The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-21

q y We sIOOu OuIsIuc OF NIHIE
IA shack in the dim starlight we
E.1e9rSi could not hide from ourselves
GssSSJ that we were beaten. II was
not so much grief as blind fury that
filed my heart, and, looking at the
faces of the men about me, | read the
same feeling there. But what could
we dof The yells OF carousing miners
down at Slayins 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 'em," said
Abe, carefully depressing himself
Eve got II, men," said Graeme sud
denly. "This town does not require
all the whisky there Is In It," And he
unfolded his plan. Ii was TO gain pos
session of Slavins 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 Geordie said: I'm ga'en after the
lad. I'll haze naethin' tae dae WI yon.
It's no that easy. an it's sinful
waste"
But Abe was wild to try 1t, and
Shaw was quite willing. while old Mel.
son sternly approved.
Nelson, you and Shaw get couple
OF our men and attend to the saloon.
Slavm and the whole gang are up nj
the Black Rock so you won't have
much trouble, but come TO us as soon
as you can
And so we went our ways.
Then followed scene the like OF
which l can never hope to see again,
and 1t was worth mans seeing, but
there were times that night when |
wished | had not agreed TO follow
Graeme in his plot.
AS we went up 10 the hotel l asked
Graeme:
what about the law of thisT"
Law he replied Indignantly They
haven't troubled much about law IN
the whisky business here. They get a
key Of high wines and some drugs and
begin operations Mo- &c went on. III
we can get the crowd ont and ourselves
I'm wen make them break the law IN
getting us out The law won't trouble
us over smuggled whisky Il will be q
great lark. ana they won't crow too
loud over the league"
did not like the undertaking az first.
but as ! thouglt ~ the whole wretched
illegal business tiourishlng upon the
weakness 81 the mon IN the mines aud
"a "A
as brothers, antWspecnlly as Thought
OF the towards tlt lid Tor Nixon. |
let my scrupL- 40 AMI determined.
with Abe. 10 "get back At cm
We had 40 difficulty getting them out
Abe began TO yell. Some men rushed
out 10 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 a
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 10 the outside The barroom
was a strongly buih log shack. with
heavy door secured. after the manner
of the early cabins. with two strong
oak bars. so that we felt safe from mt.
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 az liquor were left
there our main work would be in the
bar. so that the fight would he TO hold
the passagcway. This we barrfcaded
with cask. and tables. But by this
time the crowd Ind begun 90 realize
what had happened and were wildly
AK which Graeme had brought with
him the casks were soon stove 10 and
left TO empty themselves.
AS | was about 20 empty the last
cask Graeme stopped me. saying Let
that stand hare IL will help us" And
so IL did Now skip FOR the barri-
cadc," yelled Graeme as a 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 IN and Graeme rushed for the
followed by two OF the enc
my, the foremost OF whom received
nc the top and hurled back upon the
others
"Now be qulckw said Graeme. I'm
hold this Don't break any bottles on
the floor. Throw them out there"