Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-27
DAsHING ACROSS MONTANA.
A Reckless Rum of Hsgan's stoleu
Train Over the Mountsfns-


Hogan's army OF train stealers captursa
Wednesday night by the troops at ForsythA
Mont. are a gang Of desperate and violent
mining strikers. The story Of their dash
across Montana is an interesting one Last
Friday 400 roughs belonging to the element
that was run out Of the Occur dAlene coun-
try at the time Of the dynamite outragss
assembled In the Northern Pacific freight
yards at Butte. encouraged by the reported
ovations and nbations rendered the Coxey
pilgrims ali over the country. They CAD
tured freight train about a mile from
Butte. and. throwing out the freight APP
propriated the cars. The trainmen, how
ever. backed the train into Butte, and were
probably allowed by the tramps 10 do so be-
cause there were not enough cars to accom-
modate their numbers From that time they
held possession OF the yards. stealing coke
and burning the stock yard fence Tor fuel
The citizens OF Butte took the utmost pre-
caution, closing stores early and avoiding
every possibility OF a clash.
Finally. on Monday night. in spite Of the
Efforts OF the company, the trGInps seized
ar engine. I'VE coal cars and che oox car,
ana, furnishing Their own engineer and con-
oGcIOr, they started east at l2:4O.
The train crossed the main range Of the
Rocky mountains early On TUESDAY morn
ing, reaching Nae main line of the road at
Logan, seventy miles from Butte. There
occurred discussion as to the route to be
taken. Inc Irain unaIly proceeded east.
ward over the main line The telegram
operator told the Coxeyites before leaving
taat they must expect 10 meet west-bound
trains, 10 which they answered that n the
track was not clear they would clear It. The
train was run reckiessiy. in some places at
a speed OF forty miles an hour. AT break
fast time II reached Bozeman. where the
nrst stop was made. Here the army was
welcomed by almost the entire population.
who met them with good will and furnished
them breakfast A stop was made long
enough for the leaders OF the army TO make
speeches thanking the people for their re-
ception.
As soon as the speechmaking was finished
the run was resumed over mountain 9rades
and dangerous roadbed at reckless speed.
The train made as sood time a regular
express train. All along the line crowds OF
open-eyed and open-mouthed spectators
gazed in establishment as the train few past
towns and villages. regardless Of what other
trains might be on the track. A few miles
west OF Livingston a landslide was encoun-
tered In the Muir tunnel. and the train had
TO be stopped Not discouraged. the Coxey-
ties armed themselves with picks and SHOW
els, and in short time had cleared the track
and the train sped on.
A stop was made at Livingston for sup
per, which was furnished by the cltixsns.
and at once the train proceeded. Another
difficulty was encountered by the Coxeyitss
at this juncture, the water tanks along
the line OF the road had been emptied and
no water was to be had for the engine. The
train was near n river. and its passengers
with buckets carried water to replenish the
supply in the engine tank. Another land
slide WAS encountered Wednesday ana the
train was greatly delayed. making but few
miles during the whole forenoon.
Upon their arrival at Livingston they
changed engines and added on three boz
cars and tool car to be prepared for fur
ther obstruction, making a train OF thirtsea
cars. When the officials inquired by tefe-
graph what the name of the conductor ana
engineer We're, the answer came, "Cleveland
and olney"
They were Informed that the rivers were
high and that they should run slowly, but
the raiders evidently did not believe this.
for they left at n terrific rate. They soon
found that the Information was correct ana
slowed down. At $50 Wednesday morning
they encountered a rockslide. which they
had to shovel out before they could proceed.
and the tool car came into use.
In the meantime a force OF seventy-four
deputy United States marshals were assem-
bled at Butte and sent forward by special
train. The marshal did not so with them
for some reason. The deputies caught up
with the raiders at Billings about noon.
A conflict ensued. Several shots were
fired and the deputies Were chased back to
their train and disarmed. Then the Coxey-
ties. flushed with victory, protested east
ward