Gilpin observer., 1901-02-07
CHAPTER 1.
THE GREAT STRIKE.

by him as they slowly drew up to the
station.
II wonder if that is so?' replied his
companion. There seems to be some
thing unusual going on. Well, goodby.
This is my home. ! shall soon know all
about it"
The young man caught up his travel
ing bag and hurried out upon the plat
form.
The station was entirely deserted ez-
cent by Il few of the railroad eu.T.,c..
ees. The young man looked around a
moment. as If expecting some one, and
then walked hastily across the plat
form and around the corner Of the sta
tion. From the side of the building the
town and the public square were in full
view. And as they came in sight the
passenger gave an exclamation of Won
der.
The public square was 4 small park,
with band stand in the middle of it,
1t was situated at the meeting point of
several streets, each of which seemed
to wander down the hills from the diff
ferent mining districts. starting first
as footpath trod by the miners. then
developing into q piece of country road,
adding on fragments of wooden side
walks as it approached the town and
finally growing into street with paw
ing and cement walks and stores and
office buildings on either side. Direct
ly in front of the band stand, facing
the park, stood large church. which
with its lot occupied the entire space
between two streets. The railway sta
<:nt, TO- Il cid 90 l,n ha,
made by the convorg:ng of the seven
streets. Another church building. two
streets from the other. formed another
side. The rest OF the buildings front
ing the park were stores. offices of vari-
GUS mining companies and large ho
tel.
Into this center of the heart of the
mining town of Champion on this par
ticular morning. in the year of our
Lord 1895, was gathered the largest
crowd Stuart Duncan ever saw there.
This young man was the son of Ross
Duncan, owner Of the largest mines ir
Champion. Ee vas 80 years old. had
finished his college education and was
just home this morning from years
trip In Europe. AS he came down from
the railway station platform and push
ed his way into the crowd he said to
himself that in all his travels abroad |
he had not seen anything to compare
with the remarkable gathering in this
mining town where he had been reared |
previous 20 his college life in the east.
The minute he stepped into the |
crowd several voices called out: STU |
art, lad. give us your hand. Glad to |
see you back The voices We're in diff |
Tercnt tones and various degrees of |
broguc, Cornish. Finn. English. Irish. |
Scotch. lie noticed the subdued action |
of the men. They were excited. but !
under control. The band stand was
crowded with familiar faces. but Stu |
art Duncan looked Mt only one. That |
was the face Of short but muscular |
young man who was standing with |
head uncovered upon the bench which |
ran around the inside of the stand. He |
had thick black hair. deep set black |
eyes. heavy eyebrows. large features. |
smooth face ard short round neck. He |
stood leaning forward little. his left |
hand around one of the supports to the |
roof of the stand. his right holding an
old hat which moved gently UP and |
down.
Stuart moved up nearer the stand |
until he was within easy speaking dis
tancc. As he crowded In closer he was
finally stopped by the great pressure
of the men. Several voices greeted |
him. but all of them quietly. and the |
interest of the gathering seemed con
tered In the figure that stood leaning |
out n little over the crowd.
WHATS II all about? what's the
troublc:" asked Stuart of the men
around him. What's Eric doing up
there
Before any one could reply the young
man siandin. on the bench began TO
speak. His words came very slowly. as
IL every one of them was being thought
out carefully. He stopped every mo-
lion of his body and stood perfectly
still. The great crowd In the square
was so quiet that Stuart thought for
second cf Il scene he once witnessed In
nm English cathedral when 1000 people
were kmeeling just before special
service began.
"Bro,hcrs." said the speaker. whom
Stuart had called Eric. this is no or
linary movement in the history OF Ia
Dor. What we have done aud what we
are about to do are OF the most serious
consequence. We have made demand
for wages such as will sustain us and
our families this winter In comfort. 1t
mas been refused. and we have come
out OF the mines determined TO make
peaceful but rcslstlcss protest for the
rights of our manhood" The speaker
paused n moment, aud Stuart noticed
the hand around the post tighten It's
grip. Then he continued. The quiet
of the crowd was. if possible. more
deep than before.
d ava pnnI morn fhup lrulnn