Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-08-01


The fellow that Baker killed is from
the Springs. I've seen him around
Curran's."
do you think so?'
81 know 1t. When you want me to
tell you what l know I'll do it; only
not now. Wait till the militia takes
possession"
"Wll the militia come? Has the
governor ordered it out?'
Hes got to order 'em out now. He's
a dead duck. anyway"
Raymond returned to his work be-
side Kelly, and together they tore at
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 at 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
prsoned men below.
Again and again they We're forced to
lie fiat on their faces with their lips
touching the earth in order to breathe;
but Mt last the smolderng material
was all hoisted, the mine cleared, and
they were able TO look about them,
dizzy. but eXultant. The iron beams
had caught and held a 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 unmistakabe 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 it ses
hardly more than midday before they
began to lift them out two by two in
the big bucket
Ann hearing their shouts, came down
the path with Nora to meet them. Kel-
ly's eyes were dim with tears, and
AIMS heart went out to him as he
shouted, "They are all here, and I'M
hurt!'
"But you are hurt?" she asked Ray
mond with anxious, timorous voice
peering at 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 sayY
"He insists there is no danger
think he means it. But, oh, that poor
boy is so sickr' She checked herself
"fThs will be ii 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 he turn
ed. Il must leave you for Il time.
must repair damages"-he looked at
his hands and arms-"and | 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 a few minutes
no word spoken referred to the disas-
ter.
As the first man. well filled. pushed
back his chair Raymond called out:
Boys, l want to say Il word before
any of you go out \ council of war
is necessary ut this minute"
Those who had risen took seats again,
and all faced his way. As he looked
at them his throat filled with realiza.
tion of their loyal service, and he could
not find voice for few moments, but
sat with bowed head, rolling a 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 flat We've got
Il 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 n little figuring
and | find we can pretty near pay all
that's due you, but we can't do any
more If this strike We're settled we
might get somebody to come in and
help us put up new power plant, but
as things shape up at this present time
we're up stump as they say back in
Ohio. SO I guess We'll have to let you
GO" There was a movement among
the men which he felt as n protest, but
he continued: Il hate to do this, espe.
cially now in the winter but you can
see how it is. If | were in your
places | would go to Reese and the 9th.
er independents and stick by 'em; help
them fight this thing through on fair