The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-05-29
ALL READY FOR BATTLE
The Situation Grow; Very Serious
Again at Cripple Greek.
HUNDREDS OF ARMED MEN
Arbitration 10 q Failure and the
Miners Have Taken Complete
Possession OF All the
Arms In Camp.
HUNDREDS OF ARMED MEN

CRIPPLE CREEK, May 2s.-If trouble
breaks out again, and il Is impossible to
see how IL can be avoided, the results bid
fair to be more terrible than those already
witnessed. The armistice declared yes
terday was made use of by the sheriff to
increase his forces. Nearly 400 men have
been recruited IN Denver and await only
the slightest outbreak to be forwarded to
Cripple Creek and be sworn in as depu-
ties.
age from tho action Of Governor Waite
and they effect to believe the militia
would tend to aid them in carrying out
their purpose. The entire district is ter
rorized and the strikers arc being encour-
aged by the temporary withdrawal Of the
deputies and are becoming bolder and
moro imperative and belligerent.
There is no danger that nonIpartisans
will be fired upon without first being
warned. but when ordered TO stop, it
means that they must stop. II Is but a
step from this attitude to one OF the most
reckless bearing, and the people living in
that camp fear the outcome.
All day the strikers have been search
ing for arms and ammunition in the min
ing camps and where found, they were
confiscated and receipts given for them.
No one about the camps except the strik-
crs is permitted 10 carry arms and the
strikers, who reign supreme, have issued
an order that every able-bodied man
found in the camp when the real contest
comes, will be forced to carry arms in
their ranks. The result is that many peo-
pie are moving away from the camps to
the city of Cripple Creek and elsewhere.
The town and county officials are utterly
unable to do anything in the face Of such
an overwhelming number of desperate
men. Parties Of men who are In sympa-
thy with the mine owners have gone 10
Midland, where they will meet the depu'
ties and conduct them through tho best
routes to the strongest points about the
scene Of the trouble. A large party OF
strikers have gone towards the Midland
| to meet the deputies and retard their pro-
gress as much as possible.
CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo, May 2s.-De-
! spite all efforts at arbitration the strikers
have not abatcd their preparations fol
warfare, defensive or aggressive. Three
new forts have sprung up on Bull hill.
Four other forts are said to be occupied
by 200 men. They are amply provisioned
and prepared for a siege in every way, ex.
cept that they have not large supply OF
water. A troop OF cavalry has been or
ganized and 30 horsemen are constantly
scouting.
The Miners union will to-day open the
question OF arbitration. President Calder
wood favors this plan. but as the self con-
stiiuted committee by which it was pro-
posed spoke only for j. j. HaRerman, 1t is
doubtful II the other mine owners will
agree to it, and it's success is uncertain.
Three hundred deputies are camped at
Divide, where the Midland Terminal rail-
road begins. and will likely be kept there
pending efforts at arbitration. Should
they attempt to proceed TO the mines, a
desperate battle is sure to result.
The deputies have moved up to Divide
OH the Midland road, where they went
into camp. The union appointed com.
mittee TO 60 to Colorado Springs to confer
with the mine owners in regard to arbi.
tratiou. Mrs. Mays lodging house, where
several mine owners made their head
quarters was searched last night by the
strikers and every weapon carried away.
The coach from Midland was stopped
at the top of the big hill above town to-
day. On board were the union miners
captured by the deputies in the fight OF
Friday night. Word was quickly carried
TO the fort on Bull hill and Superintend-
ent Mcdonald and the other two prisoners
were released. Five miners, members OF
the union, but who would not leave work
in tho Abe Lincoln mine and join in the
warfare. were driven of Bull hill to-day.
The Victor Miners union has appointed
President John Calderwood and Shepherd
Marion as arbitration committee. They
will meet tho mine owners committee a,
Altman.
The miners have received offers Of aid
from Denver, Pueblo, Leadville, 0uray,
Coal Creek and other points. II battle
becomes inevitable it Is said 1000 armed
men will be sent TO aid the strikers on AZ
hours notice.
Governor waite's decision not to send
troops to Cripple Creek in the absence oi
q request from the sheriff was reached a,
midnight by n conference Of lawyers, who
reached tho conclusion that with the first
shot fired at deputy by the militiameu
civil war would be instituted, and the gov
ernor, not having declared martial law
would have been in rebellion.
The governor says IL fighting begins he
will send troops. He says the mine owners
should go TO the courts for redress II the
miners are preventing the opening OF the
mines. He favors arbitration.
The mine owners are discussing in Sc.
cret session the proposition to arbitrate
with tho Cripple Creek miners. Many
favor continuing the fight.
The miners at Picton struck to-day and
joined the Trinidad and Fremont county
men here, making the army l,3Oo. Rouse
miners are still working. Twenty Ital
ians coming FROM Trinidad attempted te
seize train at Rouse Junction. The en-
gineer and fireman beat them Oft with
shovels. Shots were fired and the Ital
| ians were arrested and put in jail here.
The strikers threaten TO release them.
Howells will issue call to the miners
asking them to send delegates represent
ing each mine in Colorado, Wyoming nnt
New Mexico TO a convention to settle th'
question whether they will join in n gen
cral suspension of work or not.
Tonight 375 Coxeyites reached herr
from Salt Lake over the Denver & RI
Graude road. Two hundred of the met
were of the Utah contingent undsr th'