The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-03
CHAPTER XII.
Copyright, 1901, by Charles King

The summer was going fast. The Big
Horn was pushing on toward the wide
northwest The Seattle was grading the
sweetwater valley through far Wyoming.
Brentwood shops were thronged with
busy. grimy men: Brentwood elevators
were bursting with grain; Brentwood
streets were busting with shoppers Both
railways were running to the full capaci-
ty every car they owned and many they
didn't. but had pressed into service un
beknown TO the owners as strays from
the Burlington. the u. p. the ST. Paul.
= the Northwestern and a dozen different
alphabetical combinations descriptive of
railway corporations In the wide west
Brentwood banks had never done such a
Y business. Red Water farms were shed :
ding mortgages as horses shed their win
ter coats. Some farmers were even clip
ping coupons with the wool from the
backs OF their sheep. An era OF pros
perity seemed 10 have dawned on the
smiling Nebraska valley. All business
said The Banner. was booming The cof-
fers OF the rival roads were filled with
earnings. but the hearts OF their people
with oiscontent On account OF hard
times the previous year 10 per cent cut
hau peen ordered In all wages and
brought on the disastrous strike. The
roads had won. The hands had lost and
sadly accepted the inevitable on the p-opo-
ise that when business warranted the old
rate would be restored. Business couldn't
be better than IT was when September
came and had been all summer. but a
deaf ear was turned TO all hints as TO The
restoration OF the rates. Winter would
soon come. Coal. clothes. groceries and
provisions were commanding high prices
everybody had prospered except The
operatives OF the railways and they and
their families made up nearly half the
population OF brentwood. Ihen came the
walking delegates. conferences with local
omcials. responses that cxc sns4s exceed
ed receipts. vast gums were needed for
extension and repair then mu,n talk pro
and con. In the papers frequent meetings,
merry speeches and then threats
Another Kind OF meeting was held IN
Brentwood one night. Eankers ard b.isI-
ness men with large intsrests at sfa,e
saw In the situation the exact symptoms
which preceded the fierce outbreak OF the
previous year. The police reported tramps
ana touEhs again "a no. iny In fore. from
all over the west. and this time said the
orator OF the day at vast open air ron
course or the employees Of both roads
when We strike IL will bs with no such
faltering. misguided hand ss IN me year
gone by. The blow will bs iustantans QUO.
The scab will find his occupation gone.
There VIII be no ensinc left for hIyr 10
run the bread from our hungry children.
ihere VIII be only smoking ruins &c greet
the coming Of those hlrs,ng butchers. the
despised soldiery OF either state or ma
tion-s' Certain few of the railway men
VINO had Joined the Brentwood lilies in
the days OF Perrlgos popularity were
warned by anonymous lette-s 10 them
selves or TO the timid wives and children
TO drop that association az once or take
-
for discharges and were refused. Moth
Ing remained for them but TO deliberately
absent themselves from drills. refuse to
pay the fines and under the laws be dis
-hoHeFably- expelled "for the good Of the
service" But the rifles had lost heart
ana interest. One OF the offics.s had ,e-
signed. Most OF their membersa,o nrc-
ferred paying fines TO lt.-nding drills et
which they learned nothing and Gn1pi-
son men came up looked and snickered
when that blow comes" said Mr. Ban
ker Perrigo in excited speech at the
business mems meeting, I'VE shall be alb
solutely without protection, for our
sherin has been replaced by one who is
the open sympathizer OF the strikers
(Which was true), and our one company
OF militia. thanks 10 who knows what In
sidious influence, Is reduced to n mere
handful vehement discussion fol-
lowed. winding up with an astonishing
N<r
In Brentwood.
THAT our one company has dwina, d
10 handful IL as true as that its de-
moralization Is due to no insdious in
fiuence whatever. but TO the mos regret
able interference OF Mr.. Perriyo himself.
whose gold bought the captaincy for an
utter Incompetent and sold cut the ons
man who deserved our whole support md
gratitude, the man who alone was cana
BILE OF putting and keeping that company
up TO the standard and whose .re,,r1ent
by the officials OF the road he so yalIant-
ly and faithfully served and not TO put
too fine point upon It, by this co,,u,u-
nifty also is reproach unutterable 40
both"
Coming from a man who nad been 10
congress from Kentucky and noDed to get
there from Nebraska, these were hitter
words. But most tonics are bitter. and
Brentwood swallow ID. reflected and
profited Colonel Cressweu. as ne was
called, In deferenco 10 tho fact that he
held no commission. but had served In
the war. was not yet on the subsidized list
OF the Seattle. but as a rapidly rising law
yer he would doubtless soon find his price
railways. like other big corporations en-
ployng only the best professional talent
where tho law, Is concerned
Colonel Cresswell, 10 use HIS own
terms had "cottoned" to IAngdon from
the start. He admired his grit the day
Of the riots. He admired his drill when
he handled the rifles. He liked what the
yardmen said OF him and what Bonita -
had told. He deprecated the language of
the local press. but he was not vet aim-
ly established I'm his profession and
mightfneed their aid II he ran for Office.
so he could mot openly take issue with
the papers But he knew OF the threats
Of the bad element among the men. the
envy and jealousy OF certain OF the young
aspirnnts for promotion on the road. and
before that mysterious safe robbery he
had been keeping an eve On i.algdon.
giving him occasional word ~ ch" -. oc-
casional hint of warning. Ever sircc the
robbery and Langdon's sad dep1ctIre
from their midst he had been ceaselsssly
and secretly at work In the EFFORT 10 de-
tect the guilty parties He had his theo-
ries and was bent on pushing them
through.
Another gathering ~ business men fol-
lowed within week. called for by most
alarming resolutions At the biggest mass
meeting yet held In brentwood. Bonfires
~ mi ha