The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-29

quickly.
Nothing, my dear; nothing he glib
ly responded.
Don Barnett, l know better Tell
ne this instant!'
He was in for it. ''Wel1, Mr.. Mac
kay. our superintendent. was tarred
and ridden on a rail by the miners this
morning
Gracious heavensn'
-"and I'm getting off up the stage
road to meet him.
what did they do it for?''
ooh. it's the same old business. The
and struck, and-but it's a long story;
won't 80 into it now. I'll get back in
time for dinner, probably"
In an hour Millionaire row was hum
ming with news Of the outrage. Re-
ports, confused, conflicting, flew along,
the wires east and west, and the after
noon papers were filed with dramatic
details Of the opening Of big strike
in Skytown and the story of how the
union leaders had mishandled Mackay,
the superintendent Of the Red Star
Mining corporation.
All this would have interested Ann
very little had not her brother been In
the midst of the disorder. She lmmedl-
ately wired him to come down and got
{ a reply from Raymond saying, Louis
is on the way-no danger" and the boy
himself came riding into the yard at
I, dusk
Raymond's letter to Barnett took Sc
rious view Of the situation:
don't think Mackay the proper man to
attempt to reorganize the working hours
of this camp. Don't try to put him back,
and don't make too much Of this lit
tie affair. The whole camp is uneasy at
this time. The union is getting very
strong and likely to make it hot for In
dependents like Kelly and myself.
'What is it all about?" asked jean
nette
Don looked bored. ooh, really now,
don't ask me to go into the cause Of a
strike. A woman never understands
such situation. However, here is
what Rob says:
Mackay posted his notices Saturday
night, putting the new nine hour schedule
into effect Monday morning. Sunday the
camp boiled The union put forth its de-
| cree, and of course at the morning hour
a big crowd gathered to see Mackay face
his men. He came riding up (the jack
| assD in tan colored English riding
breeches and little two billed gray cap
YOU know the kind Of course they hooted
him and headed his horse back down the
slope. He was red headed. naturally, and,
being a double distilled idiot, hired a
couple Of desperadoes from Bozle as
| guards and came back. This time the
! buys jerked him and his men from their
! horses and hustled them down the canyon
at the boot toe. I did what I could to
! prevent tGis, but the men who had the
| matter in charge had been drinking, and
/ the crowd was with them. My men are
not in the union, but I hear ominous
| threats. I advise you not to attempt to
put the new schedule into operation at
! the present time.
The effect on the valley Of Mackay's
recital of his maltreatment was most
wonderful. The principal mine owners
OF the Springs met to discuss their
campaign. The valley called for the
Blood Of those who had busted the sa-
cred person Of their representative, and
the sheriff was ordered to arrest and
b:ing down the insolent .'red necks"
who had humbled the proud and con-
+! fdent Red Star superintendent. "Thls
! spirit OF iawlessness must be checked
or it will run into riot" said Barnett,
who developed Unexpectedly into a
leader of the mine owners by virtue OF
his large interests in the Red Star.
The sheriff valiantly responded to the
call and, with half dozen deputies,
marched up into the glittertng mist Of
the high peaks and came down again
empty handed and .sullen.
a meeting Of the officers of the Red
Star and allied companies was called,
Barnett presiding. Most resolute res
/; olutions were passed. Mackay was In
structed to press his demands to the
full. Barnett naturally opposed a con-
ference with the miners. Either they
come to our terms OF we close down
the mines,' he said. ut is our cue to
be firm in this demand
The sheriff, who had been invited to
be present and tell his tale, put in a
warning word.
"Gentlemen," said he, you're deal
| ing with a lot Of free miners and pros
pectors-men who won't be driven and
can't be scared If it had been just a
case Of ignorant dagoes 1 would have
brought 'em down, but they've got Lead
ers that you can't monkey with. When
Hob Smith, Denver Dan and that devil
Jack Munro met me with their holsters
tied down l threw up my hands. 1oS
are from the east. where things are
different. About one-third Of the men
on the peak are old prospectors and
free miners, and If they stay by the
proposition you've got to take sneak
or put up the fight Of the age"
1--WE stand pat said Barnett, land
we shall insist on YOUR arreSting the