The Rock Island Argus., 1885-09-05
THE ROCK SPRING RIOT
MURDER AND ARSON USED AGAINST
THE CHINESE.
Their Homes Burned and = Dozen or 81
OF Bodies Found in the Ruins
A Reign of Terror for
All Sin.

CHICAGO, Sept S. "A special from Rock
Springs, Wy. T., where on Wednesday the
white coal-mners mobbed and drove out OF
the town the Cinnamon employed there,
says:
A glance over the battle-ground of
Wednesday reveals the fact that many OF
the bullets fired at the fleeing Cinnamon
found their mark. Lying in the smolder-
ing embers whore stoud Chinatown were
found ten charred and shapeless human
trunks sending up a noisome stencil that
smelled to heaven, while another, which had
evidently been dragged from the ashes by
hogs, was found in tine sagebrush near by.
A search was instituted, and the bodies OF
five more Cinnamon, killed by rife-shots
while fleeing from their pursuers, we're
found. All were placed in pine coffins hast
lily constructed and buried. Some six or eight
others we're found seriously wounded and
were cared for by the railroad officials.
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict to the
effect that tue dead came to their death at
the hands Of parties unknown. Reports
from along the line of the railroad are TO
the effect that Cinnamon have been arriv-
ins at small stations east and west of here
all day, and they say that large number
OF the fugitives we're wounded by the
attack and that many have perished In the
hills 1t is probably safe tosay that 1t will
be found that no less than fifty lost their
lives when the returns are all in. This
trouble has been brewing for months. Beck
with. Quinn q Co, who run the mines un-
der contract, have beeu importing China
men in large numbers and discharging
white men until over 600 pigtatls
we're in their employ. Bosses have fa-
vored the Cinnamon to the detriment OF
white miners, and it needed only sps-k TO
kinde the flames of malice and violence
This was furnished Wednesday by quar-
rel between a party OF Celestials and whites
in mine No. over their right to work in q
certain chamber. A fight ensued, and the
Cinnamon we're worsted The underground
superintendent took sides with the Chinese
and discharged the whites, though they
were clearly in the right. The miners then
organized and ran the Cinnamon out of
town. as related The Union Pa
cific company employs Chinese as
section hands on the western
half of the road, all of whom have applied
for transportation to Evanston. Near that
place and at Almy the company has other
coal mines, where Chinese are employed,
and IL Is feared that the white miners there
viii bring about a repe ition of the scenes OF
violence and bloodsh witnessed here.
Guards are patroling the company's
grounds, but all Is quiet and no further
trouble is apprehended.
Thursday morning the white miners
patroled the town, determined to hold II
al la. ho {rh FOTIf
in an appearance in order to restore order,
as we'll as to keep the Chinaman from re-
turning. The Chinese are yet in the hills
and buttes in the vicinity, awaiting
further developments. During the day
they several times attempted to send
a flag of truce to the enemy, and tc
hold conference, in the hope Of bringing
about a compromise, but their messengers
have all been driven back with warning
shots by the outposts. Nothing Is being
done in the mines and all trains pass
through the town without stopping, as the
place Is entirely In control of the mob. The
sheriff of Sweetwater county declares thai
affairs have got beyond his control
From Evanston the sheriff of Uintah
county telegraphed TO Governor Warren a
follows: "A large number Of citizens will
myself ars satisfied that the outrages com
mittsd at Rock Springs will be repeated
here, and are liable to break out at any
time We need troops to protect the live:
and property of our citigens." Governor
Warren is at Green River, but he has tele
graphsd to the commanding officers at Fort
Steele and d. A. Russell, and troops arr
ordered to hold themselves in readiness Il
move at a moments notice.
General Manager Galloway, Of the Unior
Pacific says the company is wholly blame
less In the matter, and that it Is scarcely
concerned except for its exposed property
and desires TO resume operations OK tn
mines, which are now idle. Beckwith &
Quinn, contractors, have a contract witt
the company for loading coal upon che cars
and that firm employs the men, both white
and Chinese, that are involved IN thi
trouble. Mr.. Galloway says his COMPANY
will insist upon re-establishmont Of orde
and operation, as it is in no way responsible
for this occurrence.