The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-28


En lilly BREEN'S legacy to the
lh Black Rock mining camp was
- new league. which was more
C1.D than the old league remade
The league was new in its spirit and In
its methods. The impression made up
on the camp by Billy Breen's death
was very remarkable, and have new.
er been quite able 70 account for it.
The mood OF the community nj the
time was peculiarly susceptible. Billy
was one Of the Oldest OF the old tim
ers. His decline and fall had been
long process. and his struggle for life
and manhood was striking enough 10
arrest the attention and awaken the
sympathy of the whole camp. We in
stinctively side with man I'm his
struggle for freedom, for we feel that
freedom is native to him and to us.
The sudden collapse OF the struggle
stirred the men with a deep pity for
the beaten man and deep contempt
for those who had tricked him TO his
doom; but. though the pity and the
contempt remained. the gloom was re.
lieved and the sense Of defeat removed
from the mems minds by the trans
forming glory of Billy's last hour. Mr..
Craig, reading Of the tragedy OF Billys
death. TRANSPORTED defeat into victory,
and this was gradually accepted by the
men as the true reading, though to
them II was full OF mystery. But they
could all understand and appreciate at
full value the spirit TINT breathed
through the words of the dying man
Don't be ard on 'em. They didn't
mean no arm" And this was the new
spirit OF the league.
II was this spirit that surprised Sla-
win into sudden tears at the graves
side. He had come braced for curses
and vengeance, for all knew It was he
who had doctored Billyrs lemonade.
and instead OF vengeance the message
from the dead that echoed through the
voice Of the living was one OF pity and
forgiveness.
But the days OF the leagues mega
i've, defensive warfare were over. Tho
fight was 10 the death. and now the
war was To be carried into the enc
my's country. The league men pro-
posed "A thoroughly equipped and well
conducted coffee room, reading room
AMI hall to parallel the enemy's lines
of operation and defemt them with
their own weapons upon their own
ground. The main outlines Of the
scheme were clearly defined and were
easily seen, but the perfectlng of the
details called for all Craigs tact and
good sense. When, Tor instance, YER
non Winton who had charge OF the
entertainment department. came for
Craig's opinion as 20 n minstrel troupe
and private theatricSls, Craig was
prompt with his answer:
anything clean goes"
~ Niger shown asked Wintor.
Depends upon the niggers," replied
Craig, with a gravely comic look.
shrewdly adding. ASK Mrs Mayor"
And so the League Minstrel and Ora
matte company became an established
fact and proved, ms Craig afterward
told me, a great means Of grace TO The
camp.
Shaw had charge of the social de-
partment. whose special care It was 20
see that the men were made welcome
20 the coy, cheerful reading room
where they might chat. smoke, read
write or play games, according 60
fancy.
But Craig felt that the success or
failure OF the scheme would largely
depend upon the character Of the resi-
dent manager. who while caring for
reading room and hall, would control
and operate the important department
represented by the coffee room.
at this point the whole business
may come 10 grief" he said TO Mrs.
MAYOR, without whose counsel nothing
was done.
"why come to grefy' she asked
brightly.
Because II we don't get the rtght
man that's what will happen he re
piled In tone that spoke Of anxious
worry.
"But we shall get the right man, new
or fcnr." Her serene courage never
"He will come TO us"
Craig turned ana gazed at her In
frank admiration and said.
"If only had your courage9'
"Comager' she answered quickly.
cit IL not FOR you 70 say TINT" And AZ
his answering look the red came into
her cheek and the depths IN her eyes
glowed. and ] maryeled and wondered,
looking NJ Craigs cool face whether
bis blood were running evenly through
his veins But his voice wns quict@l