The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-30


Eleven men killed. with a strong probabil
ity that the number OF dead will be in
creased when all is known. is the record
of the first day Of trouble here. although
real fighting has not yet begun. as the
deputies are awaiting reinforcements be
fore beginning active operations.
At 10 o'clock this morning eleven men
started to work in the Strong mine on
Battle mountain. Shortly afterward
large party Of strikers blew up the shaft
house with powder, causing a loss of S25,-
oO0 and then dropped 100 pounds Of giant
powder down the shaft. which was also
exploded. killing all the inmates Not
more than 500 yards from the Strong shaft
house sixteen men wno had been engaged
10 go to work in the Independence mine
We're surrounded in their bunk house and
after a long parley agreed to surrender.
Each one was armed with rife and a
brace of revolvers. The aims are now in
the possession Of the strikers.
It is rumored that the strikers attacked
The Anne Lee mine, overpowering 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 viii doubtless be
fought.
The situation at o'clock tonight is one
of most painful anxiety Not a few be-
lieve the town will be a smouldering mass
- another sunset if the strikers be not
restrained.
At Victor, six miles away, where fully
1000 people reside. a reign of terror ex-
lists. Within half mile of the corpora
tiOn limits Of the town all day long fully
300 union miners armed with rifles have
paraded up and down the side of the hill.
Occasionally a detour into the village
would be made and people whom the
miners thought TO be Objectionable were
ordered to leave the place
The guards from Denver upon arrival
at Victor went into camp on a neighboring
hill. The strikers threw out picket line
entirely surrounding them, but at a dis
tance that guarantees them safety from
the deputies rifles.
1t is said the strikers have planted un-
der their breastworks on Bull hill a
quantity Of dynamite with the intention
of blowing it up if it should be taken and
occupied by the deputies. One of the
largest mine-Owners in Colorado Springs
IS authority for the statement that the
mine-Owners have planted a Tifed cannon
on a hill commanding the breastworks
and that 1t will be used TO dislodge the
strikers from that position.
CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, May 26-The
first clash Of arms between the striking
miners OF the Cripple Creek district and
the deputy sheriffs occurred at a. m.
today. William Ralbideau, deputy; an
other deputy, whose name is unknown;
Hiram Crowley, Dynamite Shorty" and
two other miners were killed.
Frank Mason, Fred Todd, D. D. Dunn,
William Bailey and E. NJ. Hassen,
miners. were taken prisoners by the
deputies and are now held at their camp.
Six Of the deputies We're captured by the
miners during the fight, but are thought
20 have been released
The trouble was precipitated in an en-
aeaVOr on the part OF the deputies TO
make a night march and gain possession
Of the city Of Victor with the intention
or using It as a basis of operations in
future attacks on the miners. When the
deputies retreated Friday afternoon thir-
ty-five armed miners were detailed to
follow them and watch their operations.
guarding against just such an attack as
was attempted by the men yesterday.
The deputies retired but short distance
down the railway and encamped to await
the arrival of the dark hour Just before
d'etat. The pursuing miners deplOyed
in picket line and along the top of the
hill from the railway to Nipple noun
tain.
All was quiet until about PAS when the
train bearing the deputies steamed down
near the miners line and stopped. The
deputies disembarked 12S strong and ad-
vanced on the miners in full force. They
were met with volley after Nolley from
the Winchesters carried by the miners
nd he fir rrac byic1 I w uaT ha
night was dark and much Of the fire was
wasted. The fighting waged fiercely for
half an hour. The deputies finally sue
ceeded in driving the strikers back.
Crowley was killed early in the fight by
a bullet which entered his right cheek.
After he fell his comrades, crazed with
rage, fought more fiercely than ever,
Dynamite Shorty" having part Of his
right ear shot away while one Of the other
miners had arm broken by a ball. The
third received three balls, but fortunately
all were flesh wounds and not serious. At
what time during the fray the two depu-
ties were shot is not known.
Rabideau's body containing three balls,
one through the heart, was found near
the railway tracks this morning by the
construction gang as they went to work
He vidently had been deserted by his
comrades. The body Of the other man
was carried 10 the fiat cars and sent to
Florence.
BY the killing Of Rabideau the miners
avenged themselves for his bearing to-
ward them while acting deputy at
CriDnle Creek during the past year and