Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-02-28
THE SHERIFR'S POSSE.
1T WALKS TO BROADFORD, THEN
WALKS BACK AGAIN.
The Miners Meet 1t En- Masse. but
Offer No Resistance Seven Men Put
to Work in the Mines-Etc.

For some time past it has been evil
dent that no men would be permitted
to work in the mines at Broadford on
any other terms than the payment of
81 per days wages, and that violence
would be resorted to, if necessary, to
prevent men from going to work,
either on contract or for less than the
wages required by the Miners Union.
This state of affairs caused considera-
bic alarm in the community, and it
became evident that something should
be done to assert the supremacy of
the law. The miners of Broadford,
except on two or three occasions, had
behaved remarkably we'll for men on
strike, and it was hardly deemed
probable that they would openly defy
the law; but as there was bare pos
sibillty that they might do SO, the
Sheriff, moved to act by requisition
in due form, concluded to summon a
posse to set to work what men were
willing to work.
The preparations such as rrocur-
ing badges, guns, ammunition, and
appointing deputies-were completed
last evening; and this morning, the
superintendent of the Queen of the
Hills and Minnie Moore companies
having announced their working force
ready, the Sheriff and his deputies
marched to Broadford, escorting seven
miners, which were ali that were ready
to go to work.
The Sheriif's force consisted of
about II deputies from HALEY, and
about 20 from Bellevue. These dep
uties had been summoned from among
the business men, principally, and each
was given badge to be pinned to his
breast. This was piece of white
ribbon about five inches long, on
which the words "Deputy Sheriff.
were printed.
All being ready the force left the
Minnie Moore office, in Bellevue,
about ha!fpast IL o'clock, and
marched to Broadford. On arriving
there crowd Of men numbering not
over l2O were seen standing on the
sidewalk or in the street, by the side
of the road. They were laughing,
cheering, and hooting and yelling
some, but not a man of them moved a
step. Collins, formerly Of Atlanta,
who hung around HALEY during the
last campaign, started to walk toward
the deputies-possibly to speak to
some of them. He was evidently
drunk. President McDevitt, of the
Miners Cnior, caught him by the
arm, jerked him back, and ordered
him to stand back. AS the deputies
filed past, Broadford man followed
in the rear, with club at ''shoulder
arms" mimickng The deputies. Pres
ldent McDevitt caught him by the
arm and jerked him to the sidewalk,
saying: sect out of there, you son of
a b-h, and 90 in the house, where
you belong - OF the men standing
there the ma ority were armed and
kept their hands quite near their side
and hip pockets; but they did not
make any move to use arms. 1t was
evident, however, that they were de
termlned, in case of an outbreak, tc
make a bitter fight.
For moment the Sheritf's force
halted, and divided, one-half going tc
the Queen works, the otht
half to the Minnie Moore, wher.
the men who wished to dc
SO went to work. The Sheriff led the
detail to the Minnie, and after seeing
the men to work returned to tn,
!. Queen, where he collected his fore,
and marched it back to Bellevue, no
one insulting word having been heard
not blow offered. The Sheriff's poss
had been in Broadford just one hour
HOW THE MINERS FELT.
Immediately on reaching Bellevue
this morning, TINES reporter pro
ceeded to Broadford, to look aroun
d and ascertain the feelings Of the min
S ers. On the road he met several mir
n crs, some. of whom joked about tn
;. Shcriil's array, and the dis
!. play of force; but all agree
t that the posse would not be molested
! President McDevitt, Hugh Niece
IS and Charles O'Briea even expresse