The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-03-20
GATLING GUNS OUT.
GOV. WAITE, OF COLORADO, FILLS
DENVER WITH SOLDIERS
City Officials Have Barricaded Themselves in
the City Hall-Waite Says thOt He Fire
Them-U. S. Troops on the Scene

| ed today in most exciting scenes and mob
violence was imminent many times during
the day. Fortunately the common citizen
calm and collected and the prompt
action of leading citizens in leaving their
business and appearing in solid bodies to
beg for time to consider the situation care
fully, caused delay that probably pre-
vented bloodshed, riotng ana the assassi-
nation of Governor Waite.
In all probability had shot been fired
a mob would have quickly formed that
would have captured the governor before
official assistance could have reached him.
AT o'clock the Intelligence that the
governor had called upon General McCook
10 preserve the peace settled all Tears OF
a contest between the militia and the police
backed by fearless a lot OF deputies
sworn in by the sheriff as could possibly
| be gathered together.
| "Soapy' Smiths crowd of sports had
been sworn in as deputies and they We're
placed at inc hall to await orders. From
| 2 o'clock until long after dark a dense
mass of humanity was packed in front OF
the city hall and upon the streets aqua
| cent They cheered and chatfed and Joked,
yet did not hesitate to express Indignation
| at the situation. On FourteentE street. the
/ first regiment of the Colorado National
Guards stood thanking the Chaffe Light Ar
With With caissons Tiled With ammunition Their
position commanded the entire front of the
han and at one time the militia was under
motion to attack the hall when the arrival
of Secretary Lorenz with a message from
the governor stayed the attack This was
for a half hours delay to permit another
conference looking toward q peaceful Set
tlement. From that time on, until the
| United States troops were called out the
most intense anxiety prevailed. All sorts
of rumors hoated about
way Hc Threatened to Fire.
The sheriff issued an order to arrest the
militia and take their arms away. A friend
of the deposed members of the tire and po-
lice board went out of the city hall to APP
ply for a warrant to arrest the governor.
Committees of the most influential citizens
were arguing with the board, with the mi
ltia, with the governor and with the pc
lice. but nothing was accomplished.
the governor declared JndJ ne WOW
order the militia to fire the city ha =
regardless of the crowds of spectators & i
the police board within as solldiy ne :
tanned their position TO resist attack I%'
police stood with guns In hand ready u
charge if necessary and Chief of PohcS
Stone said he would die before he would
Meanwhile business was practically
suspended and the crowds gathered on
every corner and upon the tops OF adJaceF
Soon after o'clock this evening Chief
| of Police Stone received a telephone mess
sage from General McCook stating that he
had ordered troops from Fort Logan to
protect the chief and aid him in preservinA,
order. Soon after T. NJ. Patterson asked.
on behalf of the governor, for a committee
of arbitration. but the city hall people de-
clined the offer, saying that they made
similar offer early in the day ana 1t ha4
been refused. The attorney for the gov-'
ernor made Similar request and it was
also declined.
1t was not until this morning that the
people realized the extent of the trouble
and the determination of Governor Waite,
to have his way regardless of courts. Wheii
they reaI in the morning papers that |
had ordered out the militia they were lOat0'
to believe even then that any trouble of =
serious nature would arise. But as tn
day passed the fears of all began to ris@
AS early as o'clock this morning the curt
Gus spectators began to assemble around
the city hall building and by IL O'Clock
| Laramie and OFurteenth streets for bloc
in each direction were literally pack(d
Aiming the PoIic@~
At 10 o'clock two wagon loads of breecls
loading shotguns and ammunition We're I'M.
loaded at police headquarters in the city
hall. The department was now equipped
with shotgun and two 45-caliber Colts res
volvers for each man, in addition 10 The
regulation club. quantity OF dynamite
vaults in readiness for any emergency.
We will hold the city nall against all
attacks from the outside If IL takes dyna-
mite to do it," was the expression. of Chief
Of Police Stone. we nave 10 men on DUTY
and they will be here as long as they are
needed. If The governor wants blood to
be brides we will give it to him, but he
cannot have the city hail.
Determined ia Garry His Point.
Bv noon the crowd about the armory
was nearly or quite great as that assem-
men began to arrive, they found it difficult
to make their way to headquarters.
The militia started from the armory
promptly at o'clock Adjutant General
Tarsney was in command assisted by Brig
adler General Brooks.
At 3l5 o'clock, p. M, Brigader General
Brooks, accompanied by four aides-de-
camps. rode up to the city ball and stated
that the governors orders must be obeyed.
Governor Waite remained in his private
rooms at the Douglass ali day and admit
ted no one but his closest friends, until a
| committee OF citizens from the Chamber OF
| Commerce called upon him late in the dav.
the result was a failure to get him TO
/ consent to anything.
y shall order the militia to fire." he re-
tterated The people may assassinate me
If they will, but propose to have my
way
This was the situation when General Nc
Cook asserted his position and prepared to
governor who preferred to wait until the
preserve the peace.
ihs ;':uN, as the Trouble.
The history of this truoble dates back
some weeks The crisis was delayed by the
extra session was ended before ne acted
To understand the situation 1t must be
known that some years ago. inc citizens
of Denver asked the legislature TO give
them d new charter that would take the
police. fire and public works departments
out of the hands of the municipality and
put them in the hands of boards appointed
by the governor. 1t was believed that TINS
would result in removing the matter IRON
the corruption of politics. Governor Nalte
had shown a desire to make these depart,
ments subserve his political ambition. anG
has tried to make all of them politica
boards, filled with populist followers. The
board 'f fire and police has been changed
repeatedly to suit his Whms.
Two members resisted. but the governor
his case before the supreme court
which declared that he could remove for
cause. When he demanded the removal
of Martin and Orr recently, they refused "a
go until the courts should so decide. GOV
ernor Waite. relying upon the decision OF
the supreme court in the first case did non
ask of the courts how to proceed. He de-
clared that the memh9"s ''.'A vio'ata't their
trust by placing special police men at gam
bling houses contrary to law, and he APP
pointed two members. The depoSe0
members applied to the district court and
obtained a Temporary injunction to restrain
the governor. the mayor and he new mem
hers from taking possession of the office OF
the police and fire board by force. This
was objected to- but. after arguments had
been heard. Judge Graham declined to re-
move the Injunction. Then, after severai
davs drlheration, the governor decided to
ignore the injunction and issued, last
night his order to the military.
During the excitement around the city
hall man named Hvles fell from his perch
storm door entrance to the hall strik-
inr his head first mon the pavement, frac-
n -ly, will Iia