The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-18
Written for the Advocate
A TALE OF YESTERDAY.
wHAT IS MURDER
By r. X WALTON

evening the Goth day Of Feb, 1869 two
Of whom we're named Oliver, Ralph and
Robert, The former Uncle to the latter
One Of the number was named Robert
Clark. who was also a nephew to Ralph
Oliver. Along with them we're two IRISH
men by the name Of Brown and Lafefty.
These men we're On their way home to Col
orado Colliery. Between Girardsville and
Colorado is a place named on account OF It's
being the seat Of as many wars as the
Rapahannock. The inhabitants Of this
village Of sbanties are not All natives ot
this country the majority q The older
portion, at least, belonging to certain
county named Kilkenny, which county is
situated in an isle of the sea" noted for
it's picturesque beauty of scene anu in
habtants, who are at once hOspitable and
hostile.
Our Rapahann0ck consists in a GROUP Of
sbanties, built in violation of all the rUes
" regularity, 10 a mountnin gorge, at She
bottom Of which flows the little river Of
Mahanoy.
AT the upper end Of the shanties, lat
eral branch Of the Reading Railroad Cam-
pany crosses the road leading through it.
This fact alone reminds The traveller that. be
is in a civilized country for the wild seen
ery around, with those huts and their in
habitants, convey not the faintest ides Of
civilization. This Is especially SO in the
dusk Of the evening, after the last rays Of
the sun have LETT the highest peaks of the
surrounding mountains, when these BON
above you in deep skeleton outlines, more
like vague shadows than realities. The
thick wood and underbush approach the
very margin of the road, offering a ready
ambush for the murderer and the highway
man. All along the road you are reminded
oF The extreme dreariness Of the place ;
and The ripping Of the dark river, as it
flows il its bed below you, does not add any
charms to the prospect on a cold winter 5
night, such as was that Of the date of our
story.
Our party was passing through Kappa
hammock and one of the lrishmen, fine
young fellow, as the saying goes, Insisted
on treating the party at the rum shop which
the village of shanties boasts. 1t was with
reluctance that the rest of the party enter
ed the tavern; but they consented at last
to do 50, more to crafty the ambition of
the young man offering to treat than to in
dulge their appetites by tasting the flavor
Of its ''spirits" and partake of such cheer
as the place afforded. Inside once, the
drinks were called for but Ralph Oliver
took instead Of something to drink,
cigar. The landlord being destitute Of that
modern necessary a box Of matches, hand
ed Ralph a piece Of paper to light his cigar
with. As Ralph did this, party If the
residents came from an inner rOoIa-for
the establishment is divided into NOR than
one compartment-and some Of then went
up to Ralph Oliver and demanded Job"
at Colorado Colliery for Ralph is inside
boss at that concern.
Ralph made him some evasive answer,
wbereupon my gentleman took the cigar
out Of Ralphs mouth and stuck it into bis
own.
The meaning Of the gentlemen residents
now became evident, when the young man
who called for the treats asked them to 90
home.
Hell to your sowl, says the leader Of
the residents, when did you get ) home
you bastard, and what 40 you know Of tie
divers and Bobby Clark ~
"Only" saws the young man 'tha' Bob
BY Clark boards with my mother. His
mother was widow, and be himself drove
.ae of the mine teams under Oliver hence
A.- ire to treat the boss Rober' Clark
wa. A.-. inside of the mines
Ilts aa- 400. very party that should have
a.. .n.. N such place as the Rapa
w n. . at such a tim4 of the
eypua- .e1 found themselves TO be in
aa5.a, and they made the best Of
rhe. ~.r.l They got out Of The tavern
au v.- WV ~ along the road home
ward. u., Y al over careful manner, as
VIII .e yr- tbe sequel.
E.aa 4rs and Robert Oliver fingered
.cl- - ut rs, and were separated from
-.. distance. Thus they passed
cit. I,.... LIE, another batch Of shantie:
w-.-c architecture is identical with
tle mi. a4 Rapahannock batch Of clay
pls..-4 .aar les. The railroad led K
Il. ,aer. n..r which they lived and they
... -.. mud on their course home
#. - along a high, steep, rocky
art.a.u fly feet high, along whose
" iver at point where th'
,.-.., especially precipl.ous, Rob
," Robert Oliver we're over
.aA, the men they had left il
y5e 'Hra * tavern. They salute'
ear' ha before Clark was aware 0
ut.,.er. a intended, he WIS knocke,
Town ty from heavy instrumen
r.c- asa j" On seeing the rutfian
aulai CI4.L oliver ran of and left him t
their mercy In bis fright ne dad not sta
w explain what had happened to Ralp
.gj wv .W0 hers who we're with him, a
rau past item. He muttered some
thing W passing y. but what be said was nc
comrnaanded fully. Rglph Diver is ur
.oruuate q ''le deaf; but It is pre-
-a.ned that HIln's two companions, tn
-wo Irshrer understood what Robel
Oliver bad ,al
n They returned back, and when they g
10 the spot where the attack had bee
made, one lf 1 rufhans was struggling
climb the rut nv. ment, and as be was ,pea
q. top be -..al No a helping hand. Thi
.H-g stret. and assisted the Tufia
to yho level .l .ailway, not knowing
appear tbl and they had graspe
had ..-. r.um.u a dark deed by strik
ny te d. l..w Of a fellow creature
AS soon as this man gained the level Z
the railway, be ran Off towards Rapabar
mock and one Of the young Irishmen sus
pecting what bad taken place, said "Po
him off, Ralph, % which meant that Ralp
was to shoot him, as Rail- was armed viii
a revolver. RAJ ph did not CON prehen,
the state Of affairs. md Is they saw notbin,