The Transgressors Story of a Great Sin

widespread distress among the mining population of Pennsylvania. Forty per cent of the operatives of the Paradise Coal Comp

of an adjacent town shut out, must be explained as one of the in

pply of coal was scarce. This led him to close the mines in Hazleton. The miners in the town sought to force the opening of the mines by bringing about a sympathetic strike in the neighboring town

massed three hundred of the Coal and Iron Police in the town of Hazleton. This mercenary force occupies the armory, built two years before

n Police. He has sworn them in as deputies, and

their own homes. So Hazleton and the outlying districts were selected to be sacrificed to the arbitrary coal famine. Day after day the idle miners congregate in the Town Hall to discuss their situati

y appeals addressed to the

and their families, are disappointed to receive copies of their respective papers with their articl

henceforth be reduced to two loaves of black bread a day. As some of the miners have eig

nted page of a newspaper that has sworn alleg

e Paradise Coal Company to at least start the mines on half time. If the comp

ecessary time for the creation of the coal famine has not elapsed, and

ted to confer with the

ppeal to the company,

ill know if they are

Miner's Union, "we can go to Latimer and Harleigh, to-morrow. The mines will be closed; they are only working them six

ast give us some food for a Christmas dinner," say

s; on his way back to his house he fell. He was so weak that he could not get up. The snow is two feet deep on the road,

his body?"

ed it buried b

prove dangerous to the M

e profited by the expe

'clock Trueman ar

olutions present him

ition in which you are placed. You may depend upon it, there will

o-morrow morning at ten o'clo

arre on the mission of appealing t

ream to the Town Hall, to rec

d. From the slender treasury, which is enriched only by the pennies of the miners during their weeks of employment, the money is drawn to purch

ve a small supply of medicine. This is as important as food. The medicine

he industry by refusing to enter the combine which resulted in the formation of the Coal Trust. At the time of his death, of

, and would undoubtedly have wed had not the wreck of Densmore's fortune been accomplished just as Trueman was leaving college. Gorman Purdy had been quick to perceive the calibre of the young man and had broug

ton attracts her sympathy and she ha

hall that makes even Sheriff Ma

not of happiness, is a solace to the miserable men and women

r a woman more than thirty. She is, however, six and thirty; her natal day being in the month of March, the s

ng injured. They have seen her enter a mine where an explosion had occurred, when even the bravest of the rescuing party hesitated. They have

xert a wonderful influence over the humble citizens of Luzerne C

e playing cards and enjoying themselves a

he miners are cold, their larders empty; but

send thirty barrels of flour to be distributed for Christmas

s in the Hall. They d

oral suasion" on thei

It is a sharp contrast to the armed force of the Culpepper Minute Men, who, under the leadership of Patrick Henry, marched to Williamsburg, Virginia, to demand instant restoration of powder to an old ma

The little column passes out of the town of Hazleton and is a mil

e is a bustle

, Captain Grout,"

ot to fire until I give the order. When t

armory. It receives the orders; one-thir

main body marches out,

in th

miners the column m

a cut in the road there, and we can put our men on either side. When the miners come within rang

ners march on. The road is heavy and they are so much run down b

men are now at the cu

de of the road. The banks of the cut are fringed wi

"I will stop the miners. If they see you and the Coal and Ir

Five minutes passes. Ther

of our plan to head the

iners turns the corner of the road. The Americ

e side of the road. As the miners com

you going?"

igh," rep

u permission

sing our right

h in a body on the hig

p our procession and

what you are up to; do you think that I am going to let you cause a sympat

lt, the men in advance clust

en surround

e, of course, i

n cries, at the same time raising his

gh the crowd of miners

omes

hich Captain Grout

y, atte

and Iron Police j

r I'll take you prisone

of the police, armed with deadly rifles, has made the miners ins

r up and do

sheriff. Taking this as an order, the police o

ack! go t

They are practically at t

ut of the range of the police on that side. He

s him no protection. "Pot that woodchuck,

hole. The miner springs to

s now stretched out f

e armed police come out from c

f-control. Each man is actin

snow about them tinged with their life's blood. Another is clinging with a death grip t

wail is lost on the ears of the Coal and Iron Polic

his knees and prays t

sion is not heeded; a b

deputies. Indians will recognize this as the sign of surrender, and will give

d. Their mission has been to present a petition to the miners of Harleigh. The slaves of the South had enjoyed the right of petition. H

asks one of the deputies

ld think I had. I've seen f

e equally futile as means of escape. Exterminat

ain Grout stand in the

a mine foreman, are

white flag; Nevins

en," Marlin dir

aptain Grout rep

y have sticks i

gazine rifles, stop reloading and rush upon Nevins. They beat him over

alt a blow an

the unarmed miner

Coal and Iron

have escaped death, but who still

illed outright; ten are mortally wounde

untlet and are flee

ch of the police t

s the sheriff. "They might get t

Grout assures the sheriff. He then details ten m

re perfectly distinct in the soft snow. On the six trails

n an addition of six to

orders have b

as deputies; they have met the

w enveloped their act.

way, armed, according to the sheriff's version, "wit

staffs on which were displayed the White