If neither procession gave way, the Orange
funeral could be broken up, ostensibly not from religious fanaticism, but
from the "unhappy accident" of two straight lines colliding. It was a
juicy plot; and in a few minutes the Mayor and Gabriel Druse knew of it
from the faithful Berry.
The bell of the meeting-house began to toll as the Orangeman whose death
had caused such commotion was carried to the waiting carriage where he
would ride alone. Almost simultaneously with the starting of the gaudy
yet sombre Orange cortege, with its yellow scarfs, glaring banners,
charcoal plumes and black clothes, the labour procession approached the
Manitou end of the Sagalac bridge. The strikers carried only three or
four banners, but they had a band of seven pieces, with a drum and a pair
of cymbals. With frequent discord, but with much spirit, the Bleaters, as
these musicians were called in Lebanon, inspired the steps of the Manitou
fanatics and toughs. As they came upon the bridge they were playing a
gross paraphrase of The Marseillaise.
At the head of the Orange procession was a silver-cornet band which the
enterprise of Lebanon had made possible. Its leader was a ne'er-do-well
young Welshman, who had been dismissed from leadership after leadership
of bands in the East till at last he had drifted into Lebanon.
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