The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-05
THE COLONIES WATCH.

had assembled on Liberty street in the
CITY Of PIttsburg. For squares nothing
was visible on pavcmcnts or roadway
but sea Of heads. Far up the broad
thoroughiare came the glare Of a conila-
grafton. growing reddcr as the darkness
fell. Over the crowd was hush, as II
loud words were treason. The first day
Of piIlage and destruction in the great
railway riots was over; but mob rule was
still in the ascendant. What was 10 he
the next lawless acti
Tho crowd was made up of all grades
OF men, called from their homes by the
momen,ous events Of the day The
widest rumors passed from mouth to
mouth. The red glare up the street
might be the forcrunner OF the destruc-
ton of Pittsburg; none could tell. IL
was a period Of uncertainty; OF iawiess-
ness. Little wonder that men gathered
in knots 10 discuss the rumOrs, speaking
low and earnestly.
A ragged boy came staggering through
the throng with some brooms on his
shoulder. fruits Of the pillage Of the
freight cars on the Pennsylvania railway
tracks. Little attention was paid to tho
child. as the day Just closing had been
prolific of such sights, and he would have
passed unnoticed had he not encountered
an elderly gentleman, against whose
broad and portly person broom handle
came in rude contact.
,..l.l,,ff axHl0tnODH tho
old gentleman, turning savagely on the
boy.
'I'm 10 whelp," retorted the gamin.
"Keep out of my way"
III hand you over to the police,
growled the gentleman, Indignantly.
Police jeered the boy, grinmng.
81 wish you would. I'd like to see what
cop looks like. feel bout as big as
the mayor myself
The gentleman looked AT the child,
amazed, indignant. The couple repre-
sented society's extremes. The gentle
man, while not dressed extravagantly.
had the air Of a man Of wealth and posi-
ton. The child was scarcely If years
Of age, slightly built. raggedly clad, but
with face impudent and triumphant.
Mob rule was reflected in his every ac
ton.
Il tell YOU. old man, said he, with
the same exasperaiing grin, lit was
jolly! Did you see the cars burni Did
you see the depot and the grain elevator
go down? Did YOU see III whack open
the whisky barrels and scatter big box
fuls O. crackers: Talk about yer pic
nicsi"
Good cried full bearded man,
pa,ting the boy ON the back. You're
a brick, me lad D."
"Aha!' growled the doughty old gen.
tleman, anger getting the better of his
judgment, you're a pack of rioters
yes, sir; a pack of rioters
A score of men crowded about the trio.
Softly, sof,ly!' said he of the full
beard. ats the poor mans turn now,
old bond chpper!'
fright enough" responded half a
dozen voices.
"Well get fair wages now, continued
the full bearded man.
you'll likely starve." retorted the
old gentleman.
.'No fault of yours if we don't" cried
the man, angrily planting himself
directly in front OF his opponent.
Stand aside. sir! said the old gentle
man moving of.
I'm no dog The man stood firm.
Unfortunately, and with no intention
Of provoking violence. the gentleman
brushed the man rather roughly IN pass
ing. The result was a blow that felled
him 10 the ground Attracted by the
loud words and the scufile, men crowded
in from all sides.
"Are YOU hurt, Col. Bondl asked ons
assisting the gentleman to rise.
Hurt! Where is the scoundrel?"
} ''At your elbow, and 10 scoundrel,
eitberW cried the man, shaking great
red fist ut the colonel. 1T was the
seoundrel that had 10 be picked up!'
A laugh ran through the crowd; some
hoo,ed.
''Of all the PONIES laughed the boy
With the brooms.
Come, come, colonel, said the friend,
leading him away; this Is no place for
you
IL reckon notr' jeered the boy.
: Col. Bonds anger was at fever heat,
but what recourse had he? The man
who had struck him was an entire
stranger, and had he been known there
was no law 10 punish him. The sympa-
thies OF the crowd were all with the
workman for such he seemed To be. The
colonel's language in such crowd and
Oh such an occasion had been foolish and
inHammatory. Standing over a keg Of
powder. he had been unwise enough to
drop fire into II.
I'm 90 home" he said. THE towns
going To the devil. \ mans life is not
safe in the streets.
And home he went in towering rage.
When dropping into an easy char in his
sitting room, he noticed for the first
time that his watch chain dangled loose.
He felt in his vest pocket for his time
piece; il was gonel Not only had he
been knocked down, grossly insuited; he
had also been robbed. The old heirloom,
the watch that he had carried since he
reached manhood, had been stolen.
Grieved to the heart at the loss, he paced
up aud down the room unable to control
himself.
THE scoundrel," he said. WHO
would have taken him for theft ]
said some cutting things 70 him, and he
knocked me down. | half deserved it,