The Bessemer indicator., 1894-06-09
mo HOPEOF PEACE
WAR AT CRIPPLE CREEK.
strihsrs Wui MAks No Conesssions-
Owners ssad . Large Fssss Of
Dspatbss ts night u

| Necessary.
The owners Of mines at Cripple
Creek have determined to resume
work on their properties now that the
railroads have been built into the
camp. To do this they knew that it
would be necessary to send in nom
union miners and enough deputies to
protect them.
A special train bearing l05 men left
Denver for Cripple Creek Thursday
night. 1t was reported that these
men would be made deputy sherifis
and act as guards for uon-union miners.
Most Of the men were formerly po-
licemen or 6remen under the old Ere
board.
The Denver deputies arrived over
the Florence & Cripple Creek road at
clock. The party was under com
mand Of j. c. Veatch, e1-chief of po-
lice of Denver The men were landed
about mile and half from Vic
tor.
A number of the men who were sent
out as scouts were fired upon by min
ers and then retired.
Some of the men wanted to advance
on the miners, but this was not thought
wise until reinforcements should ap-
pear. At $50 o'clock the army with
drew from the view of the enemy. The
construction train conveyed it towards
Florence. The men camped at Will
bur until reinforcements should arrive.
Orders were sent to Denver for an
additional force Of guards, and County
Detective De Lue began to recruit
men for service. 1t was expected that
l25 men would leave for Cripple Creek
Saturday morning. 1t was reported
that other forces would be enlisted at
Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Lead
vile.
Friday morning party of masked
miners visited the Strong mine where
uon-union men were at work and or
dered the men out The shaft and
buildings were then blown up. 1t
was reported that several men were in
the mine but this could not be veri-
fed.
John Thomas, who was so badly
beaten by the strikers Thursday on
the supposition that he was spy or
non-uuion man, died the next day Of
his injuries.
The strikers held meeting at Vic
tor late Friday evening and the sug-
gestion was made that they go down
the road and attack the 100 deputies
who had withdrawn from town. This
idea met with favor, and at 2 o'clock
300 men seized construction train
and started in pursuit Of the enemy.
When near Wilbur the strikers left the
train and moved cautiously forward.
The deputies under Veatch had pickets
out and they saw the scouts ad-
vaucing In the early morning light.
The pickets opened fire and gave
the alarm. The miners fred in return.
They belched forth from all directions,
The pickcts dropped in behind rocks,
the miners following to within forty
feet, when they saw their mistake.
Veatch and his lieutenants, Dun
nington and Newmeyer, had their men
together, and poured forth volley af-
ter volley in the air. The miners re-
treated Their ruse was not success.
Seeing this the Denver contingent
assumed the aggressive and gave chase.
Slowly and sullenly the the miners re-
treated, firing all the time. The light
was bad, however, and the enemy pro-
tected by the natural situation.
As they were falling back their
leader, Hiram Crowley, fell mortally
wounded. A shot pierced his cheek,
he bullet passing through the lower
tpart Of the neck and fracturing the
spinal cord All but few OF the
miners ceased firing. They assembled
around their leader and carried him
away.
After Crowley fell most Of the min
ers broke in confusion, making their
way to their train. 1t was at this
time that the Veatch forces made a
capture of six of the strikers scouts.
Some three hours after the encoun-
! ter, the Denver pickets found William
Rabideau, one Of the deputies, lying
cold and dead. He had been shot
three times. One of the bullets passed
through his heart. The honors oi
war were even. Each side had killed
one man John Todd Of the miners
and ex-Policeman Padget Of the Den
yer army were each slightly wounded
The deputies sent their prisoners tc
Colorado Springs.
The miners returned to Victor
They have no idea Of giving up the
struggle unless by force of arms. A
muster roll Saturday morning showed
571 bearing Winchesters and probably
100 more with shotguns and Other
arms. In the afternoon a report was
circulated that 300 men were on the
way to capture the mines and in few
minutes the hills were black with mer
running to the post to be ready fol
action. The rumor was false.
1t having been reported that three
men were entombed in the Strong mine
party of strikers went down the shat.
to investigate. The three men, con.
sisting Of Sam P. Mcdonald, the su.
pcrintendent; Charles Robinson, fore.
man of the mine, and John Baggett,
the engineer, were found uninjured