Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-04

said, he went back to his Office raging,
not at Langdon, but at fate. He hid
seen much of Melville during that Off
GERS brief stay; he knew his reputa-
ton and the story Of his spotless life
and soldierly career; he knew of Mel
yille's sympathy for LangdGn and had
heard Melville's high eaconiur of
Langdon as an officer and gentleman;
he was filled with admiration of Lang
don's conduct at the time of the riots
and had then referred to him in terms
of unstinted praise; but, that danger
ended, The Banner had to return to the
paths of policy dictated by it's owners.
He actually thought that his assurance
of personal liking for Langdon ought
to compensate for the harsh things
said of him in The Banner and was
stung when it didn't. But at heart he
could not but admire Langdon for his
square, straightforward response. It
was a revelation, an eye opener. It
set him to thinking of the other side,
not the paper side, of the question, and
then he wished that he had that month
to live over again. There should be no
more abuse of Langdon in The Banner
II he could help it.
| And so there was certain reaction
in favor of Langdon. Some of the rifles
resigned their warrants, secured their
discharges and then set to work to
raise another company for Langdon to
drill. The men were easily found.
Seventy stalwart young fellows sign
ed the petition and brought it to Lang
don to add his name. Then it went to
the governor. There were vacancies in
the regiment. A company was muster
ed in at Neosha; another, made up
mainly Of farmer boys, at Gunnison
Junction. But some strange, occult in
Brentwood Light guard. The petition
hung fire. State Senator Suplee and
Representative Carter said that they
would see to 1t that the Light guard
was duly admitted, but they didn't.
Meantime the rifles prospered, as So
cial organization at least; took in a
number OF honorary members at $50
apiece, got swell uniform, gave a
series of most successful dancing par
ties and what they termed exhibition
drills, where the clockwork precision
with which some 30 of their number
executed the loadings and firings ia
unison evoked tumultuous applause.
1t prompted the rifles to issue chal-
lenge to all Corners west Of the Mis-
sissippi and east Of the mountains to
compete for valuable prize at the Elk
position building in April, the annivcr-
sary Of their muster in, and the next
thing the rifles knew Eric Langdon
was going down to Gunnison twice
week to coach the Gunnison Grays,
Company Il, Fourth Nebraska, ana
Brentwood, which had refused to avail
Itself of his services, was properly
scandalized that he should tender them
elsewhere. The Sun couldn't say much
now, because it was down on the rifles
anyhow and catered to the farmers;
The Banner wouldn't say much, be-
cause Armstrong was ashamed OF
what he had said, and this happened
to be matter that didn't bother the
Seattle. But The Examiner, which had
done what it could to make angdon
friendless in his new position at the
yards, now duly and frequently ex-
| pressed its adherence of the man who
could turn traitor to his own people
and work against the best interests of
the community in whose midst he had
found home and the livelihood denied
him elsewhere. Appeals were written
Il To hor 10 l.; 10
to remain at his post Charming an
swered that his post now included
Gunnison. Efforts were made to stir
up a cabal against him among the
Grays, but he had had two weeks
start and had won their good will; be-
sides, there was now that 81 900 prize
hanging up for all corners, and COM
panies from Minnesota, Iowa and Kan
sas had entered the list. So the Grays
stood firm. Then the Brentwoods
strove to hedge and to limit the con-
test to companies that had not re-
ceived professional assistance" but
that reacted UPON themselves. Then
The Sun was inspired to see what it
could do to stir up strike against
| NdIuS VI lllc Dig
where there must be men who rebelled
against the supervision of strict, sol
dier bred overseer. There were, but
they were in the minority, and the
three who started and circulated pa
per calling for Langdon's dismissal or
a strike were suddenly, by Charming s
order, hauled up before the superin-
tendent and "given the sack" Then
anonymous letters began to rain in on
the superintendent at Brentwood and
higher officials in Chicago Langdon
was drinking again, Langdon was gam
bling, Langdon was specializing through
a broker in Omaha, and these, investi-
gated unbeknown to Langdon, fell fiat.
He had won the respect of the better
class Of men; lie had become an expert
trainhand; he minded his own bust
ness, yet was full of sympathy and in.
terest in the affairs of the operatives
and the crews of the trains. In March
the superintendent of the Seattle Of
fered him similar berth at bigger pay
provided he would move to Sioux City,
and tho offer was feclinod In April