The Hon. Ben. T. Cable An Unpublished Incident Of His Eventful Life--how Forepaugh Cowed Him

Congressman Ben. T. Cable, of Illinois, the gentleman who is at the head o: somc división or subdivisijon of the national democratie committee, iind to whose work in the canvass is g-iven muoh credit for democratie sue88 in the west at the late elections, is well known in this University city. Hegradunted with the literary class of 1876, and white a student here did not sleep much, either while on or off duty. He not only kept awake himself, bat those about liim were not overbua-denied with drowsiness. In those days there was a spirit of fun laniong the students llmt did no-t always 'take int o lesard the feelings of other people. They were determined to have a good time, let come what Wit The impression that has gone abroad that the istudents oí Ann Arbor are a lot of daredevils with llamos issuing from tlieir nostrils, and sparks of molten brass from their eyes, dates back to the might of ilay 25th, 1876. On that eveo'ng the famouis Forepaugh g-ave bis "great moral show" in Ann rbor. The students that sea son had organized a Gideon's Band, about 400 strong, earli member playing a Q jharp tin hora, having in view fortisnimo Lar more thnn melody or teehïique, though they paid considerable ittention to drill, but not much to taime. The Hon. Ben T. Cable was the Mikado of this Band, and he had his men well in hand. A wave of his liigits meant eitfaer pease or trouble ns the leader deemed it wise. During tbat eventful day the band ïad attempted to secure admussion to hs .show for the students at a reeduced rate,"because of their great numbeis. To this Forepaugh objeet■i'. He had one priee for all, and vould not (break th3 ruis for anyone. In ía;t he preferred not to have the ouiig men .present at the show, as THiniï men present at Ui; show, per■sisted m ninning an opposition perorman:'e of their own, much to the ietriment of tte traveling combinaLon. But the band dSHguised themselvcs -not a .difficult taek- as young genn oí excellent deportment, and vent to tte show Bingly, but each one with lil-s instrument smigly oon( il mï underneath his onter garments. ■Ir. Foifpaush tolt that he had run upon nu occasion that demanded 1lv ite of a general. So he had AT.Úl - ■ ■in1 ho carne umaccompanied bv h hed off to the lelt -with tlie 'aoats- wliile the otners ■lts to the right- with h ■ .■;!! wool crowd. Aíter the "band" had all appeared nside, a wave o; Cable'a right hand with one finger standing straight up brought out the four hundred wind mstruments ; a diminuendo signal btartt-d the muaic in a mild way, uutil the crescendo cominand nearly aralyzed the auricular nerves oí the ■uidienee. Forepaush gave no heed to the noise until the time eame for the opening act, and then he stepped orward and gave the boys a speech, Baylng among other things that they ïad been aliowed to entertain the ui.licn-e for a time, now he wished them to keep quiet and allow the show people .a chance. The boys then oalled "more !" "more !" g:.v;n'j; the great showman an encoré. He W-as equal to the occasion, and responded to the "compliment," in a somewhat startling manner. Tvetirng to the dressing room for a seeond he reappeared with about sixty stalwart fellows, each armed with a murderous bludgeon, and a look upon lis hardemed countenance that meant business. A hurried and nervous consultation, ty Bigaate and scared glances took The circus folks were evli.cntly too baas for the band boys to ■ sfully rontii'l agair.s". For in hils life their interpid leader had not proven hímseAf a strong eoough dable to pull them through. They subsided and the show v-ent on undLsturbed. It was well for everyone present tlial lovimg yonngaters concluded lo behave themeelves, for the - on Which they were sitting had been sio fixed bhat the props could be ■1 out from onder them at a signal, and t'lui' entirc nia,ss lit down in .i tueap, white about sixty showmen were awaiting on the outside of the tent with orders, it was stated nat the time, to 1rai:i anyone who attJ'iupted to escape. The innocent spectators would have suffered with the boys, who were not guüty of any infringement of the law except the law of good breediig. The knowledige of the death trap that had been set for them flew through the audience with electric rapidity, and was generally known before the crowd dispersed. That nlght it 'is allpg.'d the axles of several of the show wagons were sawed nearly in two, allowing them to break down before going very far, and the bridges on the roads leading from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti, were torn up so that Forepaugh was delaycd in reaching taiat place m time to givc an afternoon performance. At Ypsilanti it was allegad that vitrol was thrown upon thp tents, burning them badly. Arttcles Ín outsidc papera publisned at the time stated that Forepaugh placed his loss from tUe Aun Arbor escapado at $4,500 , wdiich but few peopie bclií'ved. from tliat time fonvard Ann Arbor has been advertúed throughout the nation as the tomghest city in the nnion, and mueh of the slander of the imiTCrsity studente dates ita origin from that episode. Cable was the leader of the deviltry in tilosa da.ys, and it is fair to presume that he lias not chnnged much from the fa?t that lie is now the leader oí the democratie party.