The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-01

myself. VIII you 60 PACK WIN me IL 1 ulSe
you in my wagon? will stand by you, and
If you will stick to your post the men VIII moi
harm you. If you do not, you may as wen
leave the country, for the word will go around
that you are coward and afraid OF Ine me M
Make up your mind, man, quick, 1or IL w" w
not 90 shall go to the mines aiohe'
"Iwill go, sir."' oe,
"Jump in and let us be OIL"
AZ we rode along, thought to myself, what
right had such man as Evans 10 De COW
ard splendid fellow physically, one would
n aat; think he had the courage of the lion
instead of the timidity of the hare.
But human nature is an enigma, and had
to own to myself that had been completely
deceived in Evans. However, must make
the best OF it. knew that carried nv own
lie in my hand, that at any moment 1 was
likely to be attacked and killed-not in a fair,
square, face to face encounter, but by treach-
cry. For your bully of the mines is always
sneak and coward. Armed with clubs,
stones, revolvers, biies, or any deadly weap-
on, he hides in the scrub, with more like him,
and as his innocent and unconscious victim is
quietly riding alOng-bang! whiz goes. bull
let into his back or head, or he is beaten and
tramped upon until he is killed or lett sense
less with every sembance OF humanity crush
ed out OF him. He falls victim to the vilest
system of tyranny that ever cursed and dis
sraced free people.
II did not take us long to reach the mines.
Before we GOT quite there could see by the
thin white cloud of steam rising from the en-
CINE at the mines that theo pumps were still
going-that my faithful German was there.
Upon reaching the Office and store we found
everything closed Groups .of men, sullen,
hang-dog looking fellows were scattered
about Some were smoking, some sitting on
the ground, some lounging by large mule
wagon standing in front of the office; but all
OF them looked treacherous and mean. Not
an American wasamong them.
had driven up at pretty good pace, and
hating in front of the Office jumped out, tied
my horse to the hitching-post, and told Evans
to jump out. Not word did the men say,
but as the Scotch say, "glowered." knock
clerks cautiously put his head out of the Sec
One-story window to see who it was. He
came down. unbarred and unlocked the door.
Bidding Evans enter first, followed and went
into the Office. Before the clerk could fasten
the door Numbers of men had crowded in I'M
til there was scarcely standing room.
Placing my back against the fire proof,
Evans standing at my right hand, addressed
them thus:
"MeD, have travelled great deal, and
have seen men in many situations, but have
cowardIy lot as you are"
paused moment, looking them straight
in the face. Not man spoke Some of
them shuffled uneasily upon their feet, others
pulled away at their pipes. I continued:
ut was brave thing, was it not, for four
hundred men to drive away one, and to
threaten to burn that one mans house down,
where his innocent wife and children were ?'
A voice from the crowd: "Shure we didn't
do it,"
"You did not; aye, but you stood by, mean
and co ward-like. while others did it, and you
Kissed them on"
"And yet you call yourselves men? Is it any
wonder that the American people are getting
prejudiced against you, and look upon you as
set of barbarians? hear that you have
threatened to take this mans life. Here l
placed my right hand on Evans shoulder.)
For whatp Has he ever wronged you out of
a days work or car of coal? Has he ever
been guilty OF the least act of injustice towards
you? If he has, let any man prove it, and
will discharge him. Now, If there is to be
any killing, want you to begin with me, for
| am here to sustain him in the discharge of
his duty, and will never dismiss him at your
command. Rather than do that would let
the timbers in he mines rot, and never ship
another tor of coal. And now, bows, ysu can
leave the Office"
They went out sheeplsh and ashamed.
told Evans to walk with me t, the s'ope, as
wished to see the engineer We left the Of
flee and walked along, passing scores of men
as we went. Ihad matured a little plan in
my own mind which l thought would even
tually work well. owed the miners moth
ing. They bad threatened to stop the pumps
Now, sApposing, as they had struck tor their
own pleasure and were idle, l should keep
them idle while for mine. There was a
new set OF boilers needed, and was deter
mined to stop the pumps myself, repair things
generally, and let the miners remain idle.
told Evans of my plan and he thought
they would not let me stop the pumps; that
1t would certainly create riot. 1 told him
would risk it. Upon reaching the slope told
the German engineer what intended to do,
and that his cOuntrymen, who bad kept aloof
from the rufians, should receive iull pay while
the mines were idle; that they were by no
means to leave their houses. About fifty
men had followed me to the slope. [ turned
round to them, and said had been told that
they intended to stop the pumps, but that in
stead Of letting them do it was going to do
it myself, and let the mines lay idle for
while.
This was turn in the wheel they were not
prepared for.
"For Gods sake, sir, don't stop the pumps"
they cried out.
A grim smile lit up the Germans faces as
said in a calm, firm voice, 'Rake out the fires,
men,"
The red-hot Goals were raked out, and in
few minutes the mighty engine ceased its
throbbings. and all was silent and still. An
cry words and sullen faces met me on every
side.
said to them: eff I owe any man any
thing let him come with me to the Office and
l will pay him. Il any one is dissatisfied
working for We, let him move away and go
elsewhere, but while l live intend to be mas
ter OF my own property"
lit cigar from one of the red hot Goals
raked from under the boilers and in company.
with Evans walked slowly to the Office. In
halt an hour not a man was to be seen
They had skunk away like whipped ours, feel
ing that they had been most ingloriously de-
feated. When 1 went to bed that night
was pretty much used up. did not, however,
forget to return thanks to the great Ruler of
all for His loving care and protection that
day, for, strange as it may seem to the reader,
l was not only totally unarmed, but habitu-
ally went so. - ts.---