The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-27
THE CRIPPLE CREEK WAR;
A Battle Between Deputies
and Strikers.
Two Officers and One Miner
Shot Dead.
Several Wounded and Captured on
Either Side.
Governor Waite Orders tho Deputies to
Disperse and Commands the
Militia to Proceed to
the 5cenes
BY the Associated Press.


CEIPPLE CREEK, Colo. May 6.-The
first clash of arms between the striking
miners of Cripple Creek district and the
deputy sheriffs occurred at 8 a. IN. to-
day. William Rabidesu, a deputy. aud
another deputy. whose name ia un-
known. and Hiram Crowley, a miner,
we're killed and Dynamite Shortly
snd two other miners wounded. Frank
| Mason, Fred Todd. D. D. Dunn, VIM.
BAILEY and R. Russell. miners, were
taken prisoners by the deputies and are
now held In their camp. Six of the
deputies were captured by the miners
during the fight, but are thought to
have been released after being dsarmed.
The trouble was precpitated by an
endeavor on the part OF the deputies
to make night march and gain posses
sion of the city of Victor, with the i'm
| tention Of using it as base of opera
tions in future attacks on the 10 iners.
When the deputies retreated Friday
afternoon 35 armed miners were detailed
to follow them and watch their opera.
tions, guarding against such an attack
as WAS made yesterday. The deputies
retired but short distance down the
railroad and encamped to await the arr
rival of the dark hour just before dawn,
before attempting their coup d'etat.
The pursuing miners deployed in q
picket line along the top of the hill
from the railroad to Nipple mountain.
voLLEY AFTER voLLEY.
All was quiet until about 2:45 a. M,
when the train bearing the deputies
steamed down within short distance
of the miners line and stopped. The
deputies disembarked, l28 strong, and
advanced on the miners in full force.
They were met with volley after volley
from the Winchesters carried by the
miners, and the fire was briekly re-
turned. The night was dark, the only
light being furnished by pale moon
through breaks IN the heeting clouds,
and much hre was wasted. The fight
ing was waged fercely for half an heuf.
The deputies finally succeeded in driv-
ing the strikers back. Crowley was
killed early in the fight by bullet,
which entered his right cheek, causing
a CHASTITY wound, and which passed
downward and came out at the back of
the neck. After he fell his comrades,
crszed with rage, fought more 6ercely
than ever.
Dynamite Shortly bad part of his
right ear shot away, while one of the
other miners had an arm broken by
ball. third received three balls, but
fortunately all were flesh wounds and
not serious. At what time during the
affray the two deputies were shot is not
known. Rabidesu's body, containing
three balls, one through the heart, was
found near the railroad tracks. He
evidently had been deserted by his
comrades, as the body of the other man
was placed on fiat car and sent to
Florence. BY the killing of Rabideau
the miners avenged themselves for his
insolent bearing toward them while
acting as deputy at Cripple
Creek during the past year and for his
Efforts to break the strike. A few
weeks ago he was beaten. run out of
camp and warned never to return.
Rabideau went to Denver, and when
call was made for volunteers to take up
arms and deputies were commissioned,
ne at once volunteered, eaying that he
would go down and get his revenge.
Alter the deputies had retreated, the
body OF Crowley WAS brought to Victor
by his sorrowing comrades.
ANOTHER BATTLE ANTICIPATED.
1t was thought at 5 p. IN. that battle
between the miners and deputy sheriff,
sides seemed to have weakened, and it
is now predicted that no further trouble
will occur at the Victor side Of the camp
tonight.
Two hundred and fifty Italians from
the coal mines in the southwest, with
several loads of rifles and ammunition
for the strikers, arrived here tonight.
Every shaft house is guarded by the
str kere, and they are prepared to set
fire to every one OF them at q moment's
notice.
A skirmish occurred late tonigh. at
the Independent mine, about 80 shoig
being fired, but no fatalities ars re-
| ported.
NEWSPAPER MEN ORDERED OFF.
Newspaper correspond ents have all
been ordered away from the mill by the
miners. and only representatives OF one
local papsr and the Associated Press
have access inside the lines. Yesterday
j. A. Domaine, the local representative
of the Denver News, was ordered to
keep away from Victor. When he APP
peared there ain today his morse was
! taken away from him and he was put in
a wagon and sent to this city. Thomas
Howell representing the Times, was
served in the same manner.
The Western Union wires were cut
near the camp by the strikers, but were
quickly repaired.
AT the request OF President Calder
wood, of the Victor Miners union,
every saloon in Victor Was closed to.
night. He regrets deeply the conflict
hat occurred today. The miners say
that the armed force from Denver was
sent to take from them their rights.
They consider that they have been more
sinned against than inning.
ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES.
Several hundred additional deputies
arrived at Florence today from Denver,
Colorado Springs and CsfIon City, and
TContinued on Third pape1