Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-05

| slient1y, OmlnOuSiy, the tram rolls
along. AS it is rounding a curve sew
eral ugly looking fellows are seen run
ming at speed toward the switch lever
at the next street crossing. Excitedly
the railway man clutches Drummond' s
elbow and points. Two troopers are
kneeling close at hand.
Shoot il they touch that SWITCH"
says Drummond, and instantly the
locks click as the hammers are brought
to full cock. The foremost runner is
almost at the iron stand; his hand is
outstretched to grasp it when agasping,
warning cry reaches his ears. CHANGING
back. he sees his fellows scattering to
either side, and one look at the smooth
rolling car reveals the cause; two car
bines are leveled at him, and fiat he
throws himself on his face and rolls to
one side amid derisive laughter from
the strikers themselves. A little far
ther on a knot of surly riotersare gath
cred on the track. No warning whis-
tie sounds, and the changing bell is too
far to the rear TO attract their attention.
Out of the way there!" is the blunt,
roughly spoken order. No time this
for standing on ceremony. Vengeful
and scowling tho men spring aside.
some STOPPING to pick up rocks, others
reaching into their pockets for the
ready pistol. but rocks are dropped and
| pistols undrawn as tho train whirls
rapidly by, and wrath gives place to
mystiicatfon. Who-what are these
strange, silent, stubbly bearded, sun
tanned fellows in SLOUGH hats, flannel
shirts and the Worn old black belts over
the shoulder? Even the engine has its
| guard. and half a dozen of them, perch
ed upon the tender, have leveled their
carbines to flank and rear, ready to let
drive into the crowd the instant brick
IS heaved or n trigger pulled.
| And SO into the great stone station
they roll, and here they find the plat
forms damned with citizens-some
drawn by curiosity, some active SYM
| pathizers in the strike. and many of
them prominent leaders of the mob surg
ing in tho crowded thoroughfare with
| out. Tho train has hardly como to a
stand when from every direction the
mass OF outsiders is heaving up around
it.
| "Now, Feeny, clear the platform to
the left. Take the other side, Wing"
says Drummond quietly to the officer
at the front door of the next car
In the very fraction. of a second tho
| first sergeant and dozen men have
leaped from the deck, and straight into
the heart of the crowd they go. Back
with We! Out o this!' are the stern,
determined orders, emphasized by Wig
orous prods with the heavy carbine
| butts. Astonished at methods so prompt
| and decided, there is only such resist
ance as the weight and bulk of those in
rear can offer, and that is but moment
airy. The sight of those cleaning gat-
| hing barrels, the stern. brief orders and
| the rapid, confident advance combine
TO overcome all idea of resistance. On
| both sides, at the head of the train, the
huge crowd. half laughing. half suffo-
| eating. is hcaved back upon itself and
sent like great human wave rolling
| up to the iron lattice at the Office end.
| Meantime, without an instant's delay
| the battalion springs out from the cars,
| forms ranks on the north platform,
counts fours, and then. arms at right
shoulder, away it goes with swinging,
| steady tramp around the rear of the
| train, across the parallel rows of rails,
and in another moment, greeted by ire
mendous cheers from the occupants of
| long lines and high tiers of stores, offices,
| business blocks, the grimy, dusty, war
worn campaigners come striding down
the crowded street. Heavens, how
the people shout! Staid old burghers,
portly business men, trot painting along
| side, waving their hats and cheering
| themselves boarse. Them fellers
hasn't no bouquets in their guns, - is the
way street gamin expresses it.
Whittier are they going?'' 'what
have they first to do?" is the cry. Po-
lice officials ride now with the captain
temporarily in command; a carriage
has whisked the colonel over to head
quarters. but haste! haste! is the word.
On they go, silent. grim. with the al
kali dust of the North Platte crossing
still coating their rusty garb. A great
swing bridge looms ahead; a dozen DO
lice deploy ON either side and check the
| attending crowd. Over they 20 at
route step, and then, turning to the
right, tramp on down a roughly paved
street, growing dim and DINNER every
minute with sitting smoke. Presently
they are crossing snakelike lines of
hose. gashed and useless; passing fire
apparatus standing unhitched and neg
lected; passing firemen exhausted and
llstless. Then occasional squads of
scowling men give way before their
steady tramp and are driven down alley
ways and around street corners by re-
viving police. Then the head of col
a11n turns to tho left and comes full
upon a scene of tumult-a great build
ing in flames, great mob surging
about it defying police interference and
bent apparently on cutting the struc-
ture from roof to cellar and pillaging the
neighboring stores. Now, men of the
-th, here's work cut out for you!
Drive that mob, bloodlessly if you can,
blood letting if you mustl
The colonel is again at the head. All
are on foot. Lett front into line,
double time;;" tho first company throws
/ "a. l. e. 4