Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-10

| them remain aboard the train and they
would be switched over into the yards
Of the Seattle, where the sheriff was
reported holding out as best he could.
They remained, were switched as
promised not only to but beyond the
sardsA0 miles beyond, in facial
brcathless speed and hidden to camp
there until they were hauled back and
TO live meantime on the country. For
over "a hours the strikers had things
all their own way and were jubilant.
Then came the backward sweep of the
tide. A wire from the south announced
that regulars were in possession at
| Omaha, Council Bluffs and Sioux City
and that a little battalion was on its
way to the relief of Brentwood, and
| still the starving and Imprisoned live
stock baaed, beloved and squealed
for food and water. Still passenger
traffic was at a stand. The division
superintendent and his assistants were
powerless. Though they manned en-
gines, threw switches and "braked"
ears, the rails We're .soaped the boilers
foamed and their engines We're "Silled"
under their very noses, all without vio-
lence of either word or deed. The
strikers liked their division chief and
hated to be at odds with him now. So
long as only railway hands were per-
united about the yards or stock trains
there had been no wanton destruction
of property, but to such scenes ever
| flock the backyard element of the
community, and the news that troops
were coming proved an excuse for des-
perate deeds. That night the wintry
sky above the Red Water reflected the
glare of mile of flame. Cars, grain
sheds and an elevator went up in
smoke. There was barbecue where
one section Of a cattle train could not
be rescued and run out in time. All
this, telegraphed to Chicago and the
officials scattered over the length of
the road, called for strenuous action.
The wires hummed with appeals and
orders, and calm, placid man, a dark,
brown eyed man, who looked the sol
dier in spite of civilian dress, drove in
to brentwood at dawn the following
day, sent certain kilograms to eastern
points and one to old Fort Pawnee, far
away to the south, got a light breakfast
and another buggy at the hotel and
drove out to the yards. When he re-
turned, an hour before noon, the eyes of
many citizens followed him in eager
curiosity. The first of the regulars
was here. AT 2 o'clock the news was
whispered about the streets that big
4 force of strikers had gone down to the
narrows of the valley where the Red
4 Water, turning from the rectitude Of
its ways, dashed and foamed between
rocky bluffs and heights and the rival
lines, Seattle and Big Horn, twisted
and turned for some 90 miles not 400
yards apart. A troop train had left the
river bent on forcing way to Brent
wood, and In desperation the strike
leaders had determined to topple 1t in
| to the stream.
1t was but few minutes after 2
when, through the Western Union, the
stranger received the following dis
patch:
Major Melville. U. S. A., Brentwood:
Nathan reports serious obstacles. Strikers OPP
posing movement of train every mile He has
out by NJ. v. at once and may get first to Red
| Water gorge. The two commands should act in
| concert CROOK.
The major replaced the dispatch In
its envelope, slowed the packet in an,
inner pocket and walked slowly from
the Office into the slanting sunshine
without. The street was filed with
men sauntering up and down or gath
cred in knots Mt the corners. It was
iistill, wintry afternoon, though but lit
tie snow as yet had fallen east Of the
mountains. Melville noted that all
eyes were on him. but not in open hos
tility. Whatever the hands might have
in store for the officials of the road or
for trainloads Of troops, their rancor
took no shape against single man, ap-
! parently, even actually, unarmed. Mel
Vile carried neither flask nor pistol.
! lie was rejecting on the miscarriage
of the plans for the concentration of
troops SO far as Brentwood was con-
cerned and wondering by what evil
chance Nathan had been chosen to
command the detachment ordered
| thither from the south. 1t was odd to
think of light artillery men being so
employed at any time, but these We're
the economical days. Companies, bat
teries and troops" could rarely muster
more than 80 men for duty. Pawnee's
| garrison had been split up and sent to
three or four important points, and,
being senior in date of commission to
the two cavalry captains sent with 1t,
Nathan had been given the lead, and
| Nathan looked anything but blissful
| when cold Cat" ordered him off.
Leave enough men to care for your
barracks, stables and gun Sheds" said
he, draw so carbines from the caval-
ry, let your men leave their sabers and
/ go with carblne and revolver, then
4 you'll be uniform with the troopers"
Cat" thought that when soldier was
4 uniform with trooper he couldn't be
better off; Nathan thought he couldn't
be worse. Next to an Indian Nathan
/ hated a mob. Two hours from the
time the orders reached him the COM
mand was ready to go, but not so Ma
than. Two days from the time they
started they were still two days march
from Brentwood, and their train met
no detention whatever until 1t got well
into northern Nebraska. Then it was
found SO easy to induce the command
ing officer to believe that the track was
all torn up just ahead or that strikers
had blown up or burned down bridges
that sympathizers with the wagework-
ers kept up the practice at every sta
ton, and Nathan was sending dispatch
after dispatch to Omaha the tidings Of
which, when it all came to be investi-
gated, proved utterly untrue, as the
general held them to be at the time,
and naturally he grew indignant and
nervous. While most Of the troops had
been hurried to Chicago and the Mis-
sissippl crossings, the garrisons west
of Omaha had been ordered to rendez-
vous there or go direct to other desig-
mated points in the northwest. Brent
wood was making no great trouble,
was the first report. Two or three COM
| panieS of State militia were nil that