The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-10-24
REFORMING THE STAR
roririnnll

mine az Elne hub 49, N
yer from copper II he did live IN the
east, and the general opinion was that
he was level headed on all other mat
tiers as we'll. He not only shared IN this
onlniop himself, hut he knew that he
was a phIlanthroplst in his way and
ready 10 do anything 10 make mankind
better, except TO increase the scale OF
wages at the Star mine. That coulun I
be done without injustice to the stock
holders. of whom Nv was one but II
was the duty Of his fellow beings 10 be
god on the wages Of a dollar day.
Tie laborers at the mine. according TO
FREQUENT reports from the resident SUI
perntendent were not bubbling over
with goodness. They swore and gam
bcd and fought and went on strikes, SO
did the citizens OF Pine HILL; likewise
the cowboys who rode into Pine Hill
10 paint the town red.
The star superintendent had included
these facts in his reports. and there
finally came day when President
Chrystie took serious view OF the so
cial situation and mentally resolved
that something ought to be done. Had
II been a case OF African heather, mis-.
sionaries and Bibles would have filed
the bill, but the Star and Pine Hin were
not Africa. Mr.. Chrystie didn't care
for the town which was mile from the
mine, or for the cowboys who rode
IN from the plains i've miles away, but
he did sigh for some better influence
among the shacks and shanties sur
rounding the star. one day bright
thought came to him, and he rubbed
his hands in glec. The remedy was wo-
man. That's what allied those 200 cuss-
ing miners-the lack OF womans inhu-
ence.
Among his Sunday acquaintance. SO
to speak, wns young woman who had
passed her thlrtleth birthday without
getting married because she was busy
with a EMISSION" This was to Int
IN and better general humanity She
was interviewed and departed almost
by first train, bcarlng a letter TO the
resident superintendent in which he
was instructed to give her welcome and
afford her every opportunity for fight
ing "cuss" words md whisky with sen"
tIment. 1t is due him to report thar,
being practical man, driver and a
profane official, he swore vigorously
and wrote out his resignation and con-
signed Miss Amelia Wright to Jericho.
II Is also due him to add that, being
man of sense, he finally tore up his
resignation and found as comfortahle
ouartcrs as circumstances would per-
nit FOR the woman with n mission.
Her advent Mt the Star created great
or excitement than IL all the holsting
machinery had suddenly fallen Into the
shatt and wages had been raised to 81
dny. At her home in the east even
Miss WrIght's best friends had criti-
clsed her nose, mouth. hands aud feet
and eyes, but on the slope OF Wolt hiH
she at once became a goddess. Pine
Hin was early on the ground to give
its opinion. The whole town, Chinese
laundrymen and all, marched over, with
banners flying. to size up the newarriv-
al. and the conclusion was that she wa
a "peach." News went down among
the cowboys. and they came up by
skies and dozens to swing their hats
and cheer and declare she was Jim
Dandyess." Taken all around. It was n
grand welcome, and It seemed to MISS
Wright as II the soil was ready ana
waiting for her missionary work. on
the fourth morning when the night
shift came up not man OF the DAY
shift would go down. They were cut
ting and combIng their hair, washing
their red shirts and backing their red
boots, and us one OF them put It to the
superintendent:
"We'vo got lady in camp. and dash
our eyes IL we don't sho" or TINT re
ire gentlemen and know low to be-
have!'
They called upon Miss Wright one
after the other to be introduced, and
most OF them promptly proposed for
her hand. When gently refused, they
assured her that they stood ready to
break the lucky fellows neck. Despite
the protests and entreaties Of the Hl-
perIntendent the men persisted In maxi
ing holiday Of It, and there was no
room to doubt that reform had begun.
The Pine Killers, however, returned
home in disgruntled mood. They rec
ognlzed the fact that they were bad
lot and in need OF repairs, and II there
was any reform going on they wanted
TO be counted in. 1t would be a blur on
the escutcheon of Pine Hill to play
second fiddle to the Star mine. At an
early morning hour there was another
general movement toward tho mine.
and on this occnslon every man had his
gun and n determination to conquer or
die. A demand was made upon the
Star for its goddess that she might
spread her tender influence over the
shacks and shantIes OF the town on
the crest OF the I'LL. Then followed q
fight that lasted for two days and Caus-
cd a new graveyard to DO surveyed and
opened. Everybody on either side was
ready to die for the goddess, and q re-
! spectable number of them were duly
accommodated.
The Pine Killers were at length driv-
en- back. with their hopes OF reform
rudey shattered. and the Stac folks
were binding up thels WOUNDS and sing
ing pGans OF victory when the cowboys
...F.-R