The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-29

IRIS Morning.
The first bioodshed Of the mining
troubles occurred II Franklin yesterday,
and two companies Of militia have been
dispatched 10 the scene 10 prevent the
race war which seems imminent. The
riot commenced early in the day, and
At least one white man was killed and
several other MINES. including one negro,
We're wounded.
The Oregon Improvement Company
safely transferred eighty negroes from
Franklin 10 Newcastle early in the morn
ing, and ii was this move on the part Of
the company that led to the trouble
The arrangements for the transfer of the
negroes we're made with such secrecy that
the white miners on strike at both Frank
lin and Newcastle we're taken By surprise.
The train left Seattle at O'Clock
and reached Franklin at 3, running
straight through. There eighty
negroes, all armed and ten white guards
were taken on board Just as the train
was pulling oNf it was fired st
from ambush - the. home guards,
who had heardF the train come In
and had posted themselves along
the railroad track They fred fifteen shots
through the windows, but hit no one.
The train ran without incident TO New
castle, arriving there al O'Clock.
So complete was the secrecy observed
that not even the operator at Newcastle
was informed until ten minutes before the
train arrived. Not soul vas astir and
the train was run through the town 10 the
mines al Coal creek, two miles beyond,
without molestation and the negroes
safely housed in the camp which has been
established there. They viii be put to
work al the mines with the sixty white
men already there and with the guards on
the ground are considered fully able TO re-
sist any attack.
On hearing the departure Of the train
the white miners st Franklin seem 10 have
thought that the guard was so weakened
by the withdrawal OF men to protect the
train that the opportunity was favorable
one for an attach cn the negroes. About
O'Clock IN the morning 3
party OF them started from their
homes on the fats TO the negro
camp on the moun;ain-side, near the
mouth Of the mines One white man
who was climbing steep stairway near
the bunkers was challenged by a
negro guard At the top of the
stairs. Instead of halting he
fred, wounding the negro in the
right hip. The white man then picked I'D
the negro's gun and ran down to the flats.
leaving his own hat behind him. The
negro lay bleeding for some time before he
was found
The Sullivan guards found it q hard task
to restrain the negroes, who were anxious
10 go 10 the dats and drive out the whites.
They finally succeeded, however. and
the railroad track below the bunkers was
left in possession Of the home guard
Chief Sullivan, who was in Seattle. re-
peatedly telegraphed 10 his men TO hold
the negroes hack.
There was great excitement in camp al
day and the guards could hardly control
the negroes, who were anxious 70 drive
the whites back 10 the fats. The
climax came IN the evening with
the arrival OF the 40 train
from Seattle. On this train were the
guards who had escorted the negroes 10
Newcastle in the morning and about half
q dozen colored men who had been nicked
up IN Seattle 10 90 TO work at Franklin.
When the train was near the bunkers two
strikers n ambush fired s. the train and
the guards returned the IRE, but no one
was hit.
This shooting was the signal Tor a gem
eral turnout Of the negroes 70 reneI the
attack. They greatly outnuuabered the
whites and drove them down again. max
ing the deep rocky canyon echo with the
rattle OF shots. One white man was killed
and several others were wounded and the
attacking party was driven back.
Two whites were cornered under the
bunkers and were az the mercy OF a crowd
Of negroes. What became Of them csp-
not be learned: II fact 10 further details
could De obtained, except what are gwen in
subjoined dispatches.
Deputy Sheriff Stretch teleg-anhed ats
O'Clock last night to Cao Eaines. csIl-
ing for the aid Of ne =. Colonel
Haines coald not h fogd sor half an
hour. but immedateis "a receiving
the message ordered Comp IS B and 10
assemble az the q, nory. ale S1perin-
tendent Bush, OF the IA-eeun Improve
ment Company. ordered 5 special train 10
be prepared 20 f2Ss the nj
li1ia 20 the enc O the outbreak.
Sheriff Woolery gAx net 81 home and had
nothing 70 90 xiFh the request for the
militia. SubjoiT A5 d sFs2tches from Frank
lii give further iess OF the not.