The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-05-26
A PITCHED BATTLE.
Colorado Strikers WantOnly
Destroy Property.
FORCE DEPUTIES TO SURRENDER
Mine Shafts Blown Up and Many
Men Killed and Wounded by
The Explosions.
FORCE DEPUTIES TO SURRENDER
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Cripple Creek, Col, May 25.-A wagon
load of powder was backed up against
the shaft house of the Strong mine by
strikers today and exploded. Several
men were in the shaft house q short
time before. but whether they got out
alive is not known.
The train bearing $50 deputies reach
ed Victor about 10 o'clock, and 400
miners Immediately surrounded the
deputies and the fighting began. 1t is
not known whether any We're killed.
The deputies finally sought shelter in
the independence mine shaft house.
whence they were driven, and they are
now in the hills east of the mine. Hun
dreds Of miners armed with Winchest-
ers are patrolling the roads The Annie
Lee shaft house, as well as the Strong,
has been blown up. A part Of the mob
is now on the way to the Victor and
Pharmachist mines, and after blowing
up the shafts there intend to proceed
to the Summit mine. At the Summit
the Bull Hill miners have barricade Of
logs pletifully supplied with explo-
sives.
Eighteen or 20 deputy sheriffs have
surrendered to the strikers, being told
if they surrendered their rifles and
side arms they would receive no per-
sonal injury. They are being marched
to this city under a strong guard, but
it is a question if they get here safe
ly.
The latest news from the scene of the
struggle is that no shots were fired. 1t
was reported that Supt Mcdonald, Of
the Strong and Anna Lee mines, was
shot
Cripple Creek, May 25.-Seven men
were killed, with a strong probability
the number of dead will be increased
by five more when all is known that Is
recorded of the first day of the trouble
here, although the real fight has not yet
begun, as the deputies are awaiting re-
Inducements before beginning active
operations. AT 10 o'clock this morning
II men started to work in the Strong
mine on Battle Mountain. Shortly af-
terward a large party of strikers blew
up the shaft house with powder, caus-
ing a loss Of $25,09O, and then dropped
100 pounds of giant powder down the
shaft, which was also exploded, killing
all the inmates
Not more than 300 yards from the
Strong shaft house 16 men who had
been engaged to go to work in the In
dependence mine were surrounded in
their bunk house, and after long par
ley agreed to surrender Each one, was
armed with a rifle and brace OF reVol-
vers, and the arms are now in possess
sion Of the strikers.
It is rumored that five strikers at
tackled the Anna Lee mine, overpower-
ing the guards, after which they blew
up the shaft house, but the rumor has
not been verified. When the deputies
are finally massed, and the two forces
come together, a most desperate battle
will doubtless be fought.
The situation at 6 o'clock tonight is
one of the most painful anxiety. Not
few believe the town will be a smolder-
ing mass by another sunset if the strik-
ers be not restrained.
At Victor, six miles away, where fully
1 900 people reside, reign Of terror pre-
walls. Within a half mile Of the cor
poratlon limits all day long fully 800
union miners, armed with rifles, have
paraded up and down the side of the
hill. The miners thought to be objec-
tionable were ordered to leave the
place. The guards from Denver upon
arriving at Victor, went into camp on a
neighboring hill. The strikers threw out
picket line, entirely surrounding them.
II is said the strikers have planted un-
der their breastworks on Bull Hill a
quantity OF dynamite, with the intent
of blowing 1t up if it should be taken
and occupied by deputies.
One of the largest mine owners in
Colorado Springs is authority for the
statement that the mine owners have
planted a rife cannon on the hill COM
manding the breastworks. and that II
will be used to dlsIodge the strikers
from that position.
Colorado Springs, Col, May 25-Sam
Strong has just arrived from. Cripple
Creek. and corroborates the report that
the shaft house Of the Strong mine was
blown up. and says there were II men
in the house. The majority Of them
were killed.