Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-18

but appearing unwilling even to adv1se W tn them; as if he felt himself un- worthy. having failed so utterly, to give advice upon which depended the well fare of others.
 "l think you had better go yourself, father" replied Mrs. Parsons to the suggestion of her husband that Erastus should att md the meeting in his stead. "You a"c the head of the family, and you will have moro influence than Q younger man. Erastus can go, too, if you and he wish. l think everybody ought to go and see if some means car not be deviscl to prevent our homes from being destroyed.
 The meeting of the settlers was held the following afternoon. and John Par son> went. So did EraStus. So did everybody else in the ne ghborhood
 Somebody nominated Mir. Parsons for chairman, but hc declined. and Mir Rjtch;e was clectcd to preside, and Erastus Hemmingway was made sccre- tary. Then the meeting was declared opened and expression of opinion as to the course to be pursued as ed for.
 The result was variety of Sugges- tions and mot, ,ons Some favored ap- plying to the courts for an in unction to stop the operations at the mines, Lu: others pointed out that such efforts had been made in similar cases in other parts of the country and had failed, or been delayed until too late to save the property of those applying,
 Others proposed petitioning the Leg islature for the passage of a bill for bidding hydraulic m ming: but as such ! law could not be obta ned for a year, If at all, this proposition was not favor ably received, and finally the meeting adjourned without having decided upon anything, but wi;h the unders anGing that they were to meet agaii. the next afternoon and consider the matter still fur her.
 When they reassemb!ed the next day the whole question was again gone over. and yet nothing could be agreed upon.
 To bring suit in court for damages would be 10 become involved in endless litigation; since they would be contend ing against those whose resources were virtua limitless. and whose wealth would enable t!lcm to protract the su ts indefinitely; so that if in the end the settlers should b. successful in obtain ing judgment against tie companies it would Dc quite as disastrous as tc Iu!etly submit to tlic outrage.
 If they sued at all. they must make every company, the debris from whose mines empt.ed mo the gulch above them. parties 10 the complaint. and would thus finl arrnycI against them men worth mill ons of dollars, organized in the form of a operation. provvrbially soulless, and certainly without mercy. or sense of justice, or honor, to prevent them from taking advantage of every Quibble of the law. ma,ie. too. in many instances, to delay :u>tico, nnd admin. istered by officers wiio owe. thclr cleo, tiop to the men who controlled the corporate capital of the state,
 Threats of personal violen e were moi lacking.
 There were those who recalled the fact that moro than once in the history of the State, thieves. blacklegs and bal lot-boX stut1ers, even those who as- sumed to have been elected 10 higt offices, had been hung upon hastily. erected gal!ows by men whose only authority for doing so was their natural right to protect them>elves and families from being robbed and insulted by or ganized bands of plundcrers. A large majority, however, favored only legal means for the protection of their homes, and it was finally agreed to build a dam across the gorge through flowed, at a point above the aor.c,llt. ural settlement, and by cutting through the hill, turn tn; mass of slick ings into anoth.r gorge, which would cause them to enter the river at a point below, and where no damage ] would be done to occupied lands. During the d scussons at csc meet ings John Parsons had said little. and that little only when appealed to tol his opinion; but when the building ot 1 the dam and the cutting of new way for the ovcr.lowing debris had been decided upon, he called Erasus aside, and after conferring with him q mo, ment, returned and sub crihed five hundred dollars toward the work to | be done.
 The announcement of his subscription was greete,l with cheers by the little 1 body of men there assembled.
 Tt ain't all my own subscription. men, he said, when the cheering had ceased. II don't know if any of it money we was a savin' up fer to buy a ranch fer Erastus with, and it honestly belongs to him. He's earned every cent of it and more, too; but you sec if the work goes on an our homes is saved, there's got to be lots of money comin' from somewhere, an doctors bills and sich has tuck bout everything we made last year, an Eein' as Rastus is wiIlin'. we'll plank up the five hun dred es soon es the committee that is tc have charge of the work is ready to be gin"
 Others now came forward and sub scr bed, a few putting down five hun drcd each, and many others. smaller sums; the understanding being tha such as could not pay money should b' allowed 10 work out their subscription! at the price paid to other workmen Committees were appontel to solici the valley Wno mirnt in tina be iniurel