Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-05
CHAPTER TX.
THE LEAGUES REVENGE.

vE&1}&N coulu not hide from ourselves
SES&23 that we were beaten. 1t was
not SO much grief as Il blind fury that
filled my heart, and. looking at the
faces of the men about me, l read the
same feeling there. But what could
we do? The yells Of carousing miners
down at Slavin's told us that nothing
could be done with them that night.
To be so utterly beaten and unfairly
and with no chance Of revenge was
maddening.
I'D like to get back at EN-" said
Abe, carefully depressing himself
I've got it. men," said Graeme sud
denly. This town does not require
all the whisky there is in it." And he
unfolded his plan. 1t was to gain pos.
session of Slavin's saloon and the bar
Of the Black Rock hotel and clear out
all the liquor to be found in both these
places. / did not much like the idea,
but Georde said: I'm ga'en after the
lad. I'll haze naethin' tae das WI yon
Its no that easy, an It's a sinfu
waste"
But Abe was wild to try it. and
Shaw was quite willing, while old Mel
son sternly approved
Nelson, you and Shaw get a couple
of our men and attend to the saloon.
Slavin and the whole gang are 10 at
the Black Rock, so you won't have
much trouble, but come to us as soon
as you cnn."
And 80 we went our ways.
Then followed a scene the like Of
which I can never hope to see again,
and it was worth mans seeing, but
there were times that night when I
wished l had pot agreed to follow
Graeme in his plot.
AS we went up to the hotel I asked
Graeme:
what about the law of thisY'
"Law" he replied Indignantly. They
haven't troubled much about law in
the whisky business here. They get a
keg Of high wines and some drugs and
begin operations No." he went on; "if
we can get the crowd out and ourselves
in wen make them break the law in
getting Us ont. The law won't trouble
us over Struggled whisky. 1t will be a
great lark, and they won't crow too
loud over the league"
did not IKE the undertaking at first,
but as thought of the whole wretched
Illegal business hourishing upon the
weakness Of the men in the mines and
camps. whom l had learned to regard
as brothers, and especially as thought
of the towards that did for Nixon, I
let my scruples go and determined,
with Abe, to get back at EN-"
We had no difficulty getting them out.
Abe began to yell. Some men rushed
out to learn the cause. He seized the
foremost man, making a hideous up
roar all the while, and in three minutes
had every man out of the hotel and q
lively row going on.
In two minutes more Graeme and
had the door of the ballroom locked
and barricaded with empty casks. We
then closed the door Of the barroom
leading to the outside. The barroom
was strongly built log shack, with
heavy door secured. after the manner
Of the early cabins, with two strong
oak bars SO that we felt safe from at
tack from that quarter.
The ballroom we could not hold long,
for the door was slight and entrance
was possible through the window. But
as only few casks of liquor were left
there our main work would be in the
bar SO that the fight would be to hold
the passageway. This we barricaded
with casks and tables. But by this
time the crowd had begun to realize
what had happened and were wildly
yelling at door and windows. With an
AK which Graeme had brought with
him the casks were soon stove in and
left to empty themselves.
AS / was about to empty the last
cask Graeme stopped me, saying: LET
that stand here. 1t will help u.s." And
80 it did. NOW skip for the barri-
cade" yelled Graeme as man came
crashing through the window. But be-
fore he could regain his feet Graeme
had seized him and flung him out upon
the heads Of the crowd outside. But
through the other windows men were
coming III, and Graeme rushed for the
barricade, followed by two of the enc
my, the foremost of whom i received
at the top and hurled back upon the
others.
Now be quick" said Graeme. 'I'll
hold this. Don't break any bottles on
the floor Throw them out there"
pointing to little window high up in
the wall.
l made all haste. The casks did not
take much time. and soon the whisky
and beer were flowing over the floor.
1t made me think of Geordies regret
over the "sinfu' waste" The bottles
took longer, and, glancing up now and
then, saw that Graeme was being
hard pressed. Men would leap, two
and three Mt time, upon the barricade,
and Graeme's arms would shoot out,
and over they would topple upon the
heads Of those nearest. 1t was a great
sight to see him standing alone, with
smile on his face and the light Of bat
tie In his eye, cooly meeting his as
sailants with those terrific, lightning
like blows. In fifteen minutes my work
was done.
what next?' asked. GLOW do we
get out%
How is the door," he replied.
] looked through the portfolio and
said:
"A crowd Of men waiting"