The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-12


another.
"Yes, and take us to St. Michaels, !"
another put in.
There were cries Of mo! Never!"
and pandemonium reigned. Finally
a determined looking man pushed his
way up the sagging deck and the
noise died away. We've half of us
lost our outfits" he began. "and all
Of us are out good lot. Now what
good will it do us to be landed broke
without anything to eat? How are
we to get into the mines? It's a
tough country up north"
Lets go back!"
There was no answer, and he
turned to the captain. snow, sir, all
we ask is that you take us aboard
your boat, feed us at the company's
expense, and when we land we'll deal
with them"
There was grunt Of approval and
the captain shifted his ground.
You'll be packed in like sardines.
There's not an over-abundance Of
food. What | want to know is, where
am / to take you?"
ITO Astoria" was the reply, "and
the quicker the better"
well, suppose a couple come over
and talk to the company"
The self-constituted spokesman
plucked neighbor by the sleeve, re-
ceiving his commission from the min
ers, and they departed.
Late in the afternoon the impa-
tent crowd on the Mascot welcomed
the deputies back. With them came
the president and the secretary
treasurer. The president did not rel
ish the position, apparently, but he
spoke loudly. See here, men, we're
sorry this has happened. Can't be
helped now, you see. The Kaffir
Chief will start back for Astoria in
couple of hours with this in tow.
You're safe enough here. and three
days will see you safe ashore"
lie ceased and 20 men came to-
wards him. Stand back," said their
spokesman. "Im representing this
crowd, and I've something to say"
The Company" supported them
selves uneasily against the fitting
side Of the cabin. and the speaker
went on. my pardner and / have
listened to "A lot OF this kind of talk.
We haven't said anything yet. and
now we're going to-"
His audience kept quiet. and there
were approving mods. "That ship"
he continued. sis full of merchandise.
These men have $4,000 passage and
freight money to account to us for.
That belongs to us. 1t means only
couple of hundreds apiece, and
we'll be out the cost of the trip
west, our stake and our time But
it's better than nothing"
Look here" the president broke
in, you're off there. You can look
at your contract. The law protects
us, and you're not entitled to a cent.
II you were fools enough to put your
eggs in our basket. that's your look
out, not ours. We've offered to do |
the square thing, and more well not |
do"
There was no answer. The set |
ting sun shot it's brilliant rays |
athwart the disheveled cabin, and the |
men b'inked at the glare silently. |
Presently an oldish man, with the |
long, gnarled hands of farmer,
said (half to himself), MY wife is
a-starin' into that sun and waitin'
fer me. / won't see them green
prairies any more. And she won't
have a roof to her head" There was
no note of appeal in his voice; it was
q simple statement. Still the men
waited.
Suddenly the spokesman lifted his
hand. 'How many men, he cried,
have staked their last cent on
this?" Every man shufiied forward
and the tide of action was loosed. 1t
was no longer an irresolute or ire
sponsiblc crowd, and he who aspired
to lead them was satisfied.
THE first thing to do" he said,
is to take all our stuff and put il
,n the Kaffir Chief We've got to
abandon this. Go ahead and pile it
nto the boats. Captain Mears has
sent 'em over for that
within hJuA tHS DOsitS VI tut |
,ollier had transferred all that could
DC saved, and the men paused. Their
eader, coatless, hatless and flushed
With exertion, mounted bench.
There's not much room on the Kaffir
,hief, boys" he said, "and | move
hat we leave the Ignace Mining com
,any right here until they agree to
'ur terms They offered to tow us.
Vel be polite and tow them. Now,
'ou two thieves, when you feel like
igning over your bills Of exchange
md lading, and you're willing to give
is the cargo OF the Kafiir Chief, wei
zee IL we can find room for you on
nicer boat"
Harsh laughter greeted this, and
he two men covered. Look here .
said the secre tary-treas-
rer. "you won't talk this matter over
airly. We're simply standing on
ur rights according to law. Wen
-"
A strong, though very calm voice !
reathcd out of the crowd. There
int any law out here. We aren't
IL -, l.