The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-13
THE SCENE OF BATTLE.
And tho Causes Leading Up to the Scrim-
mage.

Ana tho Causes Leading Up to tho Scrim-
mage.
WALLACE, July 12.-[special. Gem ia
one OF several small mining camps living in
a canyon three miles above Wallace. Ths
mountain sides come so close together that
the space between 10 hardly wide enough for
two car tracks and broad walk. The two
big mines are the famous Helena and
Frisco and the Gem. Tho properties ad-
join, though the mines are perhaps one
half mile apart. The miners live in rows of
small houses on the side hills. The story
of the wage question which led to the bat
tie has been told. though the more immedi-
ate causes are not go easily explained.
Knowing that the bitterness of the miners
was increasing the Gem and Frisco COM
panies some time ago made arrangements
for protecting their property against pos
sibIe attack. At the Com a barricade OF
heavy timbers with loopholes was built and
similar arrangement was made at the
Frisco. Armed men were placed within.
It appears that some of these were detec-
tives and others we're non-union employees.
According to the miners, armed men were
also stationed around ON the hills
above the mine. The undoubted effect
OF this system was to intimidate
the miners living at Gem, though it docs
not appear that any violence WAS attempts &c
BY the men on guard until the ball opened
Tho tinder, however, was ready and needed
but spark to touch it off. 1t started in a
quarrel with one of the guards named
Smith. who offended one OF the miners and
was whipped. The excitement grew until
Sunday evening rumor spread about ,4at
a fight had occurred and three union men
killed. Then the miners dropped work
and came down from Mullan and nearby
camps in a mass.
Mr.. Esler, expecting trouble, brought
guns and ammun't iu special train
from Wallace. and when the miners learned
the nature of his errand they commenced
preparations. They spent the night arm
ing themselves for the conflict which they
believed would come next day. The ex-
oitement increased during the night and
there was very little sleep in the camp.
just where or from what source the first
shot was fred is a matter of serious dis
pute. Each side alleges that the other il
responsible.
In any event both were ready for the con-
hiot. which started almost Immediately
after the killing of Sullivan agency de-
tective. Bean. The man had left the Gem
barrioade and gone down to the town. He
was returning and was on the bridge when
bullet came from Winchester into his
head. He fell over dead. From the looa-
tion it il very plain that he was fred at
from behind. and il is gener-
ally believed that it came from
the union miners. though they
stoutly deny it, and say that it was fired by
some one from the other side. The non
union men at the Frisco then opened the
battle in dead earnest. They sent Il shower
of bullets down on the town, which had
been vacated by women and children, and
the union men responded with equal readi-
ness. Windows were riddled and in a
saloon a billiard cloth was completely
ripped from the table by a leaden hail.
The second man killed was disintsrested
spectator. who was Watching the battle
from small building.