The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-17
WAITE'S CRAZY WAR.
Yesterdays Battles We're Fought
with Words Only.
DYNAMITE WAS READY FOR USE
ON THE DAY BEFORE.

It Is Said Ruffians on the City Hall Tower
Were Prepared to Hurl Explosives Into
the Crowds Beneath-Denver Citizens
Discuss the Feasibility of Outgenera1-
ling the Governor by Having Him De-
clared Insane
Denver, Col, March 16.-Eearly this
morning Governor Waite invited the
squad of militia which stood guard at
his home last night to breakfast. They
then went to the armory and the Gov
ernor went quietly to his office in the
Equitable building. Soon after he was
closeted with Gen. McCook, whose
quarters are in the same building. This
evening the Governor announced that
the proposition to submit to the court
the question of the rightful claimants to
the Office OF police commissioners would
probably be accepted by him. He want
ed little more time to think it over.
His decision is expected tonight. When
the papers appeared this morning with
the story of yesterdays events, people
! shuddt red to think how close an escape
the crowds had. "Soapy' Smith,
well-known sport, with five others, were
in the tower of the City Hall with dyna-
| mite cartridges and would undoubtedly
have sent the fearful explosives into the
militia had a single shot been fired.
Deputy sheriffs and desperate characters
| from points of vantage, were prepared to
| pick off the gunners with Winchesters if
| need be. Early in the morning crowds
gathered about City Hall ready to risk
all this to see the fun. The day passed
and when, in the afternoon, the police
were sent out on reguly duty, the
crowds thinned out, but at dark many
still fingered hoping that some sensation
would occur. The militia were ready to
assemble at a moments notice. Their
| conduct yesterday received much praise.
| The Fort Logan troops spent rather
dreary night at the Union depot last
night This afternoon they found de-
sirable camping place in vacant Battle
of Gettysburg building. ''The troops
will remain" said Gen. McCook, until
! all signs of trouble are ended. We shall
/! keep the peace, prevent bloodshed and
preserve federal property from attack
| The men have rations for II days. I
shall await instructions from Washing
ton."
Gov. Waite regrets having called out
| the troops. He stated to Gen. McCook
| that a man told him the general inti-
regulars when the governor should call
upon him for that purpose. Gen. Nc
! Cook denied this. After long talk he
satisfied the governor that he had been
| deceived.
This morning Gov. Waite sent letter
| to Gen. McCook withdrawing the request
| for troops. Gen. McCook said in his or
| der to the Fort Logan troops that the
purpose he had in view was to prevent
the destruction of government property.
| There was no idea of aiding either party
in the City Hall fight. The sole object
| was to preserve peace and prevent blood
shed.
During the forenoon representative
| business men sent a telegram to Color
ADDS representatives in Washington ex-
planning the situation and soliciting their
| influence with the administration to
keep the troops here with orders to as
sist the sheriff in maintaining peace un-
| til the matter was adjusted in the courts.
| Sheriff Burchinell telegraphed Secretary
| Lamont: cam quite able to maintain
! the peace here unless the militia of the
State are used against me. Nobody but
the governor seeking to disturb the
peace and he is acting in contempt of
| the district court of this county" Dur
| ing the afternoon number of prom1-
| menu men aSSomDlou 10 COuSluoI IHe tti-
visibility of proceeding against the gov
ernor on the questionsof sanity. 1t was
proposed to call on Gen. McCook to So
what he was going to do. The question
of lunacy was sprung solely for the pur-
pose of preventing the governor from
proceeding with the militia without the
aevice of anyone. The newspapers all
condemn the governor.
McCooks Orders.
Washington, March 16.-This after
noon, instructions were telegraphed Gen
eral McCook by order of President
Cleveland. Secretary Lamont states
thew were in substance that General Nc
Cook was only authorized to use the
troops for the protection of government
property, unless representation was made
to him by the governor of the state that
the state authorities were unable to sup
press the insurrection. The general is
not to withdraw the troops at the COM
mand of Governor Waite, nor is he to
take any directions from the governor.
War Again Declared.
Denver, lCol., March l7.-City Hall is
being fortified again. Governor Waite
has ignored the proposition to arbitrate.