The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-27
BATTLE AMONG MINERS.
Men Shot and a Mill Blown Up
in Idaho.
Union Defeat Non-Union Miners
and Take Seventy Prisoners.

The terrible strul gle between union min
ers and mine owners in the C9ur dAlene
District of Idaho, which was patched up
about two months ago, started again few
days ago and resulted in a savage fight in
which six men were killed and seven
wounded. Seventy non-union men were
taken prisoners and the Frisco mill was
blown up. The trouble came to a head in
tho town of Gem in a fight between union
and non-union men at the Frisco aud Gem
mines. The fight lasted several hours.
The Frisco mill is a complete wreck.
After the mill was blown I'd the non-union
men hung out a flag OF truce. Hostilities
then ceased, and several men surrendered.
The men were placed under guard at the
Miners Union headquarters at Gem. The
union men have resolved to drive every
non-union man out of the district. Women
and children have been removed to places OF
safety.
The strike in the Coeur d'Aleue began
about nine months ago. The fight was be-
tween the Mine Owners Association, organ
lied to resist the demands Of the Miners
Union. Twelve mines, incluiing all the
leading ones, are in the former organization.
uted to carry on the fight The
former rates Of wages were $3.50 per
day to miners and shovelers, and the
strike grew out Of the reduction in shovel.
lers' wages to $S per day. All the miners
working underground demanded So so.
There were no acts Of hostility when the
strike began, but the Miners Union did its
best to prevent by peaceable means men
working at the reduced wages. The United
States Circuit Court issued an injunction for
bidding any one from interfering with the
men employed by the companies.
About two months ago matters were
strsightened out and work went on as usual,
but since the Carnegie troubles bsgan the
old question Of wages has been revived by
the men. The Governor ordered out the
militia.
Both the Gem and Frisco mines were
guarded by men behind barricades AMI
armed with Winchesters and as the canon
Is narrow the men behind the barricades
could sweep two railroad tracks and the
country road with bullets. The Gem mine
barricade is within 300 feet Of the centre OF
the town of Gem.
On the morning Of the battle at 5 O'Clock,
q miner from the Gem started for Burke.
and when opposite the Frisco mine he was
fired upon. He ran back to the Gem. Sew
eral hundred miners in the meantime got
around the hills, up the canon above the
mine, loaded a Union Pacific car with $50
pounds of giant powder. and sent the car
down the track toward the Frisco mine,
and directly in front Of the mill the explo-
sion occurred, shattering the mill and max.
ing it complete wreck.
The nop-union men then showed the white
flag and surrendered. They were marched
to the Miners Union hall and guarded. No
indignities were offered them after surren-
der. While the fight was on at the Frisco,
the Gem Guards suddenly began firing vol
ley after volley into the town of Gem, rid
ding the buildings.
About 8 o'clock the truce occurred, and
the Sheriff. District Attorney, and Deputy
United States Marshals appeared on the
scene. The train was stopped by armed
guards of the Gem mine. The Sheriff took
the mail on his shoulders and passed on
to Gem. The guards levelled their
rifles at him, but dropped them
when they learned his identity. At Gem
several Hundred men were huddled in the
Dtreet with rifles and revolvers. At noon
the Gem mine forcs surrendered to the
union men, The Frisco and Gem were the
only non-union mines in the east end OF
Coeur dAlene.
A Spokane special says the union miners
In rhe Poor Man and Tiger mines quit work
and captured all the non-union men work
ing in the Union mine. near Burke.