The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-21
SETTLED A STRIKE.

Tho next morning there appeared on the
sidewalks and on tho walls of many houses
some mysterious chalk marks,
Tho sane night, about o'clock, a great
lstream Of people could BIO seen going to-
ward the city hall, and then the uninitiat-
led began to speak Of the chalk marks and
nod their heads knowingly.
The Knights kept their own counsel, and
it was absolutely impossible to obtain any
information as to their intentions, but the
indications appeared to point to big
strike.
All the next morning little knots of
workmen about tho Eldora mill could be
seen evidently discussing the situation
Before 10 O'Clock 1t was announced that
a committee Of Knights, composed of
Franklin Watson, the Eldora suporintend.
tent, who, strange to say, was a leading
spirit among the Knights, and two work
men, would wait upon Julian Carson vice
president, and also president of the biggest
tobacco factory in town, to protest against
the proposed reduction.
Mr.. Carson was fair man and disposed
to settle the matter TO tho satisfaction Of
all parties concerned, but on second
thought he referred 1t all to General Man.
ager Cookshaw.
Superintendent Watson, as speaker for
the committee, told the general manager
that should the proposed reduction be
made q strike of the Eldora employees
would follow and advised against it.
I'm run this mill according to my own
Ideas" Cookshaw said, land II at any
time our people become dissatisfied and
want to quit they can do SO. There arc
thousands Of idle workmen who would be
only too glad to fill their places"
A strike was inaugurated.
General Manager Cookshaw became OBJ
stinate and declared that he would sweep
the Knights of Labor from the faco of the
: earth.
But his efforts to fill the places of the
\ strikers were absolutely fruitless.
| The fight in few days began to wax
exceedingly warm, and a report that all
the employees of tho other mills would be
called out In sympathy created no little
excitement.
Tho report was true, for in less than six
hours from the time 1t had gained cur
rency not wheel Of machinery In Dur
carville was turning.
1 Everything was tied up tighter than q
drum. Business was completely paralyzed,
clogged.
In q few days there would be suffering
and starving among tho people, for they
were all of the poor class, and their saw
ings did not amount to great deal.
1t would never do. The strike must be
settled.
Tho people of Durcarville were OF very
religious temperament
There was q great preacher in Duncan.
vile of tho name of Lomanson-the Rev
George Lomanson-and he was q power
| too.
4 Brother Lomanson would preach twice
every Sunday. bury all the dead, officiate
at every marriage, weep when others wept
and laugh when they laughed. He would
visit tho sick, comfort the dying, and was,
! think, an ideal village pastor, although
he had full sway In Durcaryille of nearly
10, 200 population.
\ strike
4 Sunday he preached from the text, 1.-THE
| laborer is worthy of his hire"
/ Tho church was crowded, and after the
regular services tho preacher announced
that tho next morning at 10 o'clock there
i would BIO mass meeting Of tho people Of
Durcarvillo ct the public square, and he
wanted everybody to be on hand.
1 1t Is needless to say that the entire pop.
ulation turned out, because the strike was
then assuming serious proportions.
4 An improvised stand had been arranged
/ for tho speakers, and just minute OF two
before 10 O'Clock Miss Birdie Edwardley,
a lovely little blond of II, who was her.
self one of tho strikers, employed In the
Eldora mill, was seen pushing her why
through the crowd that surrounded the
i speakers stand. Reaching the steps, sho
quickly assembled and in "a moment stood
facing the vast multitude, Before any
,l1t 10 Ill L..
voice was heard in sweetest song:
AL hail the power of Jesus name;
1 Let angels PROSTATE fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown him Lord OF all.
The great throng Of strikers Joined in
the singing, and tho very hills and valleys
about Durcaryille rcvcrbcrated and echoed
until the sun itself seemed to stop and
look curiously upon the strange scene.
Brother Lomanson In the meantime was
walking back and forth on tho platform,
singing with his soul aflre.
General Manager Cookshaw, who was
on tho outskirts of tho crowd, could stand
the scene no longer.
He gave signal to Brother Lomanson,
and instantly the singing ceased.
\ Then General Manager Cookshaw made
a statement from the platform. In anoth-
CT hour every factory IN DurcarVllle was
running In full blast.
The strike had ended, and all were
happy.
just one year to the very day after these
stirring scenes on the public square all the
people of Durcaryille turned out to witness
the most important wedding In the history
of the little city. Superintendent Watson
acted as best man, and Brother Lomanson
officintcd as usual, and tho BRIDE Miss
Birdie Edwardley, was the very picture Of
loneliness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cookshaw went on an OK
tended bridal tour, and Two heard 10 said
that they are the happiest couple In North
Carolina.
And to this day the people of Durear
willie tell Of tho great strike which for
uniquencss and its happy termination has
gone into history without a parallel. Chi
cago Times.