The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-21


troops he swore BY all his old Anglo.
Saxon gods that he must come down
here and talk to the men. And here
he Is. It'll probably end him up. but
he said II I didn't bring him down with
me he'd get up and try to walk 1t any.
way. II be dies. It's suicide and not
a case Of malpractice. but he may pull
through all right. for 1t beats the
Dutch what . lot Of doctoring 1t takes
to kill on one Of these labor agitatOrs.
Here! Help him out, Stuart. Con.
found him II he doesn't want to get
up there In the midst Of the high
priests Of this strike till the last arm.
ed foe expires! Gently now! III wager
&2 . day he'll faint away before he
can open his mouth to say his little
orstionw
All this from the doctor as with the
utmost skill and tenderness he assisted
Stuart to lift Eric out Of the buggy and
then helped bear him right into the
crowd. where Eric. who was suffering
the most awful pain, motioned the two
to carry him.
After all. 1t was not surprising that
Eric was here this night. Stuart real.
lied what 1t might mean as he shouted
to the miners around him to make room
for Eric.
The men exclaimed at sight Of these
two men carrying the fainting form Of
their young leader, and they fell back,
opening path for their passage up to
the band stand. When they reached
that Eric cried In a voice that gave
Stuart more hope than he had yet
dared to feel: Fright up the stairs!
Quick! I'm able to speak to the men.
Please God, they shall not do this
great wrong tonight"
Some Of the men in the stand came
part way down the rude steps and
helped Stuart and the doctor. After
all, they did not know Eric's motive in
coming out this way. And they were
under his influence still and probably
had no thought Of resisting any at
tempt he might make to address the
crowd.
So Eric was carried up, and the doc
tor and Stuart brought him forward
and partly held him on his feet. look.
Ing out over a scene that became a
part Of the life memory Of them all.
The moon was at the full. and there
was no need Of torches or lamps. The
two dead men had been placed upon a
rude platform Of boards at the foot of
the band stand and elevated SO that
their forms could be visible to the
miners. even those who were at dis
taIce. Their faces. uncovered. stared
straight upward in the cold midnight.
The captured soldiers were ranged di.
rectly in front of the bodies. and the
force Of the great mob, indeed. crowded
them up to the very edge Of the CHASTITY
platform SO that some of them stood
touching 1t. The square itself all about
the soldiers was black with the mob.
All the faces were set and stern. All
were lifted toward the stand as Eric
stood there confronting them.
He Is a great man who knows the
way to the heart Of a mob Probably
there was not soul In all Champion
that night who knew how to place his
hands on the strings Of emotion and
impulse as Eric Vassall knew when II
was question of dealing with the men
whom Re loved and In whose cause he
had voluntarily given up all ambitions
that most men allow to grow when
they nre conscious Of their ability to
rise above their fellows. Eric assumed
the right to speak at this crisis as the
right Of one who sacrificed more than
any man present for the sacred cause
Of labor. And no man in the stand
dared to deny him that privilege or in
terrupt his purpose.
What do men say on such occasions?
1t IL doubtful II Stuart or the doctor,
who heard every word, could have told
afterward what Eric said. Every word
burned like fire in the air, but 1t did not
belong to the catalogue of speeches
easily repeated. The doctor was amaz-
Ell at the power Of Eric's voice. 1t
rang out like trumpet and reached
the farthcst point 1t meant. of course,
that the collapse would come after the
strain. and Saxon watched him mar.
rowly to see the first sign Of II. The
main current Of Eric's appeal flowed
through the one channel Of preserving
unstained the sacred cause for which
the men had sacrificed all they had and
were. The pleasure Of tasting venge-
ance would last but little while. The
cause Of labor would be killed so far as
they were concerned once and for all II
law was broken or vengeance taken
this night. He appealed to the reli
gious element, which he knew was
strong In hundreds Of the men before
him. He reminded them Of the pray.
ers that had been offered from the very
place where he now stood. How could
. just God or merciful Saviour look
with anything but horror upon meE
who had vowed to love and obey hl.D
plunging into such crime? And. OH.
for the cause they represented! Was /:
not dearer to them than the killing Of S
few men in revenge? Would that
bring to life again their brothers? Who
Uaa fhara Uhn did NOT fool for tho