The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-04
DENVER INA TURMOIL.
FEDERAL TROOPS CALLED
OUT TO PRESERVE PEACE.

A Bloody Conflict Between State and
City Forces Only Prevented by
General McCook With 600 Regu-
lars From Fort Logan-The Gov
ernor's Effort to Remove Officials.
The political fight waged by Governor
Waite, Of Colorado, eliminated at Denver In
most exciting scenes, and mob violence was
imminent many times during the day, but at !
o'clock p. m. the intelligence that the
Governor had called upon General McCook,
of the Unites States Army, to preserve the
peace settled all fears of contest between
the militia and the police.
"Soap" Smiths crowd Of "sports" had
been sworn In as deputies, and they were
placed at the City Hall to await orders
From o'clock until long after dark q dense
mass OF humanity was packed In front OF
the City Hall. and upon the streets ad-
jacent. On Fourteenth street the First
Regiment OF the Colorado National Guards
stood flanking the Chaffee Light Artillery,
consisting Of four Calling guns, with
caissons filled with solid shot, grape and
canister, and Calling ammunition. -
Their position commanded the entire
front Of the hall. and at one time the militia
was under motion to attack the hall when
the arrival OF Secretary Lorenz with q mes
sage from the Governor stayed the attack.
This was for half hours delay to permit
another conference looking toward peace
full settlement.
From that time until the United States
troops were called out the most intense
anxiety prevailed. All sorts OF rumors float
ed about. The Sheriff issued an order to ar.
rest the militia and take their arms away. A.
friend OF the deposed members OF tho Fire
and Police Board went out OF the City Hall
to apply for warrant to arrest the Cover
nor.
The Governor declared he would order the
militia to fire upon the City Hall, regardless
of the crowds Of spectators and the Pohce
Beard within as solidly maintained their
position to resist attack. The police stood
with guns in hand. ready to charge, II neces-
sary. and Chief OF Police Stone said he would
die before he would surrender. Meanwhile
business was practically suspended and the
crowds gathered on every corner and upon
the tops OF adjacent buildings.
Soon after o'clock p. m. Chief OF Ponce
Stone received telephone message from
General McCook, stating that he had Or
dered troops from Fort Logan to protect the
Chief and aid him in preserving order. Soon
afterward T.. NJ. Patterson asked on behalf
of the Governor for a committee OF arbttrar
tion, but the City Hall people declined the
offer, saying that they made a similar offer
early in the day, and it had been refused.
Then the Attorney General, for the Governor,
made similar request, and It was also de-
clined.
AS early as o'clock in the morning the
curious spectators began to assemble around
the Citv Hall Building. and by II O'Clock
Larimer and Fourteenth streets for block!
in each direction wore packed. At 10 o'clock
two waeon-loads OF breech-loading shotsuns
and ammunition were unloaded at Police.
Headquarters in the City Hall. The depart
ment was now equipped with shotgun and
two forty-fve-calibre Colts reyolvers for
each mau, In addition to the regulation club.
A quantity OF dynamite cartridges was also
stored in the police vaults in readiness for
an emergency. r.
By noon the crowd around the Armoryi
was nearly or quite as great as that assem-
bled at the City Hall. Adjutant General
Tarsney was in command, assisted by
Brigadier-Genera Brooks, who at 8. P. M,
accompanied by four aides-de-camp, rode up
to the City Hall and stated that the Cover
nor's orders must be obeyed. Governor
Waite remained in his private rooms at the
Douglass all day and admitted no one but
his closest friends, until q committee Of citt-
zens from the Chamber OF Commerce called
upon him late in the day. The result was q
failure to get him to consent to anything.
"I shall order the militia to fire" he re1t-
Grated. "The people may assassinate me II
they will, but I propose to have my way
This was the situation when General
McCook asserted his position and prepared
to preserve the peace.
The trouble dates back some weeks. Some
wears ago the citizens of Denver obtained
new charter taking the Police, Fire and
Public Works Departments out of the hands
of the municipality and putting them In the
hands of boards officered by appointments
made by the Governor. Governor Waite has
tried TO lll all OF them with Populist fol-
lowers. The Board OF Fire and Police has
been changed repeatedly.
Two resisted but the Governor won his
cases before the Supreme Court which de-
clarea he could remove for cause. When ne
demanded recently the removal OF members
Martin and Orr they refused to go until the
courts should so decide, and obtained tenn
porary Injunction to restrain the Governor,
the Mayor and the four members from taking
possession of the Office OF the Police and
Fire Board by force.
This was objected to, but Judge Graham
declined to remove the Injunction. Then,
after several days deliberation, the Gov
ernor decided to ignore the injunction ana
so issued his order TO the militia.
During the excltoment urounu tuo S4.J
Hall a man named Hyles fell from his perch
on q storm door entrance to the hall, strik-
ing head first upon the pavement, fracturing
his skull.
The United States troops, GOO strong, ar
rived at the Union Depot at 8.15 O'CLOCK
by a special train from Fort Logan. Inc
militia were sent back to the Arnory at 8
y m. and at $50 General McCook ordered
the troops to bivouac at the depot until
morning. The monster crowds then slowly
dispersed and the police returned to their
regular beats.