The signal corps flashed their green
and red lights from the tower to distant armories. Ambulance corps
hastened their preparation, packing saws, knives, lint, and bandages.
Imperative orders from general to colonels, to majors, to captains, to
corporals tracked the militia men to their homes, and to their places
of amusement. By midnight every military organization in Harrisville was
under arms. The general with his staff was at his headquarters and ready
for action.
Before sunset Colonel Harris had his steel mills enclosed by a high
fortress-fence; many agents were dispatched to other cities to advertise
for, and contract with, skilled labor for his mills. On his way home, he
called again on the mayor, also at brigade headquarters, and satisfied
himself that his property would be protected. In forty-eight hours five
hundred new workmen had arrived, and in squads of from twenty-five to
fifty they were coming in on every train.
Colonel Harris, experienced in strikes, knew just what to do. A great
warehouse in the board enclosure was converted into barracks and supplied
with beds, and kitchens, and an old army quartermaster was placed in
charge. The new men on arrival were taken under escort of the soldiers
to the barracks, and were rapidly set to work under loyal foremen.
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