Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-12
BLOODY BATTLE
Between Union and Non-Uni0n
Miners at Gem, Idaho.
Four Men Killed and Ten Wounded
--Frisco Mine Blown Up.
Sixty Mon Unioaists Surseaaer and Are Cioseiy
Guarded 1y uaiea nsa.

WALLACE. Ida, July i2.--The strained
situation in the c1ar dAlene labor troubles
culminated this nlorning. The Gem and
Frisco mines Sere guarded by noa-anion
men, behind barricades, armed with Win
ehesiers, and as the canyon is narrow where
the mines are located, the men behind the
barrieades eoaki sweep the two railroad
tracks and country with bullets.
This morning at 5 miner from the Gem
started for Burke. When opposite the
Frisco mine he Was fired upon. He ran
back TO the Gem where the shot had been
heard. AMI soon the miners in the tow n
gathered with arms and marched in body
toward the Frisco mill, located directly in
front of the mine.
When scarcely within rifle range a voliey
from the Frisco mill greeted the miners.
4 regular battle ensued. one miner and
one non-nDson man were killed and six
wounded during the engagement. The
miners went AROUND the hills up the conyon
above the mine. and loaded a ear with $50
pounds of giant powder, ami sent
the ear down the track toward
the Frisco mine. Directly in from, of
the mill an explosion occurred, SCATTERING
the mill to splinters. The non-union men
showed the white nag aud surrendered.
They were marched 10 the Miners Union
hall and guarded, but no indignities offered
after the surrender.
While the fight was going on at Frisco,
the guards at the Gem mine suddenly be-
gan firing yolley after volicy into the town
of Gem, rildling the buildings with bullets.
4 citizen was shot through the arm. and
union miner was killed. Attempts made to
recover the body were met with volleys
from the Gem breastwork and it was not
recovered until an hour afterward. No shots
were returned from the Gem until the
armed miners from Frisco returned.
At 4. NJ. 4 truce occurred, and the
sheriff. district attorney and deputy United
States marshals appeared on the scene.
The train was stopped by armed guards at
Gem mine The sheriff took the mail on
his shoulders and passed on to Gem. Peace
negotiations were Immediately sent on foot
and at II the mine force surrendered to the
union men.
4, far as can be learned, four were killed
and about ten wounded, thought there may
be bodies under the Frisco mill. Two of
the killed are union miners the other two
being non-union men. Frisco and Gem
were the only non-union places in the east
end of Couer D'Alene. There is still CON
siderable excitement everywhere. hut no
further trouble is expected. About 80 men
In the mine surrendered.
The cause of the strike was n demand of
the union miners of the district for $50
per day for every man working under
ground. The mine owners held that un-
skilled laborers should be paid only S. 90
When the miners refused to accept the
scale the mines were closed. The owners
declared that excessive freight rates were
the cause of the reduction. A lockout was
begun April ls,, by the Mine Owners Asso-
citation. and 5000 miners were thrown out
of work.
Since then the mine owners have been
making IA struggle to run the mines with
non-union men under guard. The tension
has been great for months. The example
at Homestead and the decision of the nit
ed States courts at Boise, making pcrpet-
ual injunction against the Miners tnion,
brought matters to head.