The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-15


NJ tn advance Wen burn tn pleeace
deawn. Well gil him two minutes &c
think it owerr'
And the shouting Of the mob and the
roaring of the flames continued.
Holroyd, Thwaite and Vane consulted.
To all suggestions Of concession or arbi-
tration Holroyd returned, an Obstinate re-
fusal, urging the employment of force for
the protection of his property. Vane asked
If the police could not gain an entrance
at the back of the house, and SO eject the
rioters, but Holroyd explained that it
would be impossible for them to scale the
high surrounding wall The only way in
was through the gateway, which the mob
was already roughly barricading. Would
Captain Vane advance at the point of the
bayonet and force an entrance?
Vane replied that he certainly would,
but not until he had seen the police make
the attempt themselves.
"Hey" shouted Sam Bradley, the riot
ers' spokesman, "time's upl WHAT'S gooin
fur t. do?"
For answer, Thwaite read the riot act.
No one could hear it, and few would have
needed it had it been heard. Then the po-
lice rushed at the gateway with drawn
truncheons. But the storm of stones, ire
brands and other missiles with which they
were met caused them to beat speedy re-
treat, amid the boots and jeers of the
strikers, now flushed with success.
Then Thwaite formally desired Captain
Vane to do his duty. The men were drawn
up in double line, and the action decided
upon was two volleys and charge at the
bayonet's point Standing well without
the range of the rioters storm of stones,
the soldiers were yet able to take good
aim, for the banks of coal adjacent were
still fiercely burning. There was sharp
clicking as the men loaded with ball car
fridge, and the GOLFERS, seeing that bust
ness was evidently meant, wavered for a
moment but instantly rallied-madly, it
seemed Drawing certain destruction. ODE
dent to Vane's command, up went the
rifles at the "ready" with mechanical
precision, and every finger touched the
trigger, every ear listened for the word to
fire.
But it did not come. AS the word form
ed itself on Captain Vane's frightened lips,
q big collier forced himself into the front
rank of the strikers, bearing in his arms a
fair haired boy-the captains little son,
| Charlie.
"Now fire, if yo' dareI'' cried the man.
1--WE reckoned on tn redcoats, me an
Sam, an thowt we'd find summat as 'ud
stop ther pea shootin. Capt'in will moan
! fire on his own chilli, reckonW And
with a wild, hoarse laugh the fellow held
up little Charlie high in air. Vane was
pale as death. He knew now why his boy
had been missing. What was he to do5
To fire was to kill his only child, to refuse
to do SO would be neglect of duty. He
looked toward Thwaite for advice. What
was it he saw in the magistrates eyes
cruel satisfaction Clearly not indigna-
ton or pity.
"Well, why don't you fire yer popguns''
screamed Holroyd. "You'll be too late
directly. They're up i tn top rooms wi
torches nowW
"Shure," cried Sergeant Reilly, forget
ting discipline in his anger, "shure h'
don't fire, ye ovid coal HEAVIER, beca Sc the
bhoy there's his own flesh an blood"
''Men," cried Vane to the colliers, ii
you are men, give me back my boy
Would you make father murder his OWL
SOM"
"Have 70 thowt o. our childher, cap'nP
answered Sam Bradley. "They'ro elem
min a. whoam fur want o. bread, leav
alone meat! Call off yo'r men an go'
back to tn barricks, an I'll promise 20
to bring the chilt over to yo' rect awayP
Before Vane could reply, Thwaite brok
in.
"This parleying with rioters is absurd,
he said. "It's unfortunate for you, Cap
tain Vane, that those blackguards yonde
have the boy, but you cannot allow tina
fact to interfere with your duty. In tn
name of the queen you have sworn to serve
call on you to fire upon and dispers
that mobp
"But Observation-Disclosures Vane be
gan. But before he could formulate
sentence Charlie cried out to his father
His childish treble could be clearly heard
for the truly terrible situation had com
PEELED general silence.
FEATHER, cried the boy, "don't be afrai
to fire. I'm not afraid to die-Im not
coward, If these men are towards. Sa
goodby to mammal
A mighty cheer from the soldiers
Threats broke the painful silence. Oh
Holroyd seemed struggling to say som'
thing, and despite his pain Captain Van
felt prouder than he felt when his quee
had placed upon his breast the Victori
cross. He turned to Thwaite and said:
"You have executed your threats OF yea
GUS vengeance in a cruel way, Mr.. Thwaitt
and you and will settle this elsewhere
You could have made some arrangement
with these men, dare say. But you sha
see that am soldier first and fath'
afterward. Hang it, manl' as Holroy
, touched his arm and stammered som,
thing, chang it, III fire, though your oil
stinacy costs me py boys lifeP'
The line of bayoneted muzzles once mol
grinned at the strikers, and Captain Var
called "Fi"-
, "Stopp shouted Holroyd, rushing
I front of the soldiers. "Stopl I'm rul
'un and rough 'un, but, p" shaking b
, fist at the rioters, "afore I'll see mo
, shoot down his only son for my sake, y
con burn down every shed 1 own Nov
burn away an be durnedl Cap'n, yo' &C
, rect about feeace."