The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-18

Dropping into q saloon, l met Fred
Haskell. He was an Anders0nville
prison comrade of mine. Our greeting
over, stated my case to him. He said
he was working in the mine, and in sore
need of comrade. Hastily drinking q
mug of ale he had in his hand, he took
my arm and we walked out into the
| street.
"'Whom did you apply to for work.
he asked. THE superintendent, re-
piled. BLESS your innocent heart, you
are not in the Broad Top region nor at
Pittsburgh. We manage differently here.
You must see the man who is supposed
to be at the head of the Molly Maguires
of this district. He alone can employ
you. The mine manager can not, dare
not, give you work. I will arrange
matters for you Passing through a few
short dirty streets, we came to dingy
saloon, in front of which huge green
harp, freshly painted, swung creaking
on its hinges. A low murmur of many
voices came floating out. A strong
smell of alcohol pervaded the air in
front of the open door. Entering, saw
throng of miners. Ali were smoking
and drinking. The voices instantly
hushed. With thumps the filled and
empty glasses were set down on bar or
tables. Fierce glances were cast on us.
l saw threatening gestures made as Celt
whispered to Celt that we were English
men. Haskell pushed up to the bar and
asked if Mr.. Donavan was in. The bar
keeper surlily replied that he was in the
back room. We knocked on the door.
A sharp voice babe us enter. Before a
coal fire sat q thin-featured, black-eyed,
| light-haired Irishman, who arose and
greeted Haskell kindly. He was tall,
and his face was remarkable for the
great breadth of the jaws and the heavy
squareness of the chin. was intro
duced, and Haskell stated my case
briefly. He said he wanted me for a
comrade, and significantly added that l
was to board with Mrs. Carter, and that
she was in great need of money. Gravely
Mr.. Donavan replied: MIR. Watson,
you may venture to work with Mr.. Has
kell. will see the underground boss,
and, as he is friend of mine, I think he
will consent, and add your name to the
payroll l took leave of my friend,
and walked up the mountain to the slab
house.
"I worked steadily in the mine.
Slowly grew to love Anna. Two years
passed. Annals mother looked on me
as an elder son. I had been appointed
to take charge of the miners engaged in
withdrawing the pillars of an exhausted
boundary. I expected to be promoted
on the successful completion of this
nr1y f,1fr, ha
l should be mine manager in a few
years. So confident was / of success
that Anna and I arranged to be married
on her birthday in the coming fall. The
appointment to oversee the Withdrawing
of the pillars was actually my ruin. OF
course | fell out with some of the miners,
who were robbing the nearby pillars
before the distant ones had been cut out,
and they complained to the Molly
Maguires. The society demanded my
discharge from the manager. He
promptly compiled with the demand.
[ went at once to Donavan and asked
him if it was the intention of the Molly
Maguires to drive me from the mine, or
if would be allowed to take my pick
and earn my bread there. We had a
stormy interview. Finally he suggested
that apply to the manager next morn
ing for room"
Watson sat silently in his chair for an
instant. Then, calling for fresh cigars,
we lit them. He unused for a few min
utes, and then said: s'Incredible as it
may seem to you, I trusted him after
having cowed him. L applied for
room the next morning, and had one
directly off the main gangway assigned
to me. Fred Haskell had almost fin
ished working out an old room further
down the gangway. When he finished
he was to join me. Until that time l
was to work alone. Willie was then
eleven years old, and from doorkeep-
er had risen to be a mule driver. He
drove on the main gangway. He usual
ly brought me my empty cars.
zone day, shortly after my trouble
with Donavan, 1 walked to the entrance
of my room with bundle of picks and
drills that I wished to send to the black
smith shop. I intended to wait until
Willie passed and ask him to take them
to the shop for me. Standing waiting
within the entrance of my room, took
my lamp from my head and hung it on
the wall. Then, leaning against the
coal, looked down the gangway. Far
down the great underground avenue
thought 1 saw the dim outline of figure
gliding stealthily from timber to timber.
I lost sight of it Immediately, and smil-
ing to myself at seeing one of my Welsh
ghosts, l lit pipe and smoked. Again
l saw the figure, so faint and dim in the
gloom that could see it only by strain
ing my eyes, fit in and out among the
timbers, then spring lightly on theroad-
bed and walk cautiously, lightly along.
With flash, as if light had burst on my
brain, realized that 1 had been con-
demned by the Molly Maguires, and
that the figure I saw was their execu-
toner coming to kill me. Istepped back
to my lamp, blew it out, and grasping a
pick, stationed myself behind the first
set of timbers at the entrance of my
room and waited. My only salvation
was to kill the man lurking behind the
timbers below me. Standing in the
gloom of the entrance to my room,
driver after driver passed me, and neither
they nor their mules saw me. The last
train of cars was drawn by q white
mn1e and knew that IL was Willie's