Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-07-12

one of the miners offered just such q
prayer as the above, at Negaunee.
Mich, July "a, 1861
miners put on their hats. Stuart look
ed out over the heads of the crowd
and up at the man>who had just pray
ed and then out beyond him to the
pine covered hills dotted over with the
engine houses and stock piles of ore
He noticed the smoke curling from the
furnace stacks and said to himself,
The pumps are going yet" The whole
scene was very vivid to him. The
crowd, the churches, the park, the
stand, that familiar face and figure up
there, the hills, the mines, the whole
with its strong setting Of human in
terest, smote him almost with shock
And at the very nerve center of the
shock was that brief prayer. 1t was so
strange, so unusual, so like a story, so
unlike real life
Eric was speaking again. He was
making an appeal to the miners to COM
mend theft cause to the world by their
conduct He spoke, as before he had
prayed, very slowly and carefully. To-
ward the end of his speech he caught
sight of Stuart.
His face flushed for an instant. The
eyes OF the two men met. The look on
each mans face seemed to say, II Won
der If he is still the same?'
A clock in the steeple of the larger
Of the two churches struck g. Eric
jumped down from the bench. and an
other miner took his place and spoke
in more imprisoned manner to the
men. There were cheers and swinging
OF hats. Stuart gradually worked his
way out of the crowd, stopped fire.
quently by acquaintance. At last he
had come out in front of the church
with the clock In the tower, looking
about him eagerly for some one from
his own home, when a strong voice
from a man standing on the church
steps above him exclaimed:
"Say, Stuart. when did you join the
striker"
Doctor" cried Stuart eagerly, with
smile Of welcome that lighted up his
thoughtful face wonderfully, "next to
father and Louise you are the very
person l wanted to see most. Where
are they? They were to meet me at
the train this morning. Isn't this
most astonishing affair? Tell me all
about it,"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
You know as much about it as do.
The men went out this morning with
out notice. The Freeport. vasplaine
and De Mott miners are all here with
the Champion men. They walked over
from the lower range early this morn
ing"
What do the men want?" Stuart
asked vaguely. He had so many ques.
lions to put be asked the first that &C.
cured.
The doctor shrugged his shoulders
again.
1.-The contract miners want 81 day,
the trammers $1.75 and the men at the
top $1.5O."
"Who is the leader of the men?"
"You see for yourself; Eric Vassall.
And it seems only yesterday that you
two men were young kids in knicker.
bockers tumbling down the mines and
worrying the life out of the companies
because of your pranks. And now
Eric is the leader Of the biggest strike
on record among the miners, playing
the role Of prophet and priest and |
don't know what all. and YOU
"And /, interrupted Stuart, with an
other smile. as he pulled the doctor
down off the step above him, Il am
so far-nobody, until have had my
breakfast l can't understand where
father and Louise can be. Haven't
you seen them this morningY
mo. Get into my buggy. will take
you up to the house."
The doctors Office fronted on the
square, and his horse stood near by.
Stuart took one glance back at the
crowd as he and the doctor started up
the street.
1T is remarkable scene. I have not
witnessed anything like it abroad:
have seen several strikes in England
and Germany and France since have
been away. But never knew strike
to be opened with prayer, did you, doc
tor?'
NO" replied the doctor dryly. =
Stuart looked at him. He was driv-
ing, as always, with one foot outside
the buggy. the lines gathered up in a
careless way In one hand and the horse
tearing along like mad up the sandy,
red. iron ore street. for they were off
the paving now and going up sharp
grade cut through one Of the numer-
Gus hills that surrounded the town. The
doctor always drove that way, and a
ride with him was as exciting, Stuart
used to say. as working in a powder
mill during thunderstorm.
"Why?' Don't you think the prayer
was sincere? Stuart asked.
= ''Sincere enough. But pshaw! What's
the use? We all know how the strike
will end, prayer or no prayer"
"What's happened to Eric, doctor?
He never used to be religious. Not that
way" =
= Salvation Army" replied the doctor
briefly.
ooh" Stuart looked puzzled, but he
thought he would have it all out with
Eric. There was so much to talk over
since they had parted a year ago. So
many grave. questions had arisen In
their lives that needed to be discussed.
He was growing anxious as they drove
along concerning his father and sister.
It was very strange that they had not
met him at the station. But the strike
and all might have kept his father! IT.
was q different home coming from that