Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-10-21

be Champion and De Mott mines this
Aorning," said one of the passengers in
NJ be train to the young man in the seat
IS him as they slowly drew up to the
tation.
"I wonder if that is so?" replied his
bmpanion. There seems to be some
hing unusual going on. Well, goodby.
his is my home. l shall soon know all
bout it."
& The young man caught up his travel
bag and hurried out upon the plat
prm.
The station was entirely deserted ex-
VI cpL by rev OF Cne ralIrOaQ employ
es. The young man looked around
poment, as if expecting some one, and
hen walked hastily across the plat
brm and around the corner of the sta
ION. From the side of the building the
bwn and the public square were in full
Jew. And as they came in sight the
assenger gave an exclamation of Won
err.
NJ The public square was small park,
NJ 18th q band stand in the middle of it.
y was situated at the meeting point Of
everal streets. each of which seemed
) wander down the hills from the diff
brent mining districts, starting first
$ footpath trod by the miners, then
eveloping into piece of country road,
7dding on fragments of wooden side
talks as it approached the town and
hally growing into a street with paw
NJ g and cement walks and stores and
lice buildings on either side. Direct
II in front of the band stand, facing
be park, stood large church. which
it'll its lot occupied the entire space
etween two streets. The railway sta
on formed one side of the heptagon
ade by the converging of the seven
reefs. Another church building. two
reefs from the other, formed another
de. The rest of the buildings front
M q the park were stores, offices of vari-
hs mining companies and a large ho-
i.
Into this center of the heart Of the
ming town of Champion on this par
eular morning. in the year of our
brd 1895, was gathered the largest
ovid Stuart Duncan ever saw there.
his young man was the son of Ross
uncan, owner Of the largest mines in
hampton. He was 80 years old. had
Iished his college education and was
NJ st home this morning from a years
fp in Europe. As he came down from
e railway station platform and push
his way into the crowd he said to
mself that in all his travels abroad
had not seen anything to compare
R&I, al III in
lining town where he had been reared
evious to his college life in the east.
The minute he stepped into the
sowd several voices called out: Stu
Ill., lad. give US your hand! Glad to
you backr' The voices We're in diff
rent tones and various degrees of
ogue, Cornish. Finn, English. Irish.
#otch. He noticed the subdued action
the men. They were excited. but
der control. The band stand was
DIVIDED with familiar faces. but Stu
Duncan looked at only one. That
BIS the face of q short but muscular
ung man who was standing with
lad uncovered upon the bench which
n around the inside of the stand. He
d thick black hair, deep set black
les, heavy eyebrows, large features.
booth face and short. round neck. He
bod leaning forward little. his left
nd around one of the supports to the
bf Of the stand, his right holding an
hat which moved gently up and
wn.
Nktuart moved up nearer the stand
It'll he was within easy speaking dis
hce. AS he crowded in closer be was
ALLY stopped by the great pressure
the men. Several voices greeted
an, but all of them quietly, and the !
terest of the gathering seemed CEN
led in the figure that stood leaning |
It a little over the crowd.
What's it all about? What's the /
buble?" asked Stuart of the men !
bund him. whats Eric doing up |
ere?"
Before any one could reply the young |
IN standing on the bench began to |
eak. His words came very slowly. as /
Every one Of them was being thought |
h carefully. He stopped every mo- |
10 Of his body and stood perfectly /
hl. The great crowd in the square |
s so quiet that Stuart thought for |
bond of a scene he once witnessed in |
English cathedral when 1000 people |
ire kneeling just. before a special
Twice began.
Brothers," said the speaker, whom |
part had called Eric, this is no or |
harry movement in the history of la
f. What we have done and what we
n about fO do are of the most serious /
bsequence. We have made demand
wages such as will sustain US and
families this winter in comfort. 1t
been refused, and we have come
HI Of the mines determined to make :.
ceful but resistless protest for the
hts Of our manhood" The speaker
lsed a moment, and Stuart noticed
hand around the post tighten its
p. Then he continued. The quiet
W tho crowd noSSihla more