St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-25
DESERVING KELLY'S RANKS
MANY WILL LEAVE HIN BEFORE DES
MONIES IS REACHED.
THE TRAMP THROUGH IOWA.

|
The General Refuses to Allow His
Men to Take q Train, and Many
Threats Are Made-Col. Spead
and His Followers Do Not
Obey Orders-Jeaiousy in the
Camp.
WALNUT. To-, April 24.-Soon after
keliy's army left Walnut today at
least hundred men left the ranks and
started across the country in various
directions. The long march ahead and
the vanishing chance of securing train
caused rapid dissolving of the enthusi-
aSm which has heretofore marked the
progress of the army, ana the men
quietly dropped out. Kelly disclaimed
all knowledge OF the wholesale deser-
ton, aud asserted that he knew of but
ten or twelve men who had quit, but
the men in the ranks acknowledged
hat their comrades were lie aving, and
the fear was expressed that the deser-
tlons would rapidly grow more numer-
Gus. Many of the men who left begun
to ride east on Rock Island freight
trains, and others started Oh the return
trip to Council Bluffs. 1t was stated
today by some of the railroad officials
that 600 men had left the army since
the departure from Council Bluffs, but
careful count fails to show that this is
the fact. The army as it left Walnut
numbered Ills men, but it is apparent
that Kelly will be fortunase if he
reaches Des Moines with 1000. The
commander processes no alarm at the
NUMBER OF DEsERTIONS,
but the rank and file are beginning to
lose hope and were much discouraged
when they reached Atlantic. Seven of
the men who were recently arrested in
Avoca for disorderly conduct were re-
leased at noon today, and two of them
nave gone after Kelly, but others, ap.
parently disguised with campaigning,
started for Omaha. Sheriff Hazen, of
Council Bluffs, is following the army
with three deputies. and claims that
several crooks are in the ranks, Three
Chicago detectives and three Pinkerton
men are also on the trail, and it is ex-
pected that wholesale arrests will be
made at Des Moines. General Manager
Dunlap. of the Rock Island, reached
Atlantic today and will remain near the
commonwealers until they reach Des
Moines. The men are becoming violent
III their complaints over the forced
march across the country, and Kellv's
authority is likely to be severely tested
II transportation is not secured at
the state capital. On the march today
Kelly was held by corps of men, and
surlv spokesman stepped out of the
ranks and asked that the general allow
them to take tram. I'VE can do it,
and we will do it. general, if you will
let u.s." The commander emphatieany
denied the request. and told the men 1t
would ruin him, themselves and the
cause of the unemployed il they took
such action. There was much adverse
comment on this reply, and Kelly is
evidently alarmed at
THE SERIOUS ASPECT.
The element OF lawleSsneSs in the
men, many Rock Island railway officials
think, will be rapidly developed in Des
Molnes. where the sentiment against
the railway is strong, and it is expected
mat the apparent gravity of the situa-
ton will result in the massing of depu-
ties and authorities at the state capitol.
Kelly expects to reach Des MONIES
Friday, but his arrival there will prob
ably be Saturday. Another mutiny
seemed probable tonay. and this time it
promised to be more serious than the
Nicola incident. Col. Spead, whose
popularity with the men is as great as
that OF the commander, positively re-
fused to obey orders on today'S march,
and 1t was apparent that any attempt to
discipline him would cause split in
the army. Spead has been unruiy ever
since Col. Bakers discharge, and has
secretly sympathized with the eX.
colonel. AS The army neared Walnut,
Kelly ordered Spead 10 march with the
coinmiSSary wagons and look after
them. Spead promptly replied that he
was doing all he could, and would not
follow the commanders Instructions.
A decidedly hot exchange OF compile |
mentS between the two men followed,
and for time a general row was i'm |
minent, as the Sacramento men prompt |
Iy took sides with Spead while the Cali !
fornia division
FAVORED KELLY.
The latter finally tuT1led away with |
matter later. When the men reached |
Walnut they were in state of great !
excitement, and predicted serious |
trouble before night. a short distance |
beyond Walnut the army halted to dis |!
cusS the impending trouble. Spead
tried to make speech, and wild !
scene ensued. Cheers for Spead
mingled with shouts for Kelly. The |
men formed opposite bodies and a fierce |
hight seemed imminent. For fifteen or i
twenty minutes the scene continued. !
Spead continued trying to speak amid |
cheers from his followers and howls
and threats from Keily's men. Stones |
were gathered and clubs were secured, |
while crowds of them returned to safe |
distance in expectation of a conflict. At |
last Kelly climbed on wagon and began |
a speech. Men ran from all directions |
shouting kelly" and soon over half |
the men had gathered about him. He |
talked quietly and dispassionately, at |
tempting to Quell the angry mob. He |
Informed them court martial would be |
held. "We are going on to Washing
ton," he shouted, land believe we will !
go together"
The men cheered vociferously, and
Kelly ordered them to dinner. This !
quleted them down, and the fight was for |
time at least averted. The entire
trouble is the result of jealous feeling
between the San Francisco and Sacra- |
mento divisions. The men uufeted |
down during the afternoon, but many of |
the Sacramento people announced their |
intentions to split at Atlantic and fol- |
low Spead TO Washington.