Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-12-23


"Down the street yonder I've got &
hundred fishermen. Half of them are
drunk at this minute and the rest are
half drunk"
"Then they ore Of no use to u.s."
II don't reckon you ever seen Il herd
Of Kalvik fishermen out of u job, did
you? Well, there's just two things
they know, fishing and fighting, and
this amt the fishing season. When
they hit Seattle the police force goes
up into the residence section and stuffs
cotton in its ears, because the only
thing that is strong enough to stand
between uniform and fisherman is
q hill"
Can you induce them to wOrk?"
Il can. All I'm afraid of is that
can't induce them to quit. They're
liable to put his freight aboard the
Bedford Castle and then pull down
the dock in a spirit of playfulness and
pile it in Captain Peasleys cabin.
There amt no convulsion of nature
that's equal to a gang of idle fisher
men,"
when can they begin?'
"Well, It will take me all night to
round them up. and I'll have to lick
four or five. but there ought to be a
dozen or two on hand in the morn
Ing" George cast rowing eye over
the warehouse from the heavy plank.
ing underfoot to the wide spanning
rafters above. YES" he concluded
II don't see nothing breakable. so ]
guess it's safe"
"Would you like me to go with
you?"
The giant considered him specula
lively. II don't think so. l amt nev
er seen you in action. No. you better
stay here and arrange to guard this
stuff till morning. I'll do the rest
The following morning. true to his
word, the big fellow walked into the
warehouse followed by score or
more Of burly fishermen.
Bait bore signs of strife. The big
mans lips were cut, while back Of one
like fungus.
They fell to work quickly, stripping
themselves to their undershirts: they
manned the hoists. seized trucks and
bale hooks and began their tasks with
a thoroughly nonunion energy. Some
Of them were still so drunk that they
staggered. their awkwardness afford
ing huge sport to their companions,
vet even. in their intoxication they
were surprisingly capable. George
sought out Boyd and proudly in
quired:
"What do you think of them. eh?"
"They are splendid. But where are
the others?'
"Well. there are two or three that
won't be able to get around at ALL
He meditatively stroked the knuckles
Of his right hand. which were badly
bruised. but the balance will be
here tomorrow. These are just the
mildest hammered ones-the family
men, you might say. The others will
show up gradual"
The work had not continued many
hours before stranger made his way
in upon the dock and began to argue
with the first fisherman he met. Boyd,
approaching him, demanded:
what do you want"
"Nothing." said the newcomer.
"Then get out
"What for? I'm just talking to this
man."
Twill you go?"
"Say, you can't load that cargo
this way" the man began threaten
ingly. "And you can't make me CO.
At which Emerson seized him by the
collar and quickly disproved the asser-
ton. to the great delight Of the fish
ermen. He thrust him out into the
street.
I'm union man. and you can't load
that ship with 'scabs.'" The stranger
swore as he skunk off.
The first actual violence, however,
of for the noon hour. Boyd called up
the police department.. then summoned
Big George. 1t was with considerable
difficulty that the nonunion crew
fought its way back to resume work
at I o'clock.
During the afternoon the strikers
made several attempts to enter the
dock shed. and 1t required firm
stand by the guards to restrain them.
The next morning found the non
union men out in such force that they
were divided into a night and day
hov - hoo 70
report later. while among the noun
tains Of freight the work went for
ward faster than ever. But In time
the city awOke to the realization that
a serious conflict was in progress
The handful Of fishermen. outnum-
bered twenty to one and guarded only
by a thin line Of pickets. became a
center of general interest.
It was on the fourth day that Boyd
espied the man in the gray suit among
the strikers and pointed him out to
his three companions, Clyde and Fra
ser having joined him and George in n
spirit of curiosity.
Late in the afternoon. without a
moments warning. the strikers rushed
in body. bearing down the guards
like reeds.
Emerson and his companions found
themselves carried away before the on
slaught like chips In the surf. then
sucked into maelstrom where the
first duty was self preservation. Boyd
succeeded in keeping his footing and
eventually fought his way to backing
Of Grated machinery. where he stopped
and ripped a cleat loose. Then. laying
about him with this weapon. he clear
ed a space.