The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-06-11
THE WAR
In Southern Colorado -Great Excite
ment-Troops Ordered Out.

From the Denver Tribune.
The city was thrown into a tremor of
excitement yesterday morning by the
announcement that the governor had
called out the militia to quell disturb
ances in the southern part of the state,
which had grown out OF the railroad
controversy between the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe and Denver & Rio
Grande companies. For awhile it
looked as if there was to be war. Our
militia responded promptly to the sum-
o of their commander-in-chief, and
there might be seen here, there and
everywhere in the streets, our fellow
citizens transformed into soldiers, with
soldierly mien and soldierly clad.
The rumor took definite shape about
noon, and when the true state of affairs
was d~iscerned, it was found to be the
case that the report was not without
foundation. 1t had been currently re-
ported about town Saturday that an
attempt would be made on Sunday to
take possession Of the road. But no
demonstration was made on that day.
Early yesterday morning it was, how
ever, discovered that certain steps
had been taken preparatory for the
seizure Of the Denver s. Rio Grande
line by the old company. As the
statement took shape on the streets,
1t was briefly this: Judge Bowen had
not rendered his decision in the injunc-
ton suit instituted by the attorney
general, but the Rio Grande people
foreknowing what the decision wa to
be, had concluded to take the matter
into their own hands and have things
all ready by the time there should be
occasion for action.
A visit to the governors Office re-
vealed a modification of this state of
affairs, but still a very serious condi-
tion Of things. Early yesterday morn
ing his excellency received three dis
patches in rapid succession, upon
which subsequent events were based.
The following are the dispatches given
in the order in which they were re-
ceived:
NORTH PUEBLO, June /.
To Hon. +. w. Pitkin:
The Denver Il Rio Grande have taken
possession of our office at the Canon
coal banks. The agent and operator
are kept under guard and denied COM
munication with us. A large body Of
miners have been moved from there to
South Pueblo, and are awaiting oppor-
tunities to attack the round-house and
the dispatcher's Office.
c. E. CAST,
NJ. d. THATCHER.
COLORADO SPRINGS, June o.
Coz. Pitkin.
The Denver & Rio Grande have taken
possession of property with an
armed force. Please order out COM
pany. G. W. SHARPLEss.
Agent Atchison. Topeka q Santa Fe.
PUEBLO, June 9.
Hon. +. ". Pakin:
At bridge No. 3, eight miles east of
Labran, Ave armed men attacked our
operators and prevented them from
using The wire. We are cut off from
all Communication with Canon City.
The Denver & Rio Grande have also
cut our wire on our ground at Colorado
Springs and placed q guard over it to
prevent the wire being repaired. There
will be an outbreak at Sonth Pueblo or
Canon unless you interfere.
CHARLES E. CAST,
NJ. d. THATCHER.
This information was of an alarming
character, and being unequivocal, the
governor felt that something must be
done to put q stop to such lawless de-
monstrations as were evidently being
made. He t~elegraphed to the sheriffs
of Ell Paso and Pueblo counties, and to
the mayor of Colorado Springs, in
structing them to preserve the peace
without fear or favor, impartially to all
concerned. He however received no
dispatches whatever, until very late
last night. Acting upon what infor-
nation he had received he ordered the
militia to be In readiness to assist in
quelling the disturbance which seemed
imminent.
At two O'Clock orders were issued
from the adjutant generals office to
the commandments of the several mill
tary organizations In this city to assem-
BILE their men and await marching
orders in as short a time rs possible. In
response to this very unexpected call
the commissioned and non-commis-
stoned officers Immediately started to
work. In eight minutes the Chaffee
light artillery had thirty-two men in
line. The governors guards and
Mitchell guards were also under arms
in a short time.
Another dispatch which came to the
city indicated a very serious state of
affairs. 1t was from Lieut.. Barrett, of
the Colorado Springs cavalry, was d.
rected to Capt. A. II. Jones, and was
US follows:
COLORADO SPRINGS, June 9.
A. II. Jones:
Send two thousand rounds by express
tomorrow. See letter by mail to-day.
A. H. BARRETT.
The delay in sending replies is what
puzzled Gov. Pitkin. As early as II
O'Clock he sent the following dispatch
to the sheriff of Pueblo county:
DENVER, June Gil a. ~.
II. II. Price, Sheriff Pu. bio County:
/ am notified that violent attacks
upon railroad property are threatened
at Pueblo this forenoon. An applica-
ton has been made to remove the rail-