Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-02

the boss aaay; he escaped through The
woods. The miners threaten to stop the
pumps and burn down the breaker"
Well, This was decidedly pleasant.
No appetite inr tea alter that. Here was
nice state of alfairs-a man II hundred
anil fifty miles away from home. ard all
his property at the mercy OF rullians.
Perhaps the breaker WIS already burning.
Who could tell? They were blood thirsty
and savage enough To do anything. 1t
would not have been lucky just then for
one oi those crafty demagogues who are
preaching basis tu he miners To have
/ been near me rather think should
have adopted Tom Browns, plan, and
punched his head"
/ took the evening train for home.
! lived several miles away ilom the mines,
and upon my arrival messenger came
| from the mines and gave me a full account
of what had taken place in my absence.
j
when The steam whistle blew Tor the men
To go to woik, none but few Germans
made their appearance. The engineers
and bosses were at their posts as usual.
Groups of men gathered about The shan
/ ties and store discussing what they called
their grievances One was. that | was
wedding out the Irish and putting Ger
man, in their places. Another, that |
had threatened ~ discharge ~ man who
WAS said 10 be Il leader in the gang -
Still another vas. that the mining boss
must 90 or thev would stop the pumps.
About one o'clock numbers of strange
men, from othcl collierics began TO rs
scmhIc. and by two about four hundred
went to the mining Ln>>' house (whcrc
he had gone, getting lrightencO, and
yelled ou. for him 10 leave or they would
bum the house down
Evans, hy this time thoroughly alarm
ed ignominiously hod ont aI the back
door and through the woods, regular
Irish yell going up from the "Buckshots, :
Motley Maguires," "Corkonians," and
Far downs" who for Il time buried THEN
traditional hatred to unite in riot But
Evans was swift runner. and soon got
oul of sight They then drank all the
whislcy they could get from the shantics,
and alter cursing and yelling to their
hearts content, went away.
My steady German engineers had, how
ever, stuck 10 thcil po>ts smoking their
meershaums rs il nothing was the mat
tel. The mining boss had taxed refuge
at Il hotel a lew miles away. not daring
to 20 home.
Such was the state of affairs rs report
ed TO me. could see through the whole
plot Ny own men had secretly sent
word to the men at other colieries what
they wanted done, and a gang OF dcSper-
ADDE'S. always ready, were Mt once depu.
ted to 90 To my mines. and assist the
men in driving off the boss. or doing any
other net of violence necessary to gain
their point. They had taken advantage
Of my absence to carry their designs in
tn execution. When | heard all | was
thoroughly Disguised indignation swal.
lowed up every other feeling No words
can express my deteStation "f such base
aud cowardly ruilians
One thing made up my mind to ut
once, which was, that if could prevail
upon the mining boss To 90 back with me
he should 90. aud | would sustrin him
ut all hazards, | drove to the hotel where
Evans WAS sccrcled and asked the land.
lady il he was there Yes. but he was
much frightened" Walking into the
next room found him. Certainly he
was ~, a pleasant sight TO look upon
Unshayen, with his dirty mining clothes
ON, having wild, scared look, he mp.
pcared much demoralized, and very
shcepish. 1t WAS plain that he felt he had
played an ignominious part in the drama.
and was much ashamed in consequence
| addressed him brusquely:
well, Evans, they drove yon off, did
they"
"IoS sir
NOW. Evans, | have never asked a
man in my employ to do anything WAS
afraid to do myself. viii you 90 back
With ne il drive you in my wagon? |
will stand 10y You. and if you will stick to
yonr post the men will not harm you. If
you do not, you may rs well leave the
country, for lhe word will 90 around That
YOU arc Il coward, and afraid OF the men.
Make up your mind, man, quick, fol if
you do not go | shall 60 to the mines
alone"
81 will go, sir.'
Jump in, and let us be of J."
As we rode along, | thought to myself,
what right had such Il man rs Evans to
be n coward. splendid fellow physi-
cally, one would naturally think he had
the courage Of The lion instead of the tim
idity of the hare.
But human nature is IN enigma, and !
had TO own to myself that ] had been
completely deceived in Evans. However,
| must make the best of it. knew that
carried my own life in my hand, that at
any moment | was likely to be attacked
and killed--not in fair, square, face to
face encounter, but by ireachery. For
your bully nj the mines is always sneak