Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-06-01
A TERRIBLE FATE.
Striking Miners Will
Kill Prisoners.
Their Ultimatum Unless Their
Own Men Are Released.

A terrible fate faces one or more men, held
n prisoners 10y the union miners on Bull
Hill, Col. The prisoners are threatened with
death by the strikers. and the first to 20 will
be Samuel Mcdonald. manager OF the Strong
Gold King and Anna Lee mines. He faced
death In the Strong mine when II was blown
up the other morning, and, with two others,
stood ready to sell his life dearly behind "a
barricade in one Of the drifts, until the miners
guaranteed him protection. He came out
then, and surrendered.
Inllamed by what they regarded rs their
victory in the retreat Of the deputies, the
miners decided to kill Mcdonald II their own
men taken prisoners by the deputies were
IL released. They would exchange man for
man until the six union men were free.
Otherwise McDonald's life would be taken,
and then the Others would he executed.
committee OF fifteen Miners headed by
Charles Edwards, went to Tony Baron,
town marshal Of Victor, and made known
their decision, asking him to take their ulti-
matum to the deputies. Baron. who Is a
nrrvy man, stood aghast at the cold-blooded
decision Of the miners, but lie undertook
the mission.
Returning to Victor the marshal went to
Bull Hill, and reported h. Edwards the fail
ure OF his mission.
Edwards says the marshal then promised
that negotiations would be made direct with
the officers in Colorado Springs. He said
that II they failed. 1t would simply he impOs-
sible to keep Mcdonald from the fury OF the
miners, who have a bitter enmity against him
for HIS fight upon the uniCn, and at the pres
mt pitch Of feeling the hot heads among the
men are liable 10 give unbridled rein to their
passion at any moment.
1t is stated that one OF the first agreements
reached by the committees representing mine
owners and miners who met in Altman was
for an exchange Of prisoners II this is true
and the flank movement of the deputies does
not defeat the plans on foot, the prisoners in
the hands Of the miners are safe hut II the
lawlcss men once break loose in tn face of
some attack or trouble, men who know the
spirit Of the lawless element among the
strikers say the lives OF three men will he
snufIed out.
Edwards declined to tell Marshal Baron
where the three prisoners were kept and lie
clared that he did not know.
The situation looked brighter, 50 far ~
prospects OF bloOdshed went, hut II would
seem that IA battle between the deputies and
miners is inevitable. The Deputies withdrew
from the scene Of the battle. twenty-five miles
nearer Florence. They disappeared from
there during the night. and il was reported
and generally believed they had been taken
home.
1t develops however, that upon reach ing
Colorado Springs the deputies were trans
ferred to the Colorado Midland road and re-
enforced hy COO men. armed with small can
non and gattling guns.
They reoched the terminus Of the Midland
Terminal road at 7.3O o'clock p. m. This is
IL miles from Cripple Creek and ~ many
from Victoria When they have marched
across, the invading force will be on the
other side OF Bull and Battle mountains,
from where hostilitics have been threatened
The miners are ~ yet in ignorance of this
move when they hear Of 1t they may not
wait for flank attack, but be thems lives the
| attacking party.
President Slocum Of the state board Of
charities and four others frum Colorado
| Springs, constituting M authorized commit
| t,c, visited Altman and addressed the miners.
| President Calderwood Of the Miners Union
! also spoke.
President Slocum agreed to bring his inllu-
| rnce to hear against any movement Of depu-
| ties for "A hours and President CHldcrwoOd
agreed to call meeting nf the Miners Union
| at which delegates to a conference Will he
named. II is not believed that anything will
| be accomplished