The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-01

I
being most foully dealt with
One afternoon q non union man, work
ing for Relvason, came out Of the shop
into the street, ON an errand of some
nature, and as he passed through the gate
he met a large number Of children return
ing from school, among whom was the
little son-a mere chlld-ot one OF the
locked-out workmen. The little fellow
made some remark which the non-union
man thought reflected on himself, and
forthwith he seized the child by the hair
and began beating him numerically The
little fellow set up most vociferous bawl-
ing, as mattel Of course ; the noise at
tracted the attention Of some men who
were Just then crossing the street block
further up. Among these men was the
father Of the boy in question. Seeing his
child abused he rushed to the rescue, and
dealt the cowardly brute some well merited
punishment. The man was not seriously
injured, as he ran as soon as the child's
father came towards him.
As is usual in such cases, q large crowd
soon collected. Relvason Jumped into his
buggy and was soon at the police head
quarters, where he represented the work
shops in vast numbers The Mayor was
summoned, and all the available force was
ordered out, even merchant police and citi-
zens being pressed into the ranks
Two hours afterwards little army Of
over three hundred policemen and othsrs
marched grandly up to the scenes OF the
recent encounter They found the place
silent and deserted. The deputy superin-
tenicnt in charge Of this formidable little
army then divided it into squads, which
he placed under the command of sergeants,
and sent them in different parts of The
city, with orders To arrest every man
known to have refused to wOrl at the EN-
ployers terms About fift, of the work
men spent that night in the first, second
AMI third precinct station houses. They
were bailed ont or discharged the following
day, as nothing could be found against
them, but no recompense WIS made them
for the gross wrong inflicted on them as
citizens. The police department was not
even censured. This little epis ode created
terrible excitement the press was fran
tic. Some wanted the Mayor to issue a
proclamation, others wanted the Governor
to issue q proclamation, and call out the
State militia, and some even went So far as
to cal upon the President to send U. s.
troops to crush out the spirit Of rampant
insubordination that threatened the city
with destruction. But notwithstanding all
these things, the men firmly refused to 90
to work except at the former price, and
the probabilities seemed to indicate that
in the end they would be successful The
employers changed front they proposed
arbitration, and the men readily accepted
the proposal. A board of arbitration was
formed, met, discussed the matter, ad-
Journed. IAet again, and AL journed to meet
again, met agaIn-no agreement. The
employers proposed that Arbyght should
be removed from the board the men re-
fused and the scheme fell through. 1t
could not succeed, as each party entered
the arrangement with the primordial re-
solve not To concede anything
A calm followed About a week later.
Tatam Mahoncy called upon Arbyght one
evening about 9 o'clock, and said that Mr.
Revalson wished to see him at his office,
f,r the purpose uf settling the affair, as he
vas heartily sick Of IT, and wished to put
the men to work ON the following day, but
Mr.. Revalson, he said, wished some guar
antee for the future good conduct Of the
men, as he wished to avoid ali cOmpllca-
tions hereafter. This WAS good news to
Richard. He wrapped himself in his over
coat, and set out with Mahoney immedi-
ately. The latter did not have much to
say, and Richards thoughts were else
where. The trip to the shop was one Of
almost unbroken silence, but Richard no.
ticed that his companion walked close by
his side, They reached the office, and
Tatam passed in, closely followed by
Arbyght. ReYalson was not there there
was nobody there.
Z" He must have stepped out, sit down, Re
will be back directly, said MAhoney. hand
ing a chair to Arbyght, who refused TO be
seated he looked sharply at the man, as
Just then the idea of treachery swept
through his mind like All inspiration.
~ will see if he is in the shop" said
Mahoney, opening the heavy door, which
closed after him with loud bang A mo-
ment later, three pistol shots, fired in
quick succession, awOke the echoes Of the
old shop Richard started, then ran to
the door leading into the shop; it would
not open. Ha perhaps the door leading
t. the yard was fastened also; no, it was
not he rushed into the yard-Great God
what light the windows of the shop
looked like open doors in a furnace. Great
volumes of flame seemed rolling, tumbling,
Kissing and roaring in the shop. Was he
dreaming No The glass in the win
dows began to crackle, and fall to the
ground in little pieces.
The shop was On fire. Richard ran to
ward the street, crying fire Justify. In
passing through the gate rough hand
was laid on his arm, and a rough voice
Missed in his ear
Z" Not so fast, young man he turned
and saw q policeman.
4" Unhand me, fellow What do you
mean " said Richard, struggling to un-
loose the mans hold. The policeman held
tightly. Arbyght became Angered, and
giving powerful lurch, the blue-coat went
spinning into the street.
= Man what do you want he repeat
ed, as the policeman picked himself up
and advanced towards him with u cooked
revolver.
You are my prisoner" Was the reply
of the policeman.
what have done :" The policeman
significantly pointed towards the burning
building. He saw through the whole thing
ut once.
''I submit, sir but believe, in my
soul, you are in this plot. The man did
not answer. A great crowd had now col
lected, and tbs fre-bells were ringing
sharply all over the city Arbyght was
searched ON the spot, and in the outside
pocket of his overcoat, . small revolver of
peculiar make was found.
Three of the chambers were empty, and
we're very evidently recently discharged.
Richard Arbyght began to realize his
sit1ation a cold tremor ran through his
entire frame, but his face gave no evidence
Of the interior emotion. The building
burned to the ground. Next day the
blackened, charred remains of two human
beings were found in the ruins. At the
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