Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-10

thing that is strong enough to stan'
between a uniform and fisherman
a hill"
"Can you induce them to work."
II can. All I'm afraid of Is that
can't induce them to quit They'r
liable to put his freight aboard tn
Bedford Castle and then pull dow
the dock in spirit Of playfulness ant
pile 1t In Captain Peasley's cabin
There amt no convulsion Of nature
that's equal to a gang of Idle fisher
] men"
when can they begin?"
"Well. II will take me all night t
round them up. and I'll have to licl
four or five. but there ought to be {
dozen or two on hand In the morn
ing" George cast rowing eye owe
the warehouse from the heavy plank
ing underfoot to the wide spanning
rafters above. "Yes." he concluded
81 don't see nothing breakable. so
guess it's safe"
would you like me to so will
your
The giant considered him specula
/ lively. II don't think so. amt nev
er seen you in action. No. you better
stay here and arrange to guard thi:
stuff till morning. I'll do the rest"
The following morning, true to his
word, the big fellow walked into tht
warehouse followed by a score ol
more of burly fishermen.
Bait bore signs Of strife. The biz
mans lips were cut. while back Of one
ear a knot had sprung up overnight
like a fungus.
They fell to work quickly. stripping
themselves to their undershirts; they
manned the hoists. seized trucks and
bale hooks and began their tasks Will
a thoroughly nonunion energy. Some
Of them were still so drunk that they
staggered. their awkwardness afford
ing huge sport to their companions
yet 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 tina,
won't be able to get around at ALL
He meditatively stroked the knuckle'
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 Il 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 want2"
Nothing" said the newcomer.
"Then get out"
"What for? I'm just talking to this
man"
"Will 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 of.
The first actual violence. however
occurred when the fishermen knocked
off for the noon hour. Boyd called ur
the police department. then summoned
Big George. 1t was with considerable
difficulty that the nonunion crew
fought its way back to resume work
at o'clock.
During the afternoon the strikers
made several attempts to enter the
dock shed, and II required a hrm
stand by the guards to restrain them.
The next morning found the non
union men out in such force that they
were divided into night and day
crew, half Of them being sent back to
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
serious conflict was in progress
The handful of fishermen. Outnum
bered twenty to one and guarded only
by thin line Of pickets. became q
center OF general interest
II 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 q
spirit of curiosity.
Late in the afternoon. without q
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 a 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 cleat loose. Then. laying
about him with. this weapon. he clear
ed a space.
At the first alarm the fishermen had
armed themselves with bale hooks and
bludgeons and for time worked havoc
among their assailants.
Seeing Clyde in helpless condition
Emerson shouted: IA
"Come on! I'll help you aboard the
ship" He found hardwood club be
meath his feet and with 1t cleared
pathway for Clyde and himself. Ht
suddenly spied the man In the gray
suit. who had climbed upon one Of
the freight piles, whence he was scan
ming the crowd. The man recognized
Emerson and pointed him out. Th'
next instant Boyd saw him approach
ing. followed by several others. Then
though Boyd fell back farther, tn
others rushed in and he found himself
hard beset. What happened thereafte
neither he nor Alton Clyde. who wa
half dazed to begin with. ever clearl!
remembered.
Before he had recognized the person
| nj nature of the assault Emerson fount
himself engaged In a furious hand t
hand struggle. Then a sudden black
ness swallowed him up, after which n
found himself upon his knees, his arm