HEARTS OF GOLD

28. CLEMENT ST. JOHN.

238 CLEMENT ST. JOHN. Chapter XXVIII. The trip made by the captain of the convict mines and his troop of horsemen to Welshtown proved to be an event pregnant with thrilling experiences. The air of conscious superiority, which the company had worn, when riding away from the camp was changed to the crestfallen look of the vanquished, before it returned. The arm of the law was not only challenged, but an appeal was made to the higher, if unwritten statute, which makes right more potent than might. The captain and his guard rode through the little mining town with all the haughty hilarity of a victorious army entering a conquered city. When they approached the house, where the two convicts were supposed to be in hiding, their progress was somewhat impeded. The entire male population of the usually quiet little place, had sallied forth from their homes and assembled about the point of disturbance. The captain, nothing daunted, drew rein before the house and demanded the surrender of the convicts. “They are not here,” said one of the convicts, “and if they were, we’d see you in hell before we’d send them back to the charnel-house you keep down there in which to beat and starve men to death.” “They are our prisoners, put into our hands by the authority of the state, and Welshtown has widened its corporate limits considerably, if it is bigger than the whole state,” said the captain cooly. “We do not give a continental who put them into your care. A wolf couldn’t be more gentle with a lamb than you are with your charge,” the miner replied. 239 hearts of gold “If they are in that house we expect to have them. The law sanctions our right and I call upon all good citizens to assist me in the prosecution of my duty,” said the captain, dismounting. “There is a higher law—a law that existed previous to the legislature that legalized this damnable tool of cheap labor. We refuse by the law of common humanity, by the statutes of self preservation, to allow these men, to the detriment of our wives and children, to longer compete with us in the struggle of existence. If we had no hearts, if our sympathies did not go out to the poor, ill-treated, half-starved wretches, an enlightened self interest would no longer permit oppressive capitalists to use these victims of a misdirected and ruinous state economy, to glut the markets with their cheap products to the injury of free labor. This convict system is a piece of short-sighted retrenchment; it may be a saving to the state, but it means poor work at starvation wages for the miners,” (“Hear, Hear,”cried the men, crowding about their leader). “You have those men in there and we intend to bring them out,” said the captain. “I know nothing about the policy of the state and less about the condition of the miners. My duty is plain. Those men have been sent to me by the proper authorities; your quarrel is with them. Until some other arrangement is made to support the men under my charge, I shall continue to work them in the mines. Give them up peaceably and settle your dispute about prices with someone that has use for your labor.” “You had better come and take them,” cried a miner. “That is just what I intend to do—peaceably if I can, forcibly if I must,” replied the captain firmly. As he said this he gave the reins of his horse to one of the guards and approached the fence. The guards quickly brought their horses into line and detaching their Winchesters, prepared to attack the crowd. As the captain advanced he was ordered to halt, but fearlessly disregarded the command. “Halt, I say!” rang out on the still mountain air. “If you advance another step, I’ll shoot you dead.” The guard, hearing this, awaited no further orders, but commenced firing into the crowd. The miners were at first disconcerted, but rallying, returned the fire from the shelter of the house, well-frame and windows. Two of the guards were shot. 240 j. mchenry jones The captain, discerning that they were outnumbered ten to one, hastened to his horse, mounted and ordered a retreat. The miners fired a volley after them and then a company of the...