St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-28
RAIDING BAD JOINTS.
Federal Authorities Attempt
to Suppress Dives on Ver-
million Range.
Several of Them Closed and
Their Habitues Headed
for Home.
Six Prisoners Saw Their Way
Out of the Butte
Jail.
Fire Lays the Business Por-
tion Of Auburn in Smok-
ing Ruins.
Snecial TO the Globe.

Special TO the Globe.
Tower, Minn., Dee. 27.-The tough
element of this place is in high state
of excitement over the Inauguration of
a movement looking to the suppression
of the thousand and one dance houses in
the Vermillion iron country. About
two weeks ago Carrie Swenson, a pre-
possessing young Swede girl, hailing
from Chaska, Carver county, escaped
from one of the numerous dens between
here and Ely. She took TO the
woods to eIude party OF men
sent out to recapture her, and
after much hardship and
privatiOn reached Tower more dead
than alive. When she escaped from the
hell hole, she was without shoes or
stockings, and had on a skirt and waist
OF thin material. She was compelled to
sleep under trees and bushes, and snf-
feTed terribly from the cold, her fingers
being frost bitten and her feet torn and
bleeding from contact with the frozen
ground. Arriving in Tower she sought
out County Attorney Edward Sherwood.
and to him detailed her experience i'll
the pineres. Miss SWenSon stated
that she had been entrapped from
her honor under promise of obtaining
work by a woman claiming to be man
ager of an employment agency in
Tower She was sent from st. Paul to
o the dive in company with half dozen
other women in charge of two men. one
of whom she subsequently learned was
Jack Benton, a notorious Off nder. They
were taken direct to his infamous
den, and only then told what
was expected of them-that they
were to lead life of shame.
Their protests availed them nothing.
Those who were inclined TO be obdurate
We're cufTed and beaten into submission.
Then followed five weeks of debauchery
and orgies such as she had never even
dreamed OF. Hundreds of woodsmen
visited the place during her stay there,
and the majority conducted themselves
more like wild beasts than humans.
They compelled the helpless women,
under threats of personal vlo-
lence, to submit TO them, and
one woman was so illtreated that she
died the third day after arriving at the
place Being satisfied that the girls
story was true, Mr.. Sherwood consulted
the United States authorities and urged
the necessity of adopting measures to
suppress the dens of vice. The result
was tllaI WIlllen OTutIS were ScINcu
upon the various officers in the Yer
million country to the effect that
they must at once see to the
closing of all the dance houses, dives
and places where illegal liquor-selling
and leWd practices were carried on. \
number of the places were at once
closed, but several remained running,
openly defying the law. The state and
federal authorities held another con-
ference and decided to act in concert.
Yesterday swoop-down was made
upon two places and Benton was bagged
on the charge of selling liquor without
q United States license. This charge
will be followed by other and worse
charges. Last night, many of the Sa-
looms in this place and Ely, were closed
also. Bill Strom. one keeper, was to-
day discharged without trial. His place
was the worst in this district, next to
Humps. Dan Kelly, the wealthiest
dive keeper, announces that he Will
quit the business and engage in lum-
bering. The Ely houses were closed
to-day. and. although it is possible that
the dens will open again, strong efforts
will be made TO keep them closed. over
$50 women in various parts of the iron
range. are now heading for Duluth and
the TWIN Cities.