A Bottle of Gin And A Fire-Cracker Nearly Blow Up Two Happy Homes, p. 7
Dublin Core
Title
A Bottle of Gin And A Fire-Cracker Nearly Blow Up Two Happy Homes, p. 7
Description
"LOS ANGELES – A small firecracker, a small bottle of gin, and a sense of humor inspired by the gin, has caused Herman Rucker of Texas to return to that vast state in somewhat of a hurry, has cost him his pretty new wife and has set the six-foot four-inch husband of another man’s wife on his trail.
Rucker’s trouble all started on the morning of the Fourth of July when he apparently decided that since it was Independence day he might as well assert his ndpendence [sic] too by defying his bride’s orders not to (1) drink liquor, and (2) shoot off any firecrackers.
A car washer in Hollywood, Rucker had the Fourth off. Early in the day he vanished from the furnished apartment he shared with his bride of five weeks, the former Tinee Terrell, also of Texas.
Rucker apparently figured a small bottle of gin wouldn’t do him any harm. So he bought one and drank most of it. From somewhere he got a small firecracker and with this he returned home where his wife’s fear of the explosive object led him to chase her out into the back yard.
There he found his wife had vanished, but another young woman, also pretty, was hanging out some washing. With no wife to chase Rucker started chasing this young woman, and so enthusiastic did he become that when hs [sic] quarry ran into a garage he followed her; and a moment later the woman’s huge husband followed him.
There was an explosion, but it was not caused by the firecracker. It was caused by the impact of Rucker being knocked almost through the garage wall. The woman screamed and put her arms around Rucker, trying to protect him, as she was afraid her giant of a mate would kill him. At that juncture Mrs. Rucker reappeared, just in time to see her hubby not only in the arms of another woman, but desperately clutching the woman in his arms.
Mrs. Rucker entered the fray and took a healthy swing at the lady. The lady released Rucker and took a swing at Mrs. Rucker. And the big man made Rucker dive through a window into an alley down which he chased the much smaller man at a clip so rapid the giant was soon winded.
Meantime the two women had battered each other considerably, and with honors practically even, had departed for their apartments which were in the same building.
Somebody called the police, but when they arrived all was over, and there was nothing in the way of excitement to be seen. On July 5 Rucker, who had not returned home, showed up at his job only to find his big adversary of the previous day awaiting him. Rucker fled.
Last information concerning him was that he had headed for Texas in his “A” model Ford, being afraid to face his irate wife at home and not being able to go to work because of an irate husband on watch for him at his work.
If he reads this story when he lands in Texas, he will learn that his wife has forgiven him and wants him to return to Los Angeles and his job; and that the big man who socked him has got over his “mad” and promises not to molest him."
Rucker’s trouble all started on the morning of the Fourth of July when he apparently decided that since it was Independence day he might as well assert his ndpendence [sic] too by defying his bride’s orders not to (1) drink liquor, and (2) shoot off any firecrackers.
A car washer in Hollywood, Rucker had the Fourth off. Early in the day he vanished from the furnished apartment he shared with his bride of five weeks, the former Tinee Terrell, also of Texas.
Rucker apparently figured a small bottle of gin wouldn’t do him any harm. So he bought one and drank most of it. From somewhere he got a small firecracker and with this he returned home where his wife’s fear of the explosive object led him to chase her out into the back yard.
There he found his wife had vanished, but another young woman, also pretty, was hanging out some washing. With no wife to chase Rucker started chasing this young woman, and so enthusiastic did he become that when hs [sic] quarry ran into a garage he followed her; and a moment later the woman’s huge husband followed him.
There was an explosion, but it was not caused by the firecracker. It was caused by the impact of Rucker being knocked almost through the garage wall. The woman screamed and put her arms around Rucker, trying to protect him, as she was afraid her giant of a mate would kill him. At that juncture Mrs. Rucker reappeared, just in time to see her hubby not only in the arms of another woman, but desperately clutching the woman in his arms.
Mrs. Rucker entered the fray and took a healthy swing at the lady. The lady released Rucker and took a swing at Mrs. Rucker. And the big man made Rucker dive through a window into an alley down which he chased the much smaller man at a clip so rapid the giant was soon winded.
Meantime the two women had battered each other considerably, and with honors practically even, had departed for their apartments which were in the same building.
Somebody called the police, but when they arrived all was over, and there was nothing in the way of excitement to be seen. On July 5 Rucker, who had not returned home, showed up at his job only to find his big adversary of the previous day awaiting him. Rucker fled.
Last information concerning him was that he had headed for Texas in his “A” model Ford, being afraid to face his irate wife at home and not being able to go to work because of an irate husband on watch for him at his work.
If he reads this story when he lands in Texas, he will learn that his wife has forgiven him and wants him to return to Los Angeles and his job; and that the big man who socked him has got over his “mad” and promises not to molest him."
Creator
Billy "K.C." Smith
Publisher
The Chicago Defender
Date
1941-7-7
Collection
Citation
Billy "K.C." Smith, “A Bottle of Gin And A Fire-Cracker Nearly Blow Up Two Happy Homes, p. 7,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 28, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/63.