The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-17
Twice the Citizens Prepare to Take
the Law in Their Own
Hands.
And Determine to Stop the Heap
Roasting Process at
Any Cost.
Thsy Desist on Assurances That a Force
Was Mt Work Covering Up tho
suipIurons Gey4ers.

GUTTE, Dec. 16.--ISpeciai, For hours
to-day IT looked az though mob of deter
mined citizens would march en- rnasss out
TO Meaderville and taar to pieces tho works
OF the Boston and Montana company. The
city struggled between riot and law, but
law finally won the day. Last night dodgers
flooded the city calling people to mass
meeting to be held in front OF the city hall
at nine o'clock this morning. Knots OF
men began gathering in the streets as soon
as the light family slone through the pail
Of smoke that filed the city--for the sun
did dot rise In Butte to-day. and was never
seen. The feeling wag intensely bitter and
mutterings we're heard on every hand against
the company. Bnt the city authorities had
already taken the matter in their own
hands, and late last night having received
no satisfactory answer from President lige-
low, Of tho company, ut Boston, Mayor
Mueller engaged Contractor Winters to
begin tho work in the morning OF covering
the tive heaps, whose Bulphuroua smoke has
for week been killing people in Butte.
Hundreds of people filled the streets in
front of the city hall ut nine O'clock this
morning
on, it was announced that men and teams
were already at work covering the heaps.
The meeting appointed committee to 90
out there and ascertain If this was true,
and meanwhile the meeting adjourned.
The committee went to the roasting heaps,
found no one ut work, and after waiting an
hour returned 10 town, and the city was
again flooded with dodgers calling the citi-
zens together again at one o'clock. At that
hour the crowd was larger than ever. The
committee made it's report, after which
Mayor Mueller addressed the assembly,
stating that the men had not gone to work
this morning for lack Of tools, but would
go to work this afternoon. as tools had been
procured. Gen. @. S. Warren made a
speech. declaring that the time for action
had come; that funeral PROFESSIONS we're
crowding the streets, the civil authorities
we're doing nothing, and 1t was the duty OF
citizens to act i'll defense Of their families
and their neighbors. George w. Irvine,
ex.United States marshal, exhorted the
crowd to let the city government
act, expressing the utmost confidence
that the smoke would be disposed Of as
soon as possible. Representatives of the
Boston and Montana had, meanwhile, been
exhorting the mayor to cover up the heaps
as sooE as possible. for if tho mob once
started for their works not building would
be left standing. The mob decided to give
the mayor three hours in which to get to
work, and meanwhile adjourned. One
hundred and thirtv-six men are at work to-
night covering the heaps with dirt and
work will continue day and night until all
are covered.
1t is estimated that 5000 tons of ore are
burning. The state Of feeling may be i'm
agiaed from the fact that eight deaths oc-
cnrred in the city to-day and there were
five funerals. During the first nine days Of
this month, when there was no heap roast
ing and no smoke, there were eleven deaths,
while during the past six days, with the
heaps burning there have beens twenty one
deaths.
; In the district court to night Judge Mo
Hatton granted permanent injunction re-
straininR the Boston a. Montana company
from roasting ore in heaps. The Judge said
nll people have the right to pure air. The
company was cited to show cause why il
should not be punished for contempt for
not abatinQ the nuisance under the tempo.
rary injunction.