed. Belcher dodg-
ID. pushing the man backward
With a plunge into his stomach
hat sent Kim %sprawling across a
,earby t-ble. There Belcher h id
i'm at the point of a gun while
,e addressed his foe and ms
wanty-five or so menaclng
riends. Translated from the
,ockney, his brief speech sound