CHAPTER VI

MACK AND THE MOLLY MAGUIRES 90

M'Parlan a North-of-Ireland Man—The Rush to Pennsylvania Coal-fields—The Irish Adventurers—Growth of New Ireland—Erin a Land of Political Unrest—A Nursery of Political Agitation—The Four Provinces—Irish Hatred of Traitors—The "Molly Maguire" Dispatch—Frequency of Murders—Franklin Goven intervenes—Mack enters the Field of Investigation—His Qualifications for the Business—Picking up the Lines—A Narrow Shave—Becomes an accepted Molly—His Strenuous Task—Becomes a Suspect—Is sentenced to Death—Eludes his appointed Slayers—Whisky saves him—His Escape from the Coal Zones