Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-23

/
know who led this thing. The union
had nothing to do with 1t. 1t was done
by lot of Currans spittoon cleaners.
The fellow that Baker killed is from
the Springs. I've seen him around
Curran's."
do you think so2"
Il know it. When you want me to
tell you what know I'll do it; only
not now. Wait till the militia takes
possession"
will the militia come? Has the
| governor ordered it out?''
Hes got to order 'em out now. He's
Il dead duck, anyway"
Raymond returned to his work be-
side Kelly, and together they tore ut
the rocks and beams, magnificent in
their leadership. An hour later all was
ready, and into the heavy, shifting
smoke which rose from the smoldering
debris ut the first level Kelly and his
young partner descended to extinguish
the burning timbers, to clear away the
fallen rock and to signal to the i'm
prisoned men below.
Again and again they were forced to
| lie fiat OH their faces with their lips
touching the earth in order to breathe;
but at last the smoldering material
| was all holsted, the mine cleared, and
they were able to look about them,
dizzy, but eXultant. The iron beams
had caught and held huge mass of
rock which the conclusion had shaken
| from the mouth of the mine, and to dig
| through this was the task that now
confronted them; but the air Of the
shaft having cleared, volunteers thick
ened, and the exhausted leaders were
able to rest their aching limbs and lis
ten for signals.
They were nightly cheered by the
faint but unmistakable sound of knock
ing. The imprisoned ones were calling
in the well tried fashion-by hammer
ing on the rock with their sledges.
They beat cheerfully, as if seeking to
reassure their rescuers.
| An hour later the rescuers could hear
the voices of those beneath, and 1t was
hardly more than H.. ~, i >. -, y
began to lift them out Two >, ,wo in
the big bucket.
Ann, hearing their shouts. cane down
the path with Nora to meet them. Kcl-
ly's eyes were dim with tears, and
AIMS heart went out to him MS lie
shouted, They are all here, and un-
hurt!"
"Rut you are hurt?" she asked Ray
/ nnn1 with
peering ut his torn and trembling
hands.
"No-only tired. How is the pa
tient?" he asked as they started to-
ward the cabin together.
HE is awake, but his pulse is still
rapid, and he is very restless"
"What does the doctor saw"
HE insists there is no danger. 1
think he means it. But. oh, that poor
boy Is SO sickw She checked herself.
This will be u very serious loss to
you, will it not?"
He strove to answer lightly. "Oh.
yes; but our vein is there Just the
same. Luckily they couldn't blow that
away"
AT the door of the bungalow lie turn
ed. II must leave you for time. 1
must repair damages"-he looked at
his hands and arms-"and l want to
talk with my men,"
Raymond found his men in the bar
rack, discussing with characteristic
calmness the general situation while
waiting for their dinner. And when
Perry shouted grub pile" in COW camp
phrase each man hustled to his place
with cheerful clatter. Raymond drew
up with the rest, and for u few minutes
no word spoken referred to the disas-
ter.
AS the first man, well filed, pushed
back his chair Raymond called out:
Boys, l want to say a word before
any of YOU go out A council of war
Is necessary at this minute"
Those who had risen took seats again,
and all faced his way As he looked
at them his throat filled with realiza-
| ton of their loyal service, and he could
not find voice for few moments, but
sat with bowed head, rolling n bit of
bread between his fingers. AT last he
resolutely cleared his throat and began
harshly: "Well, boys, the game halts
right here. You see where Kelly &
Raymond are-they're fiat. We've got
good mine If we could work it, but
we can't. Just about every dollar we
had to spare went into that machinery,
and our ore shipments were just begin
ming. I've been doing little figuring,
and l find we can pretty near pay all
that's due you, but we can't do any
more. If this strike were settled we
might get somebody to come In and
help lis put up a new power plant, but
as things shape up at this present time
were up stump as they say back in
Ohio. So guess We'll have to let you
60" There was n movement among
the men which he felt as a protest. but
he continued: 81 hate to do this, espe-
cially now in the winter, but you can
see how 1t Is. If were in YOUR
places would go to Reese and the 9TH
or independents and stick by 'em; help
them fight this thing through on fair
play lines"
His slight pause brought no response.
''-'>'h Az pSEtii dtsstiu MIS- VOICE WIS
softened. "And, boys ride up and tell
Matt IL good word. He's hard hit"
His voice trenblcd dangerously, and
he was forced to stop.
The tension was eased away by
Nary. one Of the older men, who broke
out with deep lunged profanity in order
to conceal his good heart.
well, don't know how the rest of
you feel, but want to turn right in
and put this mine into shape again and
lynch the dogs that blew us upw
Raymond lifted his hand Hold on,
boys. Don't be too quick on the trig-
ger. Keep cool till ride up on the
hill and take look around and have
little talk with Munro. We must
rally all the independents, which will
take time, and, besides. you must re-
member / have very sick boy on my
hands, and there is Baker, who needs
care. Don't rush. Let me go up and
see what the sheriff seems likely to do.
AS I've told you before, I've no theory
about the labor question. never was:
I'M n Tvs IL hot II.