Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-13

was curious and striking. Here, In the street
OF quiet Vermont village, In time of pre-.
found peace the country over, maIchod four
companies OF Vermont soldiers, armed not
against foreign foe but against our own peo-
pie and ready IL necessary to shoot them
down. There stood the poor bepighted souls |
whose wrongs had urged them into frenzy
whose children cried for bread which was
not theirs to give. The spectacle was one
never paralleled la the history d our State
aud never, we trust, 10 be repeated. But, |
not 10 dwell upon the sentimental aspects of
the case the arrests were made in the man.
ner already Indicated aud as the last man
was hsndcufied the sheriff, ia answer to the
Governors question, announced that all the |
warrants were served. The soldiers were
lhen marched 10 little lawn on the shady
side Of the Catholic church and their rations
Crackers, cheese, bread an canned beef
were served out. The crowd mixed Gu
riously with the soldiers, asked and answer
ed all sorts OF questions, exchanged jests, and
fratcrnized generally. And the fact may be
mentioned rs showing the reality of the des-
tltution existing in the village, tina. the mi
and ravenousy dcvoured every crust and
scrap rejected or left by tue soldiers. In this
connection we may add that the Montpelier
company had a large surplus Of provisions
and gave il all to be distributed among the
destitute families.
The soldiers having breakfasted and the
Governor having decided that the State had
performed its full duty, preparations for the
return march were begun. AT about this
time detail of the Bradford military COM
pany came in, escorting four prisoners. The
rioters had early iu the week taken posses
sion OF the company's powder magazine,
which contained 100 kegs of blasting pow
der and quantity OF giant powder, and II
was with this that they had been threatening
to blow up bridges aud buildings. The mag
azine is located ON the hill about three
fourlhs of mile from the village. Early in
the morning the Bradford company Capt.
j. Ii. Watson, Lieuts. Squires and Watson)
marched 10 the magazine, following differ
ent road than that taken by the body OF the
military, and seized the magazine, the pow
der then being removed to safe place.
They found four miners watching the mag
azine and brought them into town; but as
they were unarnled and nothing could be
proved against them they were subsequently
discharged.
The Return.
veryihipg being at length in readiness,
the column was again formed and the march
| back to West Fairlee begun-the start being
| made al about 10 O'Clock. 1t is worthy of
especial note that as the soldiers started
they were heartily cheered BY the crowd.
| The village was soon reached and the pris.
oners were then turned over to the civil
authorities, who later in the day dumped
them into Il couple of wagons and caIted
them of to Chelsea Jail. Two or three Of
these ring leaders were villainous looking
scamps, but the majority had great, broad,
homely faces in which there was no expires
sion save that of dull good nature. 1t is
almost certain that some are wholly innocent,
while among the others there are of course
varying degrees of guilt. None of them
seemed to atall realize their unenviable posi-
ton or the serious nature of tue crime with
which they are charged.
AT tie village the luxurious conveyances
hitherto described were waiting for the SOL
dlers, and they bundled in and started off at
twenty minute gait. Just outside the vii
lage they were met by five members Of the
st. Albans company, who had footed it all
the way from the railroad station. The I'M
daunted five had got the newstoo late t. take
the special train but had come on the next
regular one, and were greatly disappointed at
their failure to obtain a large supply of gore.
The Governor and the officers soon follow
ed the troops. The only obstacle to the
onward sweep OF the procession was the work
of very small and very dirty barefoot.d boy,
who in his sport had run an empty hay-carl
directly across the road and couldn't ret il
ho, NaJ
horseback in advance OF the cortegc and the
thunder Of his tones as he demanded the
cause OF the obstruction absolutely parsyzed
the microscopic lad. His black eyes stuck
out to an incredible distance, his hair rose or
end, his teeth chartered and his voice stuck
10 his throat. The wagon was soon remov ed
but the boy didn't stir from his tracks anc
when last seen he stood in the same place
he hadn't taken in his eyes nor had his hal
descended to his head. Other than this, The
natives of the region showed no indication o.
disloyalty, and the railroad station was soor
and happily reached. OF the trip from tina
point but little need be said and there is N
incident of note TO record. As no one had
taken wink of sleep Friday night-not
from lack of desire but of opportunities
hands were somewhat dcssicaled, and quie
WAS the rule. The Nnrthheld and Monlpe
ler companies left the train at their respec-
tive stations and the st. Adams company a
Essex Junction, each leaving the cars witt
hearty cheers for Governor Barstow, Col
Greeneaf and the line and staff officers and
at 10 o'clock Burlington was reached, and
tho Rutland boys were left to complete their
journey alone.
Rights and Wrongs OF the Rioters.
The miners have been most scandalously
il-treated. There is no earthly doubt of it
The Elys and Goddards aud Cazins hav,
shamefully wronged them. Ex-Governo
Farnham, who is now the active head of lh'
mining company and who Is as honorable
humane aud well-intentioned as any mar
that ever lived, is strainng every nerve t.
carry the concern through its difficulties, bu
the msmanagement of his predecessors il
the compsnys office has entaicd u tremen
dous burden on his shoulders. The company
10 not hopelessly but enormously in debt
there are liens ON all its property its credit
is ruined and its officers have exhausted
their personal credit in advances they have
made to it. The company owes its men 70
their May and June work. but it is to be re
membered that the company always delay
It's payroll month-that 10, wages due MAY
are paid June and 50 on-a custom in force
in many corporations. The amount due TIT
! men is about SEQ, 900. Governor FarnhaI
offered the first of the week to pay then
$4,000 pro rata, but the miners would have
all or none, aud they rejected the offer. Hi:
last proposition was TO pay $1,000 ut cnce
! $1,000 next week, and the balance Of Sl5,
500 as soon as the ore now in process of re-
! tinement can be put through and shipped tc
market. Coy. Farnham informed the writer
that II only fifteen or twenty of the furnace
men would keep ct work money sufficient to
pay the men in full could be realized in six
weeks. The months delay in payment
would not have led TO trouble so serious had
il not been for the fact that last year, under