Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-22
GREAT EXCITEMENT In DENVER.
THE MILITIA ORDERED OUT.
The Governor Determined to Oust the
Old Poiios Board, Who Defy his
Authority and Turn the
City Hall Into = Fort.

Denver was shaken from center to clrcum-
ference Thursday morning by wars and ru-
mors Of wars.
The contest over the positions Of the Fire
and Police Board OF Denver had reached .
critical stage.
Tho preceding facts are as follows:
Governor Waite on the Sth removed Orr
and Martin from the board because they had
protected gambling. lie appointed Barnes
and Mullins In their places. Orr and Martin
refused to obey and vacatc. Tho governor
threatened TO drive them out with the militia.
Orr and Martin appealed to the District
Court and Judge Graham issued a temporary
injunction forbidding the executive from In
terferIng with them. Governor Waite and
to restrain the states chief executive from
doing what he considered to be his duty.
The morning papers published the fact that
Governor Waite had ordered the infantry,
artillery and signal corps, Colorado National
Guard, in the city 10 report at the armory at
Up. m. 1t was generally believed that his In
tentIon was to disregard the Injunction of
Judge Graham and attempt to forcibly re-
move Messrs. Orr and Martin. tho old board,
from Its office In the city hall and install the
new board, Messrs. Rogers, Mullins and
Barnes. Tho rupposlt!on proved to be cor
rect for at O'Clock the militia was ordered
to move on the city hall under Adjutant
General Tarsney. Colonel Hogle was re-
licved from the command as he was feared to
be disloyal TO the governors cause. The
force consisted Of the Chaffee Light Artillery
with two Calling guns and two twelve-pound-
ers, the signal corps mounted on bicycles and
tho infantry, the whole force numbering
about 300 men. The column, accompanied
by great crowd Of curious citizens marched
down from the armory at 26th and Curtis
streets to Fourteenth and Lawrence, one
block from the city hall. The cannon and
Gatling guns were unlimbcred and pointed
toward the city hall.
During this time the other side had not
been idle. The police force had all been
concentrated in the city ball, armed with
rifles and shot guns, and given orders. The
sheriff also being in sympathy the old board
had prepared to take hand by swearing In
large force Of deputies, said to number 200
who would be used to support the courts In
junction and help defend the old police
board. Some OF these deputies were Of the
worst class Of tough citizens. 1t being gen.
orally understood that the new board, II In
stalled, would put stop to gambling, the
gambling fraternity were very ready to lend
all tho aid possible In defense of the old
board. TWAS stated that besides ordinary
arms the forces at the city hall had = supply
Of dynamite on hand to use as a last resort II
an attack was made upon them.
Such was tho condition Of affairs at 8
o'clock.
But attempts at an adjustment Of the con-
troversy had been in progress. Committees
of citizens and a committee Of leading bust
ness men representing the Chamber Of Com
merce labored with the two sides to secure q
compromise of some sort that would prevent
the opening Of hostilities They were unsuc-
cessful.
The lawyers for the opposing sides had not
been idle and were In consultation all day. The
attorneys for Orr and Martin asked the other
side to submit TO the Supreme Court the
question whether the governor had the right
to call out the militia as he had done. Barnes
and Mullins refused to accept the proposition.
They wanted the Supreme Court to decide
the whole question as TO who should hold the
office. Orr and Martin would not consent to
have the question of their rights thus
hurriedly passed upon. 1t has been stated
that the object Of Orr and Martin was to
keep the case In the courts as long as possi-
BILE, they holding on to their offices until 1t
was settled
The governor had ordered the officers.to
delay an attack on the city hall pending these
negotiations, but at O'Clock the attorneys
for Orr and Martin refured TO discuss the
matter further.
But Governor Waite had decided that the
force OF militia at his command
was not sufficient to cope with the
formidable forces within the city
hall and he did not give the order to fre. In
stead he appealed to General McCook at
Fort Logan, ten miles from the city, for
United States troops to help keep order in
the city. General McCook responded In
person, accompanied by 300 men who were
encamped near the depot for the night 1t
was explicitly stated by General McCook
that he came not to interfere in the contest
but TO assist in maintaining order in the city.
Governor Waite having decided that he
needed larger force before beginning an
assault on the city hall ordered the militia
back to their barracks. He then caused
General Tarsney to issue an order to the Ma
tional Guard at Leadville. Aspen. Boulder,
Pueblo Grand Junction and Durango to hold
themselves In readiness to proceed to Denver
II ordered to do SO on Friday. General
Tnrsney said that fully 1,30O men would be
under arms on SATURDAY. in Denver-6O0 reg
ulars and 500 extras.
late In the afternoon tine attorneys for Orr
and Martin applied to Judge Graham who
had issued the injunction, to order the arrest
Of Governor Waite for contempt Judge
Graham refused, however, TO sign the writ,
saying that he did not believe that the COVER
nor intended to be vicious in this matter. He
said he would wait for further developments.
This was the situation when the citizens of
Denver wen. 10 bed on Thursday night.
The hostllities Of Friday consisted entirely
OF an Interchange Of notes and kilograms.
Governor Waite wrote a pointed letter to
General McCook saying that in view Of the
fact that the general had declined to use the
troops In assisting the governor to suppress
the insurrcction at the city hall, he would
recall his request for them. General Nc
Cook did not make haste to send them back
to Fort Logan, however, as he waited for In
structions from Washington. The troops
were moved from the depot to the Get tys-
burg building which was secured for their
temporary quarters.
Many kilograms were s1nt to Washington
In regard to the situation. The committee