Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-12

Unfortunate elimination of the Labor Trou
bles in Idaho.

STRIKERS BLOW UP NINE.
Unfortunate elimination of the Labor Trou-
bles in Idaho.
The strained situation in the Cnur d Alene
labor troubles in Idaho eliminated yesterday.
The events of the day previous consisted Of
challenges from non-union men ut the Frisco
and Gem mines to the Union miners at the town
OF Gem and seemed to indicate a speedy rup-
ture. Both the Gem and Frisco mines were
guarded by pen behind barricades armed with
Winchesters. and as the canyon is narrow where
the mines are located the men behind the barri-
cades could sweep the two railroad tracks and
the country with bullets. The Gem mine bar
ricade is within 800 feet of the center of the
town Of Gem.
Yesterday morning at O'Clock a miner from
Gem started for Burke. When opposite the
Frisco mine he was fired upon. He ran back
several hundred yards TO Gem, where the shot
had been heard and soon the miners in the town
gathered with arms. They marched in a body
toward the Frisco mill, located directly in front
Of the mine
When scarcely within rife range a volley
from the Frisco men greeted the miners and
lead whistled all about them. They scattered
and regular battle ensued. One miner and
one non-union man were killed and six wounded
during the engagement
EXPLODED DYNAMITE.
The miners in the meantime went around the
hills up the canyon above the mine. loaded
car with $50 pounds Of giant powder and sent
the car down the track toward the Frisco mine
Directly in front of the mill an explosion oc-
CURED. shattering the mill to sphnters, making
it q complete wreck.
The non-union men then showed the white
flag and surrendered. They were marched
down to the Miners Union Hall and guarded
While the fight going on at Frisco the
guards suddenly began firing volley after volley
INTO the town Of Gem. Kidding the buildings
with bullets. John Ward, citizen, was shot
through the arm and Gus Carlson, a union
miner. was shot and killed. Attempts to re-
cover Carlson's body were met with volleys
from the Gem breastworks and when the BODY
was recovered an hour afterward il was lifeless,
another bullet having been sent through the
breast. No shots were returned from Gem
until the armed miners from Frisco, half a mile
above Gem, returned.
SURRENDER.
At o'clock a truce occurred, and the sheriff,
district attorney and deputy United States
marshals appeared on the scene. The train was
stopped by armed guards at the Gem mine
The sheriff took the mail on his shoulders and
passed on to Gem. The guards leveled their
rifles at him, but dropped them when they
learned his identity. At Gem several hundred
men were huddled in the streets with rifles and
revolvers. Peace negotiations were imme-
diately set on foot and at - o'clock the mine
force surrendered TO the union men. The num-
Der killed, SO far as can be learned, is four and
about ten wounded, though there may be
bodies under the Frisco mill. Two of the
killed are Gus Carlson and Harry Cummings,
union miners The other two are non-union
men, names unknown.
Among the wounded are John Ward, citizen
Of Gem; Hugh Campbell, struck with rife over
mi do lpsr 0a1, II ~ lrax.
doger, union miner, shot through hip, will die;
Gam Peters, from Tacoma. shot in the head
but not fatally; George Pettibone, union miner,
shot through the hand.
Frisco and Gem were the only non-union
places in the east end of Cpur d. Alene. There
is still considerable excitement everywhere. but
no further trouble Is expected. About sixty
men In the mine surrendered
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
The cause Of the strike was the demand of
the union miners Of the district for $3.50 per
day for every man working underground.
The mine owners held that unskilled laborers
should be paid only 60. When the miners re-
fused to accept the scale the mines were closed.
The owners declared thatexcessive freight rates
were the cause of the reduction. The lockout
was begun April by the Mine Owners Associ-
alton. and 5000 miners were thrown out Of
work. Since then the mine owners have been
making struggle TO run their mines with nom
union men and guards.
The tension has been great for months, and
the opinion has prevailed that only a spark was
needed to start the flames of riot The exam
pie at Homestead and the decision OF the United
States courts at Boise making a perpetual in
junction against the miners union brought
matters to a head.
Gov. Wiley has ordered three companies Of
militia to the mines to preserve order.
CALL FOR FEDERAL TROOPS
Senators Shoup and Dubois of Idaho have
received number of dispatches in regard to
the mining troubles in the Ceur d'Alcne re-
gion. The first one came about 3 O'Clock YES
terday from Marshal Penkham. who transmitted
a message from n man named John Finch at
Wallace reporting fighting in the Gem and
frisco mines, and saying that 1--WE are powerless
to stop the conflict and fear many will be killed
and the mills burned" With the telegram
containing this information the Senators went
to call on the President and Secretary Of War,
but were no. able to see either, the President
being out of the city and the Secretary away
from the department. They then called on the
Attorney General, and after consultation with
him telegraphed the governor as to the condi-
lions under which the President could act in
the matter Of calling out the federal troops to
aid in maintaining order and preserving the
peace. At midnight the Senators received the
following dispatch from Attorney General
George H. Roberts at Boise City. Idaho:
"The Governor Is now preparing q call on the
President for troops. II possible have matters
arranged 30 that orders will be issued from the
War Department to commandant at Fort Sher-
man TO move troops by boat via Mission and
Wardner. Many lives already lost and much
valuable property destroyed. Mob moving on
wardner. Everything now depends on prompt
ness"
Said He Was Robbed.