The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-08-30
Especial Correspondence.l

takenly done or not. Samuel Fielden is
simple, Woodworking ranchman today,
and his home is quiet and humble one
in the southern mountains of Colorado.
He can be seen any day hard at work on
his few cleared acres as placidly as
though this had been his occupation all
his life. He looks the typical ranchman
already, with his sunburned face, flowing
beard, unclipped hair, wide hat and
dusty farmers suit. He seemed perfect
ly at home when l saw him, holding
the halters of his horses and expatiating
upon the good points of the meek brown
COW which he had just purchased. But
could not but remember, as he stood
there free, with the wide expanse of
scenery around him, the fresh, sweet air
of the mountains tossing his hair about,
what startling changes had come into
his life.
A little over two years ago the gloomy
stone walls Of his work yard, the mar
row, whitewashed cell where he slept,
shut him in day after day, with no
change, no gloam of light or joy to
brighten his dreary existence. Ten years
ago he stood in the midst of eager au
diences, who listened to his strong,
rugged eloquence with deepest enthusi-
asm. Years before he was an earnest
hearted Methodist exhorter, and far
Their back, plain, industrious English
weaver. He became patriotic Amer
lean citizen as soon as the law would
let him after reaching these shores. He
made one in the ranks of Americas
Woodworking, sober, uEEresuming toll
ers, ana Tor long time no one knew
him as anything else. But he was
thinker, reader an&an observer. All
day long he pondered and observed, and
at night he pored over books. He saw
that even in America the conditions of
working people were far from being
Just or excellent He studied the causes
and soon made up his mind that one
could probably do more good trying to
make this world better than to plead
with people to get ready for the next.
His first speaking was among the re-
ligious liberals of Chicago but the
wrongs Of the poor soon attracted all
his attention, and he threw himself
heartily into the midst of the labor agi-
tation. He felt strongly, he spoke ear
nestly, but the luridness that is reported
he mixed up with his speeches is due to
the excited state of the public at the
time. I, who have heard him frequent
", know that his remarks were no more
intense or radical than many utterances
of The Times of Chicago and The Herald
and The World of New York during the
last five or six years.
Mr.. Fielden happened to be the
speaker at the time the police marched
upon an already scattering meeting and
ordered it to dispense. He was just con-
Guiding his remarks when the captain
ordered the people to leave. Mr.. Fielden
thought little explanation would be
advantageous. why, Captain Ward,
this is peaceable melting he began.
Then came that terrible interruption.
Fielden had not known there was to be
a meeting that evening until he came
down town on another errand. He never
carried q pistol in his life and was en-
tirely unarmed at this time. But he suf-
fered his arrest, his incarceration in the
county Jail, the long, sensational, nerve
straining trial, with the calmness, pa
thence and fidelity to his convictions of
an old time philosopher. He stood under
the very shadow of the gallows, know
ing the rope hung ready for him, with
q solemn courage that showed his true
manhood, and only when, knowing he
was exempt, he saw his white robed
comrades file past him and heard their
last brave " Goodby, Sam u did he break
down. Sobs and groans such as seldom
rend the breast of a man shook his
strong frame that sad, gloomy morning
In all these changes those who know
him can trace one line of characteristics
particularly marked sn his nature. Con-