Gilpin observer., 1901-02-07
voice rang out clear and strong over

Lord. we need thy help today. We
ask for wisdom. Grant us to know thy
will. o Lord, keep us from committing
any lawless act. Keep every man here
from drunkenness and violence to prop
erty or life. We want simply our rights
as men. We want wages sufficient to
live in comfort. Show us what to do.
Keep us today from evil. Bless all men
who work with their hands. Bl ,ss our
families. We ask it for Jesus sake.
Amen" [This incident is based on
fact. The writer of this story was wit
ness TO Il gathering of iron miners in
the great strike of July, 1895, where
one of the miners offered just such 4
prayer as the above, at Negaunee,
Mich, July "a, 1891
The speaker lifted his head and the
miners put on their hats. Stuart look
ed out over the heads of the crowd
and up at the man who Lad just pray
ed and then out beyond him to the
pine covered hills dotted over with the
engine houses and stock piles of ore.
He noticed the smoke curling from the
furnace stacks and said to himself,
THE pumps are going yet" The whole
Scene was very vivid to him. The
crowd. the churches, the park, the
stand, that familiar face and figure up
there. the hills, the mines. the whole
with its strong setting of human in
terest, smote him almost with Il shock.
And at the very nerve center of the
shock was that brief prayer. 1t was so
strange, SO unusual. so like a story, so
unlike real life.
Eric was speaking again. He was
making an appeal to the miners to COM
mend their cause TO the world by their
conduct. He spoke. as before he had
prayed. very slowly and carefully. To-
ward the end of his speech he caught
sight of Stuart.
His face flushed for an instant. The
eyes of the two men met. The look on
each mans face seemed to say, Il Won
der if he is still the same?"
A clock in the stceple of the larger
of the two churches struck s. Eric
jumped down from the bench. and an
other miner took his place and spoke
in more impassioned manner to the
men. There were cheers and swinging
of hats. Stuart gradually worked his
way out OF the crowd, stopped fire.
quently by acquaintances. AT last he
had come out In front of the church
with the clock in the tower. looking
about him eagerly for some one from
his own home. when strong voice
from man standing on the church
steps above him exclaimed:
Say. Stuart. when did you join the
striker
Doctor" cried Stuart eagerly. with
n smile of welcome that lighted up his
thoughtful face wonderfully. next to
father and Louise you are the very
person | wanted to sec most. Where
are they? They were to meet me at
the train this morning. Isn't this
most astonishing affair? Tell me all
about It,"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
You know as much about Il as | do.
The men went out this morning with
out notice. The Frceport. Vasplaine
and De Mott miners are all here with
the Champion men. They walked over
from the lower range early this morn
ing"
What do the men want:" Stuart
asked vaguely. He had so many qucs-
Il Jns to put he asked the first that oc-
Cured
rhc doctor shrugged his shoulders
again.
The contract miners want So day.
the trammers Sl.1J and the men at the
top Sl.JO."
WHO is the leader of the men?'
You see for yourself: Eric Vassall
And it seems only yesterday that you
two men were young kids in knicker-
hockers tur.bling down the mines and
worrying the life out of the companies
because of your pranis. And now
Eric is the leader of the biggest strike
Oh record among the miners. playing
the role OF prophet and priest and !
don't know what all. and you
And l." interrupted Stuart. with an.
other smile. as he pulled the doctor
down Off the step above him. IL am
so far-nobody. until I have had my
can't understand where
father and Louise can be. Haven't
you seen them this morningT'
mo. Get into my buggy. I will take
you up to the house"
The DOCTORS office frouted on the
square. and his horse stood near by.
Stuart took one glance back mt the
crowd ms he aud the doctor started up
the street.
ut is n remarkable scene. have not
witnessed anything like 1t abroad.
have seen several strikes In England
and Germany and France since | have
been away. But never knew n strike
to be opened with prayer. did you, doc.
tor?"
NO" replied the doctor dryly.
Stuart looked nt him. He was driv-
fng. as always. with one foot outside
the buggy, the lines gathered mp In n
careless way In one hand and the horse
iu ,.i,i.. nlat,.. lil.n ninl IN tlin snilu