Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-17

.Melyille's forces were afar up the
tracks rescuing cattle trains, from ev-
cry direction tramps, toughs and the
desperadoes among the strikers drop
ped the deyilment they happened to be
engaged In and came bowling to re-en-
! forcethe expelled gang. Only 20 yards
away, just outside and along the picket
~ ce. they crowded, clamorlng, ours
inls brandisliing weapons and hurting
missiles, hut these latter, having to be
I hurled high. generally fell short. Many
among Langdon's new command were
lads whose nerve" would long since
have fled but for their leaders placid
unconcern. He had backed them, us 1t
were, up against the brown wooden
walls of the freighthouse and then
stood coolly forth ten feet In front Of
them, facing the raging throng with
out, sometimes quietly smiling as
though he enjoyed the situation, some
times slowly pacing up and down. At
last as the clamor Increased It became
evident that the mob was bent on n
dash at the office building to their
right, standing alone opposite the great
wooden gates gates which gave d.
rectly on the buildings containing the
most valuable local properties Of the
Big Horn road. excepting possibly the
locomotives In the roundhouse. 1t
was a moment of excitement. No
man In the little band of defenders
could estimate the extent of damage
that would unquestionably result if
that maddened throng broke through.
It seemed as though by this time all
the devllment Of the dlsaffected was
concentrated here at one spot, for the
mob was vastly increased in size, and
the jeers. bowls and curses were now
continuous. Small wonder that many
young state "guardsman" in the lit.
tie command felt nervous thrill as he
gazed at the host of semsayage faces
peering in between the brown Stats
and listened to the hideous threats of
the leaders. We'll have your hearts
blood, you liveried dogs" wen Farm
you tin soldiers lessonw Burn down
the fencew "Kill the numbering
hounds! Cut their throats" were ex-
purgated samples of the yells. But still
the company stood at ordered arms and
"at ease" for Langdon continued his
cool promenade along the front, calmly
eying the bowling mob, keeping wary
watch upon the fence and gate, but
eyer and anon glancing up the yards In
search Of support or reinforcement,
for, to all outward appearance the cool
est, most uneoncerned person on the
ground, his heart was filed with grave
anxiety. His was by long odds the
most critical position of any man, SOL
dier or civilian, that day In all Ne
braska.
For, now that he had time to face the
facts and consider the position in all
Its bearings, he realized that he had
no authority whatever in law or fact
to enable him to discharge the grave
duties Of his position-not SO much rs
a commission in the state troops, not
even a warrant as II uiepntt5J sssheriff If
the mob charged and to defend the
lives of these men lie was compelled to
order them to fire, an Indictment for
murder would doubtless lie at his d;
1t Is one thing to do mans wkS' s
duty with tile law behind him; 1t is an.
other to stand and face n thousand vot-
ers and realize that every drop of blood
that might be shed on either side would,
in the event of success or failure, be
charged up to him. And still he never
seemed disturbed
But Langdon's heart beat quick when,
just as 1t seemed probable that, neck or
nothing, he should have to face the sit
uation and fight, he caught sight of
Charming with the sheriff and brace
of deputies coming toward him on the
run. The crowd having concentrated
here, 1t was possible for the officials
now to leave other threatened points.
He strolled, as it were, with almost ex-
aggerated quiet to the right flank Of
his men to meet them. The mob re-
doubled its screams of defiance.
Major Melville wants to know how
you're getting along" painted Charming
as he fastened up, red faced, anxious,
but plucky.
Well, you see for YOURSELF" said
Eric, with nod of his head toward
the fence. "Those fellows mean to
burst through In minute or two"
Cant you scare 'em? Fire volley
over their heads?" puffed the sheriff,
eager and willing, but utterly inexperi-
enced.
That's murder" was the cool reply.
"a mob gains tenfold in daring and
devilment when it sees you're afraid to
fire anything but blanks. You'll sim
ply have to kill SO then where five
would have sufficed in the first place.
No, sir. Ball cartridges or nothing.
And here's another point. I'm not an
officer either of the troops or Of the
law" And now Eric had to raise his
voice above the outer clamor. II can
give the necessary commands and at
the proper instant, and can drive
those howlers back in one volley If
they attempt to force the gates, but
you, Mr.. Sheriff, must stand by my side
and assume responsibility; otherwise
a week from now you'll be around with
n warrant for my arrest"
My God, can'tH said the civil off,
cial, wiping the sweat from his brow
despite the cold wind from the west
ward prairie. He gazed almost fear
fully along that surging fence line. 1t
resembled by this time nothing SO
much as one continuous cage Of snarl-
ing, roaring beasts. 1t was plain the
poor fellow Has losing his nerve. "Me
and my family couldn't live in this
community another week. Can't you
say something to them, Mr.. Channingw
Like many another civil official, the
sheriff was realizing that 1t was quite
one thing to tackle a lot of tramps,
friendless and desperate as they were
down at Bridge Siding; 1t was quite an
other to think Of letting drive deadly
volley into the breasts Of mob that
might contain friends and fellow citi-
gems, and that would be sure to turn to
in retaliation and possibly murder his
own beloved ones. Small wonder the
sheriff hesltated!
TOO late to talkw shouted Chan
ming impatiently. Besides, there isn't
one sane railroad man in 20 in that lot.