St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-03-11
oPELoUsAs La. SATURDAY. MARCH H. 1899

Thewater power for the Frisco Yrusher
was intfolneed from hume by means
Of q long, up-slanting iron pipe called
La penstock, = the upper hand Of which
was accessible from the hill above the
mill and beyond the mines defenses.
4 The strikers had turned of flie water
/ the night before, and now they proceefi-
] ed to load up the mill with coInbusti bles
from the company's magazine, showing
! the POWDER wrapped in gunny sacks.
/ down The penstock till they judged the
charge was sufficient. They set IT off
about four o'clock in the morning of the
11th, and the mill was blown forums,
its red boards scattered by that wind
/ oIs strife all over the startled country
side, and not unsatisfactory number
of 'scabs' and their guards, who were
4 in or near the mill at the time, were
killed or injured. There was no pre-
tense Of sparing life; the object was to
| take it, that good service might be rem
dered TO the cause of unconditional al
| legiance to the union by this awful re-
minder of its power. The doctor re-
marked, when he carried the news to
the refugees in his cellar, that 1T was
like the fable Of the eagle wounded
with shaft feathered from her own
wing-to sblow up the bosses" with
the powder they themselves had paid
for.
Tn the fight that ensued the nom
union men were overpowered by the
numbers of their assailants, and the
owners, having no defenses and no de-
tenders left. surrendered their proper
ty and the persons of their employees to
the leaders of the strike. The non
union miners were disarmed, and
marched as prisoners to the miners
hall, there TO be guarded until the SEN
tence of eviction from the country
where they had presumed to earn a liv-
ing Independent Of labor organizations
should be executed. The agreement
which the managers were coerced into
signing admitted the right of the union
to odietatew what persons they should sole
ly employ and at what prices. E..1is was
the famous union ultimatum," and
these the means taken to enforce it in
the Coeur d'Alene.
That friend of the workingman, Mr..
Bingham, was so impressed with the
nature of the crisis that he allowed
himself to be Influenced into tele-
graphing to the military authorities.
adiuring them to hold back the troops
lest their presence in the infaIned dis
tricts might precipitate threatened acts
of violence. This, practically, was de-
mana from the union bosses, signed by
the manager of an important mine, to
be .slet alone" with the implied threat
that, if not let alone, trouble would en-
suebridges be blown up, and mines
held down by dynamite would be ex-
ploded, and the lives of innocent per
sons perhaps. of MIR. Bingham, would
be placed in jeopardy. tits not prob
able that the telegram had the slightest
effect in delaying the troops, but it was
scarcely a true expression of the senti-
nient of the greater portion of the COM
munity, who were willing to take the
private risks and to bear the private
losses for the sake of public peace and
security.
The doctor had5receiyed, early on the
morning Of that black Mondays a little
note from Faith questioning him timid- |
~ in these words:
'.Do you know where Mr.. Darcie is
He left the house last evening without |
a word to anyone. AS our guest, and a |
wounded man, it is on my conscience ,
that he may be in danger. Any help that |
you could give him in this awful time
would be, I am sure, only due him from |
us, at the mine where he received his
injuries"
The doctor replied briskly, but |
evasively, and was careful to see that |
his note. went straight to its destina-
ton: for, from the appearance of Miss
missiye, he judged that It
had been tampered with
My Dear Miss Bingham: i am much
more concerned for yourself than for any 1
young man-guest. injured, or otherwise.
Darcie has got one good arm and a pretty
cool head. he'll get through. But you
must be aware that your father cannot
protect you in the present state of affairs, /
evensif he knew the way. lie is complete
~ terrorized by the strike. must be
plain with you. He knocked under. prae-
tieally, months ago. would Insist on your
coming over here 1t were not liable to be
called a dozen ways at once, or II were
anybody but the little doctor If the
.roops ever get in. things will be different.
In the meantime have a plan, and don't
know what moment may spring it on
you; so be ready In marching triEn-stout
boots and a WOODEN frock-to start when
you get the word. Some one else who IS
going has got the route. Make up your
mind that I know, not what is best. but
> 80. xA vY a. II