Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-27
GERMINAL,
cr tho Story of Great Miners Strike.
BY EMILE ZoLA
T1unSldtd from ule French

BY EMILE ZOLh.
T1unsIUtctl from ule French.
r--.-
SUMMARY OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS
Anton bantier a mechanic, unable to find
employ ment at his trade in Paris, drifts into
me interior Ot France and brings up at the
MontsOn coal mining region, In early spring.
Being without money he readily accepts work
in the Nulture mine and soon becomes an
expert workman. The low wages of the min.
crs, constant struggle against hunger, and
the miserable condition of old and young, CN-
cites in him lively interest and he begins
the study Of methods tending to alleviate
their condition Gradually he impaTts his
ideas to Others and readily secures the sup
port and cooperation of the poor, struggling
wOrknCn, saving fund is started to which
each miner contributed the money thus OBJ
tanned to be used to support the men in case
Ot trouble with the coal companies. BY the
LIST OF November the fund amounted to n con-
siderable sum, and the miners, emboldened
by this fact, determined to resist new
method OF payment introduced by n majt r.ty
OF the companies, which was to gO inlO eff
tect on the nrst of December. The pan of
the companies was To divide the ten CentimCs
paid for each ear of coal. onc-half to 20
the mines. The wOrkmcn, to tOTtity their
position in case of revolt, worked hfteen days
undGr the new system of payment, and found
that IT was an Indirect but effective method OF
reducing their wages. To strike was the only
alternative. McetinoS were he'd and dele
cation appointed to wait upon the managing
director or the mines and Jay before him the
demands of the mcn.-thc abolition of the new
system of payment and an increase of nve
ccntimcs per car. Anton $ ability and SAGA.
city made him at once the leader in the strike.
The Interview of the miners with the mana
ger was without result, and the men, with
very little hope of ultimate success. settled
down to long and bitter struggle-the strug-
gle of poverty against unlimited wealth.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Mr.. Hennebcau had placed himself Mt
the window OF the office to see the de.
parturc of the carriage which was taking
his wife to breakfast 1T Marchiennes,
after stopping mt the Grcgorys and the
Denculins to take up the young ladies.
He had watched hegrcl Tor an instant,
on horseback, tretting, near the carriage
door; then he returned and quietly seated
himself mt his desk With neither his
wife nor his nephew to cheer him with
their noisy hustle, the house seemed
empty.
Towards o o'clock, Notwithstanding
that he had received orders to admit no
one, HypUlitc took the liberty of announc.
ing Dansaert, who said he brought sc.
rious news 1t was only then the director
learned of the meeting held the previous
evening in the. forest OF Vandame; aud
the details were so minute, that he lis
tened with feeble unconscious smile,
thinking OF the amourS of Mrs. Peters,
so well known that two or three anOny-
nous letters every week denounced to
him the wanderihgs of the master over
seer. Conversation continued on the
strike; that meeting in the forest was as
vet but the clustering of braggarts, 10
serious danger threatened. In any case
the alleys would not stir that day, be-
cause of the respectful fear with which
they had been impressed by tho military
display this morning.
When Mr.. Hennebcau found himself
alone again, he was, nevertheless, on the
point OF sending n dispatch to the pre-
feet. The fear of giving an unnecessary
sign of uneasiness restrained him. He
had not yet forgiven himself for having
failed to scent it; for having said every
where, for having even written to the
owners, that the strike would not last Il
fortnight at the most. To his great sur
prise it had goae on for nearly two
months; and he was In despair about it;
he felt himself daily growing weaker,
brilliant stroke if he wished to regain the
favor of the managers He had just
asked for precise orders in the event of IL
dispute. The answer was delayed hc
was expecting it by the afternoon cOur-
ier. And he said TO himself that it would
be time enough then to issue kilograms
for the military occupation of the III mes.
if such should be the advice of those gen
tlcmen. In his opinion, it would certain
ly be II battle ending in bloodshed and
death; and proportionate responsibility
troubled him, i'll spite of his habitual
energy. ......
This silence dccpcncd his prcoccupa-
ton; he felt himself chilled to the heart
when an overscer, running at full speed,
was introduced and told him of the
march of the mob upon Miron. Just as
he was finishing his coffee telegram in
formed him that the Madeleine and Gre.
vccGur were mcnaced in their turn.
Then his perpleXity became extreme. He
expected the courier at two O'Clock;
ought he to ask for troops Immediately? |
Would it not be better to wait little |
longer, so as not to take any action be-
fore knowing the orders of the mana
gers? He returned to his Office; he
wished to read II note which he had |
charged Mcgrel to write for the perfect
the previous evening. AS he could not |
find it he thought the young man might |
have left it in his room, where he often
wrote at night before going to bed. And
without coming to any decision, thinking
only about this paper, Inc went up to tho
room above to look for it.
The stroke of u bell in tie distance, mt
this moment, made Mr.. Hcnnebeau |
shivcr. He recognized il as the signal
given by his orders on the arrival OF the
courier. t.t
Monsieur, the courier and Nj. Dan.
Sacrt has also returned, and says thut
they are killing cash other"
MY God I'm going down.
Below, five IS myers were standing,
without counting Dansacrt. All brought
him tdingS OF increasing gravity respect.
ing the march OF the strikers around the
mines; and the master Ovrrsecr related
to him at longth wl at had taken place at
NIiron, saved by the noble conduct of old
Qunndieu He listened, hc shook his
head bur he und, rstoOd nothing; At
last he dismissed them. He sand he was
gong to take necessary measures, When
he found himself alone again, seated be-
fore his desk, he appeared to dozG his
head between his hands, his eyes hidden.
His courier WAS there and he decided to
examine there the expected letter, the
'cply of the owners the lines of which
lnnccd at first Nevertheless, he ut last
that those gentlemen wanted
4 coils on True thpY did not tell him