The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-27

CRIPPLE CREEK. Col, May 26.-The first
clash of arms between the striking miners
of the Cripple Creek district and the dep
nty sheriffs occurred at a. NJ today.
William Rabideau. deputy. another dep
uty whose name is unknown and Hiram
Crowley, miner. were killed, and 'Dyna-
mite'' and two other miners were wounded.
Frank Mason. Fred Todd. ID. ID. Dunn,
William Bailey and E. II. Russell, miners.
were taken prisoners by the deputies and
are now held in their camp. Six of the
deputies were captured by the miners dur
ing the fight, but are thought to have
been released after being disarmed.
THE TROUBLE WAS PRECIPITATED
by an endeayor Oh the part of the depu-
ties to make "A night march and gain pos
session of the city of Victor with the in
tention of using it as base of operations
for a future attack on the miners. When
the deputies reiterated Friday afternoon
thirty-five armed miners were detailed to
follow them and watch their operations,
guarding against Just such an attack as
was attempted by the enemy yesterday
morning. The deputies retired but a
short distance down the railroad and en-
camped to await the arrival of the dark
hour Just before dawn before attempting
their coup d. etat. The pursuing miners
deployed in picket line and along the top
of the mill from the railroad TO Nipple
Mountain.
All was quiet until about 2:45 when the
:rain bearing the deputies steamed down
within a short distance of the miners line
and stopped. The deputies disem bsrked,
12S strong, and advanced Oh the miners in
full force. They were met with
vOLLEY AFTER voLLEY
from the winchesters carried by the miners
and the fire was briskly returned. The
hight was dark, the only light being fur
hished by a pale moon through breaks in
The fieetiug clouds, and much of the fire
was wasted. The fighting waged fierce
~ for half All hour. The deputies finally
succeeded in driving the strikers back.
Crowley was killed early in the fight by q
bullet which entered his right check,
causing CHASTITY wound, passed downward
and came out at back of the neck. After he
fell his comrades. craZed with rage, fought
moro fiercely than ever. Dynamite
Shorty" had part of his right ear shot
AWAY, while one of the other miners had
an arm broken by a ball; the third re-
revived three balls. but fortunately all
were flesh wounds and not serious. At
what time during the fray the two deputies
were shot is not known. Rabideau's body,
containing three balls. one through the
heart, was found near the railroad tracks
This morning by the construction gang as
thsy went to work. He evidently had
been deserted by his comrades. The body
of the other man was carried to the fiat
ears and sent to Florence.
THE MINERS AVENGED.
By the killing of Rabideau the miners
avenged themselves for his insolent bear
Ing towards them while acting as deputy
ut Cripple Creek during the past year. and
his efforts to break the strike. A few
weeks ago he was beaten, run out Of camp,
aud warned never to return. Rabideau
went to Denver, and when a call was IN ade
for volunteers to take up arms, and depu-
ties were commissioned, he at once volun-
teered. saying that he would go down and
get his revenge. After the deputies had
reiterated the body of Crowley was brought
10 Victor by Borrowing comrades.
IL was thought at D D. IN. that battle
between the miners and deputy sheriffs
would surely occur after dark, but both
sides seemed TO have weakened, and 1t Is
now predicted that no further trouble
will occur at the Victor side of the camp
tonight. Newspaper correspondents have
all been ordered away from the Hill by the
miners, and only representatives of one
local paper and the Associated Press have
access inside the lines.
Yesterday p. J. Donahue, the local rep
resentative of the Denver News. was
ordered to keep away from Victor. When
be appeared there again today his
horse was taken away from him and he
was put in y wagon and sent to this city.
Thomas Howell. representative of the Den
yer Times. was served IN the'same manner.
Western Union wires were cut near the
camp by the etrikers but quickly repaired.
SALOONS CLOSED
At the request OF President Calderwood,
Of the Victor Miners union, every saloon
in Victor was closed today. He regrets
deeply the conflict that occurred today
The miners say that the armed force from
Denver has been sent to take from them
their rights. They consider that they
have been more sinued against than sin
ming.
Several hundred additional deputies ar
rived at Florence today from Denver, Col
orado Springs and Canon City. ana il is
Sheriff Bowers intention TO have sufi-
Gent force TO afford protection TO ali min
ers who want to work on the terms offered
by the mine owners, S. per day OF nine
hours.
Two hundred and fifty Italians from the
coal mines i'm the south. with several