Chapter 43 continues

The story so far: The women continue to lead the strike.

The Oliver Mining Company was losing millions of dollars. Their operations were barely running. Katka wrote in Strikers News about the numerous reasons the company had to be worried. She believed that they were.

But apparently not enough to negotiate. The strike committee kept sending and resending their list of demands. They had them published in every newspaper from Biwabik to Duluth to Minneapolis.

Finally, a representative from the Duluth office came up to meet with Mr. Stone. "Perhaps you should negotiate with the miners," he suggested. "They're not asking for much."

"Never," Stone said. "We cannot give a bunch of immigrants the idea that they can make the rules. We've got a business to run."

"A business that's losing money every day."

"Not for long. I have a new plan that will break the women's picket lines. Then we'll be able to get the replacement workers in from Minneapolis. I got a hundred or so men lined up to arrive next Tuesday. I guarantee we'll get them in. I got a man making a list of every woman walking the line on every shift in each of the seven Oliver mines. I got another man making a list of every union organizer in town. Something big is about to happen."

Chapter 44

During the second week in July of 1916, Katka walked into town as she did every morning to sell eggs and gather news. Her first stop was the mercantile. "Katka, thank heavens you're here," Helen Cerkvenik said, ushering her into the shop.

"Helen, I only have eleven eggs today. Sasa's not producing and the other hens can't seem to make up for ..."

"I do not care about your damn eggs, Katka. Have you not heard?"

"What is happened?"

"Anton didn't tell you?"

"He did not come home last night."

"Who's with Lily and the baby?"

"Samo. Dusca. Old Joe. Probably more. What happened?"

"They arrested Johan Koski and three others last night. Accused them each of union agitation. They're in the jailhouse right now."

"Heavens no!"

"But, Katka, it gets worse."

Katka immediately thought of Paul. God, let him be all right. Let him have escaped trouble, just this once.

"They did something. To Johan Koski's wife, Esther." Helen began to cry. Her whole body shook and Katka put her arms around her.

"What is it? Helen? Tell me."

Helen spoke in a whisper. "They raped her, Katka. In front of her children. Before they took Johan to the jail."

Tomorrow: Chapter 44 continues.