Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1894 — About That Goat. [ARTICLE]

About That Goat.

Indianapolis SentineL The humorous conspicuousness given “the goat” in the Odd Fellows’ parade. Wednesday. recal led to the memory of one of the representatives of the Grand Lodge the dedication of the first hall owned by the order in Jefferson county. It was back in the early fifties, and the delusion of the goat was apparently as old then as now. Ex-Governor Brough, of Ohio, and I. D. Williamson, President of the J., M. & L railroad, were the speakers of the occasion, and were assigned to walk at the head of the procession, a thing which in those days they were proud to do. There had been excursions from up and down the river, and the town of Madison was crowded with people from Louisville, Cincinnati and other river points. The announcement that Gov. Brough was to deliver the dedicatory address, and that Mfr. Williamson would also deliver an address, was sufficient to draw immense crowds. Some Madison people conceived the idea of turning a huge white goat, which was noted in the town for its ferociousness, loose in the procession just at the time when it was starting. It was thought that some fun would be furnished by the scampering of the persons in the procession to get out of the beast’s way, The wags were defeated in their scheme. However, much entertainment was turnished, for when the goat was planted squarely between Mr. Williams and Governor Brough, instead of getting in his work in the style expected, he looked about him with a knowing wink and retained his position and marched the entire distance in the parade, and in the position of honor at the head of the procession. The goat played his part so well that many of the unitiated really believed that it was a trained goat, and that it was a p>rt of Odd Fellowship and belonged in the parade.