Held The Fort

The Ann Arbor ftailroad is striking numerous snags in its endeavor to straighten its road-bed north of Hamburg Junction. H. G. Beach aud wife, of Silver Lake, were among those who refused the oompany right of way. VTention is made of Mrs. Beaoh in this conuection, because she as much as her jusband, acted out the oonvictions of ;he two and was the heroine of the jour last Sunday morniug. Neither Beach nor his wife went to church that raorning. They had another engagement, it seems. When they refnsed the railroad a right of way through their land, condemnation proceedings were begun iu the circuit court. The decisión was favorable to the railroad, but Beach took the case to the supreme court. Young Ashley, general traffic agent of the road, thougbt he would imitate tbe example of his illustrious pa, whose sim lar adventures in putting iu the original line are well known in state history. So the junior Ashley ordertd 125 workmeu to the scène of difficulty Sunday morning. They began to remove dirt aad take forcible posseseion of the property. Bat Ashley was barking up the wrong Beach tree, and hi workmen struok two tartars. Beacl tacked a warning on his ice house, ad vising trespassers to keep off his prem ises. The warning was without effec upon the workmen, who proceedad t continue their work. Thereupon Beacl shouldered his rifle and started out fo war. He found a willing helpmate in his wife. She armed herself with huge club. The workmen chaffed them buc there is an old adage that he wh laughs last laughs loogest. Mrs. Beach began to wield the club. Sh gainec a few feet on the enemy. Beach cocked the rifle aud stood body guard for his wife. "Advance," said th bloomër captain, and the company o two advanced. The company of 12 slowly retreated. Beach said that if th feinale portion of his army was molesi ed or insulted the artillery would b heard from. Mrs. Beach oontinued the attack. The club was wielded with all the strength of an Amaznn. The line of the opposition broke. The enemy's redoubf had been carried. Mrs. Beach was a Joan of Are on a small scale, and the ntimber of wounded betook themselves to the hospital quarters. Tlre were sore heads and bloody noses. i .d 125 strapping workmen had been ' eated by a plucky woman and her" srmioed husband. WLdn the retreat of the enemy had been accompliahed, Beach proceeded to have bis workmen who were cutting ioe nn S.lver Lake move a small house onto the scène of battle. iThen he and his wife moved in and gave out that tbat should be tbeir place of abode sine die. But like Joan of Are, Mrs. Beach must be persecuted. Afred Waite, a big six-footer, had feit her club across his head. He made complaint against her and Monday eveuing she was arrested and arraigned before Justice Swartz. Beach was also arrested on a cbarge of assault and tattery. Beach has taken the case to the supreme oourt, olaiming in his appeal that one of the jnrors in oircuit oourt was not a freyholder. Tuesday morning greased rails were placed under the Beach cottage and it was removed from tbe right of way. Mis. Beach and children were partaking of their noonday meal and did not leave the house. Mrs. Beach waved her handkerebief from the window as if she were starting on a long voyage instead of a journey of a few feet. Both the company and Beach now have attorneys and Beach's attorney advised that Beach allow the house to be moved. This is interpreted to mean that action for damages against the railroad is contemplated by Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Beach both pleaded guilty to a oomplaint for assault and battery and paid fines amounting te 20. Beach has at all times been willing to recognize any legal possession given the company by the courts, but be did not mean to allow them any libert es which might afterwards be construed as granting the railroad oompanj peaceable possession.