Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-03

, trick like this A man who robs a bank
has some courage, but man who tenpts
| povorty-stricken wretches to commit the
crime, while he stands safely aside and
reaps the beneilt-there Is no decent word
| in the language to characterize him. Now
| men. you know what has been done, and
| the result is that our treasury Is empty as
| II Sartwell had broken into 1t with Jimmy.
The manager is waiting eXpectantly for the
reward for his burglary. He will throw the
gates of the works open tomorrow for YOU
to enter and complete his triumph. The
question before the meeting tonight is-Are
you going in?"
a universal shout of Never! Well starve
iirst!' rose to the raftcrs of the building.
When he first confronted the meeting tina:
night, Gibbons feared he could not rouse
the men from their evident coldness toward
him; as the speech went on, increasing muir
niurs among the men and at length savage
outbursts of rage showed him that he held
them in the hollow of his hand; at the
end word from him, and all the police
in that part of London could not have saved
the works from wreck and flames
ITO the works." was the cry and there
was d general movement in response to 1t.
mo, men," shouted Gibbons. his stentorian
voice dominating the uproar. Not to the
works. Every man home tonight, but be on
the ground in the morning We must not
play into the enemy's hands by any attempt
at NlOlence. IOnOTTOW we VIII intercept
MonlSton and Hope and demand our rights
from them in person. Let them refuse at
their peril Wen have no more dealings
with Sartwell."
There was a chesr at this ana the meeting
disbanded quietly.
Next morning the men were out in force
at the still closed gates and there We're
angry threats against the manager. 1t was
all right enough. they said for Gibbons to
counsel moderation, but the time for moder
alton was past. There was an increased body
of police, who kept the crowd moving as
much as was possible, having for the first
time during the strike a most difficult task
to perform. The strikers were in ugly tenn
per and did not obey orders or take pushes
with the equanmity they had formerly dis
played; but tha police showed great forbear-
ance and evidently had instructions not to
use their truncheons except a last re-
sort.
Sartwel. knowing a crisis was at hand,
had slept in his office and the ever-increasing
mob hOoted when he did not appear at his
usual time.
Gibbons, by word and action, moving about
everywhere. tried to keep his men in hand
and prevent conflict. They cheered him,
but paid little attention to what he said.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock hanson drove
to .he outskirts Of the mob and was received
with chorus of groans Gibbons quickly
stepped TO the front of 1t and addressed the
occupant.
'Mr. Hope he began.
stand back tharew cried the officer In
charge.
MIR, Hope" cried Gibbons, 81 want ten
words with you"
Little Mr.. Hope shrank into corner of the
hanson speechless, his face as white as a
sheet Of paper.
stand back. | sayr The officer pushed
Gibbons. striking him with some force in the
breast.
Let him answer. VIII you speak for one
minute with your men-the men who have
mado you rich?"
stand backr' reiterated the officer. push
Ing him step further
The hanson moved inch by inch nearer the
gates. The crowd seethed like au uneasy
sea but every man held his breath,
Listen to me- Mr.. Hope, Your men are
starving. They ask only"
The oiiicer pushed the speaker back once
more, Gibbons heel caught on a cobble-
Stone and he went down backward.
The crowd broke like wave, submerGing
the police for a moment, flooding the street
as II dam had given way The cabby on
his lofty sat, trying to control his frightened
horse, looked like castaway perched on a
buoy in an angry ocean. He made the tactl-
cal mistake Of lashing around him with his
whip. In an instant the hanson was over
and down. with crash OF splnterlng glass
The police, edging together struck right and
left with fury that quite matched the less
disciplined rage Of the mob. The officers
fought their way until there was ring
around the PROSTATE cab. Two OF them
picked up Mr. Hope, who was helpless with
fear and horror, and these two, with the
little man between them surrounded by
squad that stood shoulder to shoulder. sim
ply Glove their way through the dense mass
to the gates. where tho small door In the
large gate was quickly opened and shut. with
Mr.. Hope and one supporting policeman in
side
Gibbons. his hat gone. his coat In rags and
his face smeared with blood. Wild, un-