The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-01

think 1t overt!
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
II 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 VaEe 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.
ttHey!" shouted Sam Bradley, the riot
ers' spokesman, 'stime'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, fire.
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 we'll 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,
big collier forced himself into the front
rank of the strikers. bearing in his arms
fair haired boy-the captain little son,
Charlie.
''Now fire, if yo' darep' cried the man.
awe reckoned on tn redcoats, me an
Sam, an thowt we'd find summat as 'ud
stop Their pea shootin. Capt'in will moan
fire on his own chilt, / reckon'' And
with 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 do?
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'n be too late
directly. They're up i tn top rooms VII
torches now!"
'sShure," cried Sergeant Reilly, forget
ting discipline in his anger, "shure he
don't fire, ye ovid coal HEAVIER, beca 'se the
bhoy there's his own flesh an bloodl''
"Men," cried Vane to the Golfers, eff
you are men, give me back my boy.
Would you make father murder his own
son?''
'sHave 20 thowt o. our childher, cap'n"
answered Sam Bradley. ssThey're Glenn
min a. whoam fur want O. bread, leave
alone meat! Call off yo'r men an goo
back to tn harricks, an I'll promise yo'
to bring the chit over to yo' rect awayr'
Before Vane could reply, Thwaite broke
in.
"This parleying with rioters is absurd"
he said. tits unfortunate for you, Cap
tain Vane, that those blackguards yonder
have the boy, but you cannot allow that
fact to interfere with your duty. In the
name of the queen you have sworn to serve,
/ call ON you to fire upon and dispense
that mob!"
"But Thwaite-Ho lroyd"- Vane be-
gan. But before he could formulate a
sentence Charlie cried out to his father.
His childish treble could be clearly heard,
for the truly terrible situation had COM
PEELED a general silence.
Father" cried the boy, ''don' It be afraid
to fire. Pm not afraid to die-I'm not
coward, if these men are towards. Say
goodby to mammal"
A mighty cheer from the soldiers
threats broke tho painful silence. Old
Holroyd seemed struggling to say some
thing, and despite his pain Captain Vane
felt prouder than he felt when his queen
had placed upon his breast the Victoria
cross. He turned to Thwaite and said:
"You have executed your threats of jeal-
GUS vengeance in cruel way, Mr.. Thwaite,
and you and I will settle this elsewhere
You could have made some arrangement
with these men, dare say. But you shall
see that am a soldier first and father
afterward. Hang it, manP' as Holroyd
touched his arm and stammered some
thing, chang it, I'll fire, though your OBJ
stinacy costs me my boys lifel'
The line of bayoneted muzzles once more
grinned at the strikers, and Captain Vane
called "Fi'-
"Stopp' shouted Holroyd, rushing in
front of the soldiers. "Stop! I'm rum
Jun and a rough 'un, butt" shaking his
fist at the rioters, "afore I'll see mon
shoot down his only son for my sake, yo'
con burn down every shed own! Now,
burn away an be durnedl Cap'n, yo' con
rect about feeace."
But my boy"-
"Here he isE' shouted Sam Bradley,
snatching the child from his comrade and
setting him down free. "Run to thy fey
ther, lad. Well moan be beat by ovid
Abel Holroyd in doom tn rect thing. An,
Abel, I'll gil yo' my word 'at not another
stick or stone shall be hurt toneet. Run,
lad, run!''
The boy few to his friends, and as he
WAS CAUGHT in his fathar,c or,,,o q oreat