The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-05-17
Cool Heads the Only Thing That
Saved BloodShed in Spokane.
IMPRISONED IN BOX CARS
Eighteen Hours without Food or Water
the Fate OF the Commonwe callers In
Hands OF Deputies.


Two thousand bowling, excited In
dustrials and sympathizers surrounded
the Northern Pacific depot and only
cooler heads prevented them from
storming the fence and rescuing over
100 industrials locked in cars guarded
by United States marshals. Everybody
was strongly moved and for few min
utes the situation was critical.
The marshals have finally taken
determined step. Acting under In
structions from Marshal Drake and
Judge Hanford, deputies began arrest
ing indIstrials along the line of the
Northern Pacific and imprisoning them
In boxsars.
At 9:45 the order was sent out to all
deputies in the city to "report at the
Northern Pacific depot at once on
double quick and bring all your arms"
In 4 short time forty deputies armed
with revolvers and Winchesters under
the leadership of Marshals Drake and
vlnson were drawn up in line at the
depot platform. The gates and doors
. were locked and armed guards at either
entrance to the Enclosure prevented
any person from entering the yard.
Shortly after 10 o'clock special train
consisting of two boxcars and two pas
senger coaches and a caboose arrived
In the city. The special was guarded
by armed deputies and inside the box
cars were tn. commonwealers who had
been arrested at various points along
the line. Some of the men had jack
knives AMI had managed to cut holes In
the sides of the cars. BY This time the
industrials in this city had become
aware that something was up and a
small knot was clustered about the
gates.
Oae of the prisoners, spying their
badges, called ont and Informed the
outsiders what had happened. In a
second couriers we're running to I'm
part the news to Commanders Jeffries
and Cantwell. The news soon spread
and in few minutes 500 industrlals
were at the depot.
The imprisoned men called out that
they were to be taken back to Seattle
to jail, and Commander Jeffries at once
posted off to secure a writ of habeas
corpus TO prevent the marshals from
taking their prisoners out of the city.
By this time the news had Travelled
and industrials, sympathizers and citi
zens were hurrying toward the scene
All were excited, and when the men II
the boxcars called out that they hat
had nothing to eat or drink for eighteen
hours the storm burst. Curses and yell
were heard on every side, and bad SOM
one made break to climb or storm thu
fence 500 excited men would have fol
lowed.
The giant form of Jumbo" Cantwel
doomed up in front and some one yelle
"Lead US, Jumbo and we will rescu
them or die" At this, the deputies o
top of the cars gripped their gun
tighter and the faces of several paled
The marshals on the platform, VIII
had been gathered in small knots, brok
up and with their Winchester
ready, ranged themselves along tn
cars, prepared to resist the attac
which they thought would follow. A
this critical moment yells came frol
every throat, but the stentorian voic
of "Jumbo'' was heard above all other
When there was a lull he raised h
hand and stilled The crowd.
"Be men," he said. ''Do not attemI
anything rash. We have had an Il
junction issued and those men will nc
leave here"
Cheers followed, but there were sti
hot headed ones who desired to stor
the cars. Crowds were still rushir
toward the depot and by this time 30
men surrounded the place. They yell'
and hooted at the deputies and Chest
Edwards was singled out and cursed f
his course.
Jumbo called out to the deputies: p"
Gods name be men; take off Your sta
and resign; don't treat your fellow mi
like brutes, but be men"
There were cries of "resign, resig
and be men, but the deputies on
blinked their eyes, took fresher 81
on their rifles, and said nothing.
Commander Cantwell turned to t
crowd and said: "These marshals ha
shot our men down like dogs. TIL
have kicked and cuffed them and thro'
them from moving trains and brok
their limbs. They have had those m
In there since yesterday morning, W
nothing to eat or drink. We want |
people of Spokane to know what X
of hirelings these marshals are A n
who will accept blood money for 81
service Is worse than the man who II
OF the earnings of prostitute
Cries of eyes, that's right" arose
all sides. Curses and imprecations W
showered upon the heads of the de
ties.
Captain Evans yelled, ''For Gt
sake, In the name of humanity, t
those men out and give them food