The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-04-11

,ith these men with whom he was
now associated as a member Of the
hodv of Christ. If he had been grow
inc more and more to believe that he
vas his brothers keeper ever since the
death of his father, much more now,
ssnccially since his conversion and this
davis communion. Andrews prayer
,oncled on tbat. The service was very
Impressive.
AZ its close Stuart asked Andrew II
bc might say word, and very simply
hut strongly he stated his Christian
faith and asked for the prayers of the
church that strength and wisdom
might be given him to live the true life
Of disciple. His words as he stood
there in all the strength and glory Of
his Young manhood touched the
men deeply. They did not show 1t
ruch, but they felt it and talked Of it
m their way home. Such n scene had
NOT been known in Champion in their
lifetime.
In spite of all this and the tremcn-
dous hold that Stuart was obtaining
aver the men the union held for its
original terms and showed no signs Of
veokcning. The Salvation Army still
continued to exercise its restraining
influence over the majority. although
rho drinking was increasing. Almost
the only hope Stuart had now was that
tbc cleveland owners would be COM
nellcd to WELD before the winter was
over owing to the demand for ore
which for the last weeks had been in.
creasing. lie had little expectation
that the full demand of the miners
would he granted, for he remembered
flat iu the history of strikes very few
large strikes had ever been successful.
But he hoped the owners might make
such concessions that the union would
viOuS wages
So the week following communion
Sunday opened with special meaning
TO Stuart 1t was memorable week
for Champion. The fever epidemic had
reached It's height. Most of its victims
were children. The number of deaths
daily was appalling. Andrew. Eric,
the doctor, the nurses. Rhena and Stu
| art with all the available help from
the Christian people in the town. were
battling with the enemy with all the
might of skill and the exercise of all
that money and watchfulness could
accomplish.
Stuart and Rhena had met several
times that week. Nearly always 1t
was by the side Of some dead or dying
child. They said little. Each seemed
TO be waiting for something. Rhena
was worn and thin, but there had come
into her eyes look she dared not let
Stuart see. The winter had its influ-
ence in addition to all this to repress
and bear down the hearts Of the peo-
pie. Never had such snowdrifts been
known in Champion or such severe
cold. The nights set In with bitter
winds sweeping down the hills, and
after the evening train had plOwed its
way out of the station on its dreary
trip westward Champion seemed to be
abandoned by God and man. All con-
nection with the outer world seemed
cut off, the iron hills shut down hard
and close about the town, and the long,
terrible night began. a night of agony
to those who lived and those who died.
The date Of the great strike and the
great fever will never be forgotten by
the children who were left untouched
by the grim death.
One night that week Stuart had come
home very late, thoroughly exhausted,
with the frost chill in his bones. the
benumbing sense of his responsibility
weighing him down and his heart cry
Ing out, 20 Lord, how long, how long"
lie had gone up to his room and had
sunk into Il heavy sleep. He wakened
between 2 and 3 o'clock with a feeling
OF something wrong. 1t was so press
ing that he rose and dressed and went
70 the window that looked out on the
Town. The night was one Of the bitter
est ever known. The wind was blow
ing an icy gale through the valley.
Even the Duncan mansion, warmed as
was with the best and most eXpen-
sVe apparatus, felt the shock Of the
Almost solid cold that struck through
everything.
Suddenly Stuart saw a light in the
'ower end Of Cornishtown. The min.
ers houses or cabins there were built
LOT the most part Of logs or slabs from
'le mill. They were crowded very
e'ose together at the lower part Of the
'Own. AS he looked the light famed
up higher. and his heart bounded as he
realized that one Of the cabins was on
nre' The horror of it as he considered
"nat such an accident meant on such
night stupefled him, but only for
second. The next instant he was down
su'rs' had flung himself into his over
vat was out Of the house and speed
ls down the road.
"hen he reached the square, lights
we're sprnging up in the windows all
aoont. The alarm had reached the
m0ple, and they were rising. BY the
s'ne he reached Cornlshtown half a
uVLen lOusps uoro hlo1ipp Tho min.