The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-05-13


SIQOl}WlIu little force were summoned to point
far and near to put down disturbanc
and to check agitation.
Not long after the bank murder at Wichita Falls
and the capture of Lewis and Crawford, Capt Bill
Mcdonald summoned there again, this time t
investigate strike on the Forth Worth and Der
yer railroad Things were in bad shape at tn
Falls. Trains were not allowed to rum engine
were not permitted to move Riot and bloodshe
were imminent.
Captain Bill went up to Wichita Falls alone an
learning where the main body OF the strikers wa
assembled, went over there. They had gathered il
hall, and were holding secret meeting when b
arrived. Captain Bill knocked on the door, /
doorkeeper came but refused admission.
"I am Captain Mcdonald of the Rangers" sal
Mcdonald quietly, "and I'm here to talk to you me-
and see what the trouble is. You're all here now
and think I'll talk to you together"
The doorkeeper went away and reported, an
presently returned.
Where are your Rangers?" he asked
81 didn't bring any. 1 don't need any Rangers t.
help me talk I'm pretty good at that, single
handed"
There was another consultation inside and tn
door opened. Captain Bill went in with friendl
greeting for everybody given in his genial natura
way. Then he got up where he could see his audi
ence.
Boys" he said, in his slow, friendly way "a
understand you-all acting mighty sorry owe
here interfering with business and making out lik
you're going to tear up things generally Now. yo
know me- and you know that 1 don't want any
thing that amt right, and if man behaves him
self I'll try to get him what's right If I can. I
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
know, not to have this sort of work going on
You have perfect right to quit work. but you
haven't any right to keep other men from
N I'M huci,
break up property. Nothing good can come out
of such doings. 1 didn't bring any of my men
along, because didn't believe I'd need 'em
and don't think so 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 know you can't get anything
this way; and If you take my advice you'll go
back to work and tell him your troubles after
ward Now, boys, that's all I've got to say, and
I reckon If you listen to it you'll come out
good deal better than if 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 the street, and
the crowd soon followed A good many came
to him and expressed willingness to 60 to
work. Here and there he talked to 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 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 I
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 mass meeting there that
night, when the leaders and chief agitators
would be on hand. He decided to be present
1t was well after dark when he set out and
good crowd had assembled when he reached
the place.
1t was nearly II o'clock, and speaker had
come to the conclusion that the crowd was in
the proper condition to take some good radical
advice-advice which might be followed by
prompt action-and he proceeded to give it.
He told them how they had been mistreated
anu WudC ILey SHOULD 40. IQoy were TO Deg1n
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 was 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. It 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 penitentiary,
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 as 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