Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-06-05

IAJ shack in the dim starlight we
ES410SJ could not hide from ourselves
y29&8J that we We're beaten. It was
not so much grief as a blind fury that
filled my heart, and, looking at the
faces of the men about me, read the
same feeling there. But what could
we do? The yells of carousing miners
down at Slavin's 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.
''Id like to get back at 'em," said
Abe, carefully depressing himself.
"Ive got it. men," said Graeme sud-
denly. "This town does not require
all the whisky there is in it." And he
unfolded his plan. 1t was to gain pos.
session of Slavin's saloon and the bar
of the Black Rock hotel and clear out
places. l 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 a sinful
waste"
But Abe was wild to try it, and
Shaw was quite willing. while old Mel
son sternly approved.
"Nelson, you and Shaw get a couple
of our men and attend to the saloon.
Slavin and the whole gang are up at
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 a scene the like of
which can never hope to see again,
and it was worth a mans seeing, but
there were times that night when
wished l had not agreed to follow
Graeme in his plot.
AS we went up to the hotel l asked
Graeme:
"What about the law of this?'
LAW" he replied Indignantly. "They
haven't troubled much about law in
the whisky business here. They get a
keg of high wines and some drugs and
begin operations. No." he went on; ''if
we can get the crowd out and ourselves
in We'll make them break the law in
getting us out. The law won't trouble
us over struggled whisky. 1t will be
great lark, and they won't crow too
loud over the league"
did not like the undertaking at first,
but as thought of the whole wretched
illegal business fourshing upon the
weakness of the men in the mines and
camps, whom l had learned to regard
as brothers. and especially as thought
of the towards that did for Nixon, I
let my scruples go and determined,
with Abe. to "get back at EN-
We had no difficulty getting them out.
Abe began to yell. Some men rushed
out to 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
lively row going on.
In two minutes more Graeme and l
had the door of the ballroom locked
and barricaded with empty casks. We
then closed the door of the barroom
leading to the outside. The barroom
was strongly built log shack, with
heavy door secured, after the manner
of the early cabins, with two strong
oak bars SO that we felt safe from at
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 of liquor were left
there our main work would be in the
bar, so that the fight would be to hold
the passageway. This we barricaded
with casks and tables. But by this
time the crowd had begun to realize
what had happened and were wildly
yelling at door and windows. With an
ak which Graeme had brought with
him the casks were soon stove in and
left to empty themselves.
AS l was about to empty the last
cask Graeme stopped me, saying: LET
that stand here. 1t will help u.s." AND
SO it did. Now skip for the barri
cadew 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 upor
the heads of the crowd outside. Bul
through the other windows men were
coming in, and Graeme rushed for the
barricade, followed by two of the enc
my, the foremost of whom l received
at the top and hurled back upon the
others.
'Now be quickw said Graeme. "I'l
hold this. Don't break any bottles or
the floor. Throw them out there
vomiting to a little window high up in |
he wall.
/ made all haste. The casks did not |
axe much time, and soon the whisky |
ind beer were flowing over the floor. |
t made me think of Geordie's regret |
,ver the "sinfu' waste" The bottles |
ook longer, and, glancing up now and
hen, 1 saw that Graeme was being |
lard pressed. Men would leap, two
nd three at time, upon the barricade.