The universal verdict, however, was that they "would not undertake the task of making that 

 wilderness into a market garden for any money," and "we certainly had picked out the worst piece of 

 land ever." They wished us joy of the experiment. 



By this time the "gang" of woodmen had increased to eight, and some of their experiences were 

 very funny. 



"When the charges had been placed and the usual warning signal, "fire!" given, both negroes and 

 white men would fall over themselves to get out of the county; which was decidedly unnecessary, for 

 the explosions were always kept well away from the workmen. 



Shortly after the arrival of the dynamiter came Lorenzo Balzarano, a "Corporale" or Italian boss, 

 to look over the work to be done and receive instructions, that he might pick men best suited to the 

 work in hand. He was a big fellow with a good face and a "job lot" of English in his possession. He 

 remained over night, when the following interesting incident happened. It came to us from the dyna- 

 miter. One of the colored men being much infatuated with the cornet, and in fact, a village virtuoso, 

 had taken his instrument into the wilds and made night hideous with his attempts at imitations of 

 Levy. 



Lorenzo, whose name is shortened and Americanized to "Larry," asked if he might try the bugle. 

 This portended huge fun for the superior American, so the instrument was gleefully handed over to 

 the man they called the "dago." Larry made some noises even more startling than Steve's, and amid 

 much laughter they endeavored to teach him the approved method of blowing. Larry made strenuous 

 efforts and finally, rising to his full height and throwing out his chest, filled the air with the most beau- 

 tiful musical calls, running from the thrilling call for a cavalry charge, through all the war horseman's 

 life, to the last honors given a fallen hero. Never had they heard a professional cornetist strike every 

 note more clearly or with the fervor that only the Latin blood possesses. All the American and many 

 foreign army calls were rendered before the men realized that the joke was on them. 



"Where did you learn them, Larry?" the dynamiter inquired. 



"Me in Emperor's bodyguard. Me boss bugler," he calmly responded. 



The next day Larry, his brother, Antonio Monteforte (a /ia//-brother, evidently), who came in 

 the capacity of timekeeper, and 18 other Sunny Sons arrived, when the natives were very glad to depart 

 to places of beds and indoor meals, sidewalks, and continuous half -holidays. 



The question of housing the men while at work was a matter that early came up for consideration. 

 A shanty is the usual solution, while tents might be adopted, or the unsanitary "dug out" mar the 

 landscape. The former was entirely too ugly to suit our tastes; it also was expensive and useless when 

 the men were through with it. Tents were rather too airy, as we knew the work would continue until 

 freezing weather and perhaps well into the winter. We "passed" on the "dug out." The ideal as 

 well as the practical was something that would be of use after the work of clearing was completed, 

 and for that purpose we decided upon "condemned" freight cars. They cost but $10, the railroad 

 being glad to get rid of them (a later sale by a big trunk line placed the market price at $1.00 each), 

 while the hauling and placing cost about $15. For $25 we had a well-built, permanent, and the warmest 

 and coolest (because! ined with air space) chicken house one could possibly secure. A second car (for 

 two were found necessary when the Italians arrived), which we planned ultimately to make into a hay- 

 loft or feed-bin, was placed to the north of the location selected for the barn; so that by building a 

 small barn directly against the ear, the warmest possible place for animals would be secured. 



These cars were purchased and placed as soon as a clearing could be made for them, and the Italians 

 were as happy as kings in a palace. 



One day a long, lanky, seedy individual arrived and asked for work; cockney English was rampant 

 within him and he proved to be an English "Navvy" just come over to join his wife, who had been 

 here some time; he was cheerfully given work, but we looked for but little from him. He proved earnest 

 and eager to learn, therefore of much promise. He started a farmer's boy and had run the gamut of 

 "clerk," hostler and soldier, finishing as 'longshoreman. 



With the advent of Larry and his swarthy followers work began in earnest, for the native helpers 

 had merely succeeded in clearing the house plot of trees and taking out dead and crowding underbrush 

 in the windbreak which bounded the north and had escaped total extinction by fire. 



Beginning at the east line and working westward the Italians clea,red out every useless tree, cutting 

 cord-wood where any could be obtained, and burning the branches and charred trees as they went; 

 they also cleared out all underbrush, and burnt the ground over thoroughly. 



The dynamiter with his helper followed them up. This is by far the most exciting and interest- 

 ing part of clearing land by modern methods. The dynamiter prepared his charges in two ways, one for 

 fuse ignition, the other for electric spark. 



The dynamite is put up in half-pound sticks, they are a little larger than an ordinary candle and are 

 wrapped in heavy yellow paraffined paper. One folded end of this paper is opened up and a hole made 

 by a wooden skewer in the dynamite stick, which is plastic and resembles graham bread in color and 

 consistency. 



For magnetic battery work a copper cap containing a minute quantity of fulminate of mercury, 

 and which requires a spark to explode it, is attached to fine electric wires and scaled by sulphur; this 

 cap is placed in the hole in the stick of dynamite and then securely tied by drawing string tightly around 

 the paper which was raised to admit the cap. 



In preparing a charge for fuse ignition, the cap is crimped on to the end of a piece of mining fuse 

 and this is inserted in the dynamite stick and securely fastened as previously described. 



These prepared charges are placed in a basket and carried very tenderly to the stumps which have 

 been prepared by the dynamiter's assistant. All the work is handled very tenderly and carefully, 

 for while there is no danger of an accident unless fire is placed near the explosive, extreme caution is 

 used at all times. To handle explosives one requires a nature serene, calm, and deliberate, which 

 Mr. Kissam possesses to a marked degree, and never in all the years he has used the dynamite has he 

 become the least bit careless, or ceased to regard it with respect. 



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