St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-05-28


| hBO|b( NHl more rangebroken, as one m
| VksNfgIMl say-Capt Bill Mcdonald and
SHe9lE3liJ little force were summoned to poir
far and near to put down disturban
| and to check agitation
Not long after the bank murder at Wichita Fal
and the capture of Lewis and Crawford, Capt E
Mcdonald was summoned there again, this time
investigate strike On the Forth Worth and d.
yer railroad. Things were in bad shape at
Falls. Trains not allowed to rum engin
were not permitted to move. Riot and bloodsh
were imminent.
Captain Bill went up to Wichita Falls alone, a
learning where the main body of the strikers W
assembled, went over there They had gathered
hall, and were holding secret meeting when
arrived. Captain Bill knocked on the door
doorkeeper came but refused admission
I am Captain Mcdonald of the Rangers" 81
Mcdonald quietly, land I'm here to talk to you m
and see what the trouble is. You're all here no
and think I'll talk to you together"
Inc doorkeeper went away and reported. a
presently returned.
Where are your Rangers?" he asked
I didn't bring any don't need any Rangers
help me talk I'm pretty good at that, sing
handed"
Ihere was another consultation inside and II
door opened. Captain Bill went in with friend
greeting for everybody, given in his genial natur
way Then he got up where he could see his an,
ence.
Boys" he said, in his slow. friendly wav
understand you-all are acting mighty sorry nv
here, interfering with business and making ont III
you're going to tear up things generally Now. v,
know me, and you know that l don't want an
tnlng that am right, and If a man behaves hi,
self I'll try to get him what's right. If can
suppose you think you have grievance and
perhaps you have but you'll never get It SET
tied this way, and it's my business, as you-all
tc har IT,
You have perfect right to quit work, but you
haven't any right to keep other men from
working, or to injure peoples business, or to
break up property. Nothing good can come out
OF such doings. l didn't bring any of my men
along, because l didn't believe I'd need 'em.
and don't think now; but of course if this
thing goes on I'll have to bring 'em, and then
1t Will be too late to talk all friendly here to-
gether as we're talking now
I'm well acquainted with President Good Of
this road, and I know you can't get anything
this way; and If you take my advice you'll 20
back to work and tell him your troubles after
ward Now, boys, that's all I've got to say, and
l reckon If you listen to it you'll come out a
good deal better than il you listen to one or
two men that for some reason of their own are
trying to stir up lot of trouble, and will be
In jail before night, as like as not"
Captain Bill went down on the street. and
~A0 SWIM
to him and expressed willingness to 20 to
work. Here and there he talked to a little
group In his friendly earnest way The strike
at Wichita Falls was over
From Wichita Falls. Mcdonald went over to
Fort Worth where there was similar trouble,
but learned that a more serious situation ex-
listed at the Thurber coal mines, in Erath coun-
ty. The Ranger captain was urged to take his
men to Thurber, but decided to go alone
Arriving at Thurber, he hunted up the mine
officials for consultation. Colonel Hunter, pres
ident of the mines, looked at Captain Bill
bent over from his wounds and battered up
from Hines and exposure-and shook his head
you should have brought your men," he
said. You can't do anything with a gang like
ours alone.
well, colonel I'm using my men in other
places. I'll look around little and do what
can, anyway"
Lettering about the town, he discovered that
a number of kegs of beer were going out to
a high hill, beyond the Observation-Disclosures
of the striking miners He learned that there
was to be sort of meeting there that
night, when the leaders and chief agitators
would be on hand. He decided to be present
It we'll after dark when he set out. and
q good crowd had assembled when he reached
the place.
1t nearly II o'clock, and a speaker had
come 10 the conclusion that the crowd was in
the proper condition to take some good radical
Authoritative which might be followed by
prompt action-and he proceeded to give it.
He told them how they had been mistreated
and what they should do. They were to begin
by blowing up the mines and the superinten-
dents Office, and he told them which mine to
blow up first. Then he told them what they
were to do to "Old Hunter" and it was clear
from the faces and the mutterings of the lis
teners that they were ready to do these things
Captain Bill worked his way through the
crowd until he close to the speakers log
When the agitator reached what seemed good
stopping place, the Ranger captain suddenly
stepped up beside him. The speaker stopped
dead still in his surprise. 1t was Captain Bills
turn.
Men, he said, this rascal that has been
talking to you is an enemy to you and to the
country. He's trying to get you to commit MUIR
der, and to get you sent to the pententiary,
or hung. You can quit work but you can't kill
people and destroy property, not in this state.
These walking delegates and leaders that are
telling you to do these things are just sorry
lot of damned scoundrels, and I'm going to put
them where they belong, and where they're
trying to get you. I'm captain of Company B,
Ranger service, and I'm here alone, but I'll
have my men here, if need them and I'll
hang just such fellows this man"
Captain Bill turned to indicate his selected
victim, but he was no longer there. He had
melted into the crowd, and was seen no more