The herald., 1894-03-18
WAR At CRIPPLE CREEK
A New Seat of Trouble in
Colorado.
Striking Gold Miners on the
Warpath.
The Sheriff Unable to Protect Life
and Property.
Several Companies Of Militia sent to
the Scene of HostiIitiss The
DisEracsful squabble in
Denver Ended.
By the Associated Presa.


CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo, March 17.-An
anxious day has followed a night of ex-
citement and adventure in the great
gold mining district known to the world
as Cripple Greek. The resistance Of
fered the sheriff's posse by the miners.
who are striking for an eight-hour day
and the same wages as were formerly
paid for nine hours, and the call for
militia have given affairs a warlike as
pect.
After driving from Bull Hill the six
deputy sheriffs stationed there, one OF
whom was shot but not dangerously
wounded in the melee, the miners would
not allow any stranger in that neighbor-
hood during the night. Sheriff Bowers
Immediately called out Troop A of the
Colorado Springs guard, and today be
made requisition on the governor for
more troope, and the First regiment, of
Denver, with the signal corps and the
Chaffee light artillery. and Company g,
Second regiment, of Pueblo, were ordered
to proceed hither under command of
Adiutant General Tarsney. These troops
are expected to arrive in camp tonight.
The telegraph wires are still down be-
tween Cripple Greek ald Bull Hill, but it
ie learned the miners are defiant and
threaten to resist the troops when they
arrive. The sheriff is arming and equip
ping men to supplement the troops.
Every gun. pistol and weapon available
in the town is ready for use if necessary.
The streets are thronged with people,
among whom are many idle and hungry
men. The saloons and gambling places
are jammed. In the moving mass the
most jovial ones are the union miners,
who declare they are not afraid OF a
handful OF soldiers. They represent the
faction which is steadfast in the hills
awaiting developments. Another faction
of miners, who are believed to be in the
majority, are willing to go to work at nine
hours, but say the protection offered by
the county is inadequate.
In clash OF arms, the miners will
baye the advantage of position. Bull
mountain is one of the largest of the
cluster of mills chat surround Cripple
Greek, 1t is heavily timbered and is
crossed by foot trails and wagon roads
from the various mines. Between the
town OF Cripple Greek and summit of
Bull mountain are number OF massive
round hills almost destitute of timber,
and among these hills are the small
mining camps built up about the big
mines. 1t is In this camp that the
scene OF battle will occur. Along the
trails leading over the hills last nigh,
the miners were collected, shooting at
passing pedestrians or people on horse.
back.
Sheriff Bowers now has force OF $50
do -
100 additional men having arrived to.
night from Colorado Springs, but he
will not attempt to arrest any of the
men who participated in last nights
disturbance at Altman until the militia
arrives. The troops from Denver and
Pueblo will not reach here till morning.
At 10 O'Clock they were at Woodland
park, and it is not likely they will reach
Midland before midnight. They will
then have to march nine miles over the
mountains.
No further outbreak has been reported
today. At Altman quiet prevails to-
night, although several hundred miners,
all armed, are lounginS about.
Deputy Marshal DAILY of Altman, who
acknowledged that he fred the shot
which wounded Deputy Sheriff Allen,
gives the following account of last
nights fracas:
'Soms sbody had spread the report
around Altman in the afternoon that a
force of men we're coming to burn our
little town last night. Twelve deputy
marshals were sworn in to assist in pre-
serving order. About 7:30 l saw a
wagon coming up the road with five
men in it, followed by man on horse.
back. Our little party OF II commanded
the suspicious looking strangers to
stop. The request was complied with,
and the spokesman of the party told
US that they were deputy sheriffs,
We asked them to show their papers to
prove the assertion. They refused to
do so. | then said: Gentlemen, con-
slider yourselves under arrest At this
Deputy Allen fred shot and raised
nv Winchester and shot him. Aa soon
As the first shot was fred, a crowd of
100 men rushed from the town and in d
few minutes the six were disarmed.
have ample proof that Deputy Allen
fired the first shot. They were all
strangers to US and the arrests were
made within the corporate limits OF the
town. We did not abuse the men and
ss soon as We were convinced that they
we're legally appointed officers we turned
them loose"
The miners at Altman loudly de-
nounce the authorities for calling out
the state militia. Everybody believes
that serious conflict is imminent.
DENVER, March H. Governor Waite,
after receiving call from Sheriff Bow.
ers at Cripple Creek this morning for
troops, replied: you ought first to
summon a posse comitRtuA OF your
IT they cannot maintain order
then call upon me IS governor for aid.
Calling the troops must be the last re-
sort. will order the troops held in
readiness Immediately. Wire me here"
To this Sheriff Bowers Immediately
replied: 81 have issued call to tins
colonels of the First and Second regi-
ments to aid the civil authorities in en-
forcing the laws OF the state, which, |
am authorized TO do. The
emergency is great. If I have not this
authority. call upon You 10 order aaid