The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-01
The Laborers Were Marched tc
Town, Where They Joined
the Union.
Between 1000 and 5000 Were in the
Party, bnt They Kept Their
Intentions Secret.

Mountain View spur to the Montana Cen
trail junction. The fret battle was won by
the workingmen, who carried the works Of
the enemy without bit of blood being
shed, without blow being struck, not
q dollars worth of property being de-
stroyed. The strangest thing about the
coup d. etat was the marvellous secrecy
which was maintained. Not word Of the
proposed movement had crept into the
papers. There was not a dodger printed
nor notice stuck up anywhere calling the
workingmen to gathering, yet an army Of
1000 or 8, GOO men gathered on the hill side,
attacked and carried the camp, and got
half way back to town before an lntimatlon
Of any trouble reached the sheriff Office or
the contractors at the Montana Central
railway office. s8s
The army of men gathered at the rem
devious in small parties. They had not
weapon among thsm-not a weapon that
visible ut any rate. Some had dinner
buckets. some had pipes, some had canes,
but there was not gun to be seen. II was
o Qood-natured crowd. All were laughing
and joking and seemed to regard the expe-
ditjon rather as Sunday afternoon picnic
than as an excursion which might end in a
bloody battle and death to some. just
after the court house clock struck two
the crowd began to move. An Of
fort was made to get them started six
abreast, but as there was only a foot-path
through the snow, this idea was abandoned.
By ones and twos they climbed over the
hill. along the slope. and came down like a
swarm of bees on the first of the railroad
camps. This is the camp Of Anderson &
Lund, sub-contractors, and about thirty
men were there. 1t being Sunday they were
not at work, but were all inside the long.
low board shantY. There was a knock at
the door and it opened. A. committee of
workingmen went inside.
"Roll up your blankets and come along"
was the order. Those inside could see a
pretty big gang outside and they OWNED
what was going on. All but one of them
obeyed the order. "l'll be id if STIR"
said this one. You won't. eh; come out
here.'' The insubordinate member of the
gang was seized by the shoulder and taken
out the door. do you see these hills?"
The finger of the speaker pointed to the
hills which were black with men. II guess
I'll co." said the insubordinate, and he
proceeded to pack up his goods and chat
tells. The "scabs,' us they were called,
foreman and all, were placed in the front
of the army and told to lead theway to the
other camps. The army filed in bohind.
There was now march of three miles
over the hills and through the gulches to
the other two camps, which are situated III
Yankee Doodle gulch, two miles northeast
of Meaderville. One was Quigley's camp
and the other Lazee's camp. Lazee's camp
was entered first. Ilazee declared he
wouldn't surrender. He was told that no
violence would be offered and that if he de-
sired he and his wife would be sent to town
in carriage and given a good room at a
hotel. He finally consented and all the
rest submitted without opposition. There
we're about fifty in this camp. In Quig-
ley'a camp there wnS only g small number,
and here. too, only one man otfefed any re-
sistance. It was the cook. He had a saw
in his hand. and backing to the roar of the
shack he cried: "I'll die before TIL go with
you.'' Hang himn' cried one or two hot
heads outside. '',rhe first man who mem
tions hanging again will be thrown over
the trestle,' deola ed ono of the leaders, in
SteutCTian zones. L u6 COOK, AILeE llULle
argument, laid down his saw and pro-
ceeded to pack up his things. A double
line was formed, and as one by one the
campers with their blankets and their
satchels moved out of the shack and
through the eangway, cheer upon cheer
rent the air. The goods were oil tumbled
into wagons which stood there. Horses
were hitohed to the wagons and tho Swodes
and others in the camp were told that they
could claim their baggage at Miners Union
hall.
The prisoners, ninety-eight all told, were
marched to butte and taken up to Miners
Union hall, where they all joined the
Workingmen's union. Then they were
taken to the Southern hotel and given
roome for the night.
Contractor Guthrie said that the work
had just beguo. He was surprised that
such outrageous law breaking should be
permitted in Silver Bow county. He said
that the road would still be put through
and that only 81 per day would be paid.
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