The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-24
Cursed. Stripped, Tarred and Feath-
cred at Colorado Springs.
Cruelty Tortured By Threats Of Death
and seourging-He Pleads TO His
Tormentors for Life-The strange

clerk TO answer telephone call Masked
men then entered the hotel, seized Iars-
ney. dubbed him over the head With the
butt 0! pistol aud carried him oil. There
was meeting oftwenty-five deputy saersffs
last night in Antlers park, at which il is
supposed the plot against Tarsney was
hatched. Tarsney walked and rode to
Palmer lake, twenty-five miles from this
city, whence a special train conveyed him
home to Denver.
The police have good clews as to the per-
petrators of the Outrage. The evidence Is
not sufficient to warrant their arrest, but
several men are under close watch.
DENVER, June IA representative of
the Associated Press called upon Gen.
Tarsney at his residence this evening.
His story of his experiences differs from
that already related only in that il IS more
detailed. During the day physicians at
tended him and succeeded in removing
every particle of the coal tar, and from his
neck down there remains no trace OF his
experiences beyond an occasional abrasion
of the skin. His face however. is in-
famed and blistered because of the kindly
intended services of a woman who re-
moved the tar from his face. neck and
hair by the use of oil.
After finding himself surrounded by the
kidnapers IN the office of the hotel he was
informed that he was to be killed. He re-
quested time in which to write to the MEM
bers of his family, but wa. informed that
there was no time TO waste. Then he was
roughly hustled into the hack and hurried
away When the open country had been
reached his captors took him from the
hack to a place removed from the road.
The masked men, with oaths and impre-
cations, formed circle about him, and
again he was informed he was to be killed.
AT the suggestion of the leader. every man
who felt so disposed told the general
what they proposed to do with him, why
they proposed to do it aud their
opinion of him. He was accused of wag-
ing war against the mine owners and the
deputies; he was accused of handling the
state troops In the interest Of the strikers;
he was accused of issuing an order 10 tho
troops to FIRE upon the deputies with
the twslve-pounders, and finally. he was
accused of indirectly being the cause of
the death of the deputies who were killed
during the Bull Hill campaign. For
these things they proposed TO Kill him.
Every humiliating epithet that profanity
and ohscenity could suggest was hurled at
him. When all those who wished to had
had their say Gen. Tarsney was given an
opportunity to speak for himself
Without thought other than that he
was in the presence OF death, but deter
mined to make every use OF his only
weapons, argument and persuasion, that
his life might be spared TO his family, he
pleaded as he had never done In court.
He rehearsed the entire situation during
the time the troops and deputies were in
the field. He explained TO them that he
was not in command OF the troops, but
that Gen. Brooks was in command, under
Gov. Waite, the commander-in-chieL IL
was true he had mingled with the
miners, but he had not tried TO
shield the leaders by Withholding
their names, for he knew their
names only by newspaper and other
common report When the order TO ire
the artillery upon the deputies was given
he was miles away from the scene. He
knew that the men before aim but a few
days before had stood at the graves Of
their comrades who had oeen killed. but
as he was not in command of the troops
he was in no manner connected with their
death. IL die he must. die he would. but
they had the wrong man. and punishment
by death would be unjust to HIM.
When he had concluded the men held a
conference aud decided to give him 100
lashes. When informed Of this Gen.
Tarsnev requested them to shoot him. as
he could never survive the punishment,
and death by the bullet would be more
nercifui. The leader turned to one Of the
men and told him 20 gst his implements
and do his work The man spoken to
went away and IN a few moments re-
turned With pail of coal tar, brush or
rag and a feather pillow. Thea the
general was disFobed and the
coat of tar aad feathers applied.
When the dirty work vas finished and the
general vas danbed from head 10 foot be
put on his clothing lie vas then forced
down the road. and the leader said to him: /:
'sRos = ell lies in that direction. Go down
that way and don't turn back. Keep
straight aheAd. Don't ever step foot in
Colorado Springs or CFippIe Greek again.
or your life will pay the forfeit"
SO unexpectedly had life been given the
tortured man. so great was the strain
through which he had passed. and so
severe his physical suffering, that he
scarcely realized the situation. Neyershe-
less ne started on his way back without
looking hack TO see II he we're followed.
His ears. hosever. weYs unusually awake
TO every sound, and after waking about
Two miles he thought he heard horses
boots ia the rear. Fearing the hends who
rad tortured him had rspented Of having
allowed him 20 escape With bis life. and
that they we're in pursuit Of him TO xii
him. be lels the road and concealed him
self After a painful interval the horse
rnea. Gen. Tarsney feit convinced. had
either given up the search or had turned
of on cross road. so he resumed bis salk.
Continuing in the direction indicated
hy his prosecutors. the suffering man
walked fourteen miles The tar sfifened
about his person. and walking caused ex-
craciatln- pain. Several times be de-
clded 70 apply ~ one of the farm houses
sor help. bat hAtless. ia soiled clothing
aud AIS face covered 9Th tar and feathers.
be feared be would Brighten sbs people 70
xtom hs might apply. But his fatigue
aud sniur7es became too severe, and
nnnsiy hs knocked al farmers door. A
w0suan answered his SURVIVORS. and sas
alsnost oserc-me with fright Gen. Tars-
ney assured heF he Eas 4 human being.
and asked her 70 Cal tie people Vi ssss