River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-19


70 cut travel from Oakland. They've
killed the police and the tiremen who
came up first. There's bunch of
them up on California. and more down
on Montgomery. They're marching to
the Presidio to join the others out
there now. They killed Rodney and
| guess they nicked me. from the feel
of my head"
The editor went to his desk in his
office, took a sheet of paper and wrote
Il head" for Jackson's story: Jap
anese Seize Presidio. Local Japs Rise
to Aid of Their Fellows. Ferry Blown
Up. Fighting In Streets of San Fran
cisco" He hesitated a moment, and
then above this he wrote in heavy
pencil. scrawling the caption: War.
War. War;
The editor sat on waiting for Stuart
to bring him his story. A bullet from
the street struck the frame of the open
window, ricochetted into the room. and
struck again with dull, muffied spat.
upon his desk.
His blood stained the page where he
had written the three times repeated
War;"
Meanwhile the wireless station had
been seized and wrecked by the resi-
dent Japanese, and all wires to the
east, north and south were cut by pre-
'oncerted arrangement, upon the signal
Of the sun ray rocket. Strange scenes
were enacted in the streets of the
proud mistress of the Golden Gate,
while aliens fought their way west
ward to join their brothers in possess
sion of the Notifications, and others
from the towns on the peninsula to the
south moved north, destroying the rail
road as they advanced leaving
smoking trail Of burning homes and
the slaughtered bodies of men. women
and children in their wake.
The police and fremen fought to
stem the tide rolling westward.
Denizens of the underworld, night
owls Of the city. citizens awakened by
the conflict. Joined them and fought
shoulder to shoulder Yet the slant
eyed masses moved forward, Ere they
came to California they had been given
their military training. and they had
been warned and instructed in advance
for this moment.
They were casting not only their own
lives. but those of thousands of their
countrymen. on the fall of the dice this
night. Many died, but the rest went on
toward the north and west. 1t was es-
timated broadly that morning saw
more than 5000 men gathered within
the limits of the Preside reservation.
Meanwhile Stuart finished his tran
scription of Jackson's story, gathered
up the sheets and took them to the cdi-
tors room. where the EDITORS head lay
upon the blood stained sheet of paper.
His cry brought the others crowding i'll
about the desk where the dead man sat-
By right of priority Stuart lifted the
head gently and removed the written
caption. The pencil locked in the dead
mans fingers ratified fatty upon the
desk
Stuart held up the page to the wide
eyes of the others. Spent bullet from
the window he said shortly. He had
just finished this. Well, here goesp'
He wrapped the life dampened sheet
about his handful of copy and JAM
med all into a pneumatic tube.
well get out the paper. 1t was
what he wanted" he said. "And wait
minute. fellows. l wonder if any
body's tried to get in touch with the
outer towns. guess this burg is
grabbed, but how about the others?'
He lifted a receiver from telephone
hook and waited until scared voice
answered his signal.
Get me long distance" he directed
shaken voice replied. Get me Oak
land" he required.
II can't. The lines not working"
said the voice at the other end.
Berkeley. then-San Jose, Sacra-
mento?" snapped Stuart.
81 can't" said the invisible girl.
There's something wrong"
You bet there is" growled the man.
Aren't any of your trunks in order,
Central?"
NO. sir They seem to be cut or
| Notwithstanding
''Al right" said Stuart less sharply.
BE a good girl and buck up. Stick
| to your board and don't get scared"
| He hung up and turned to his fellows.
We're cut off completely. They've
| .one one good job. | thought it was
funny we'd had no bother with calls
ince this happened. Wonder what the
devils wrong that the ships at Mare
island don't get busy? If had a mo-
| TOR I'd go up and find out"
Might pick up one at Lynch's
| wharf" suggested one of the men be-
side him. THAT is if they haven't
been picked up already"
Stuart nodded. III try it. Who's
game to go along?
Me" said Jackson, who had made
his way in with the rest.
Come on. then"
SfIlS~t rose They made their wav