The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-27
Two officers and a Gold Miner Killed,
Three of the Latter Wounded and
Six of the Former Captured.
STATE MILITIA CALLED OUT
And the Armed Deputies Ordered
by Waite to Dispense.
No Lives Lost by the Bull Hill ExpIo-
sion Near Cripple Creek-How the
Miners Destroyed the Shaft.

CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, May 2s-The
first clash of arms between the striking
miners OF the Cripple Creek district and
the deputy sheriffs occurred at a. m to-
day William Rabfdeau. deputy, another
deputy whose name Is unknown. and Hiram
Crowley, a striker. was killed. 'Dyna-
mite Shorty and two other miners were
wounded Frank Mason, Fred Todd, d. d.
Dunn, William Bailey and E. NJ. Hassell,
miners, We're taken prisoners by the depu-
ties. and are now held at their camp. Six
OF the deputies were captured by the min
ers during the fight, but are thought to
have been released.
The trouble was precipitated in an en-
deayor on the part of the deputies to make
night march and gain possession OF the
city OF Victor. with the intention of using
It as a base of operations in future at
tacks on the miners. When the deputies
retreated Friday afternoon thirty-five armed
miners were detailed to follow them and
watch their operations. guarding against
just such an attack as was attempted by
the men yesterday. The deputies retired
but short distance down the railway and
encamped to await the arrival OF the dark
hour just before dawn before attempting
their coup d'etat. The pursuing miners
deployed in picket line and along the top
Of the hill from the railway to Nipple
mountain All was quiet until about 2:45.
when the train bearing the deputies ar
rived near the miners line and stopped.
The deputies disembarked. 12s strong and
advanced on the miners in full force. They
were met with volley after volley from
me Winchesters carried by the miners.
and the FIRE was brisky returned. The
night was dark and much of the fire was
ne fifrhf cd hercp for
half an hour. The deputies finally sue
seeaed in driving the strikers back.
Crowley was killed early in the fight by
, bullet which entered his right cheek
After he fell his comrades, crazed with
rage. fought more fercely than ever. by
namite Shorty having part OF his right
ear shot away, while one OF the other
miners had an arm broken by a ball. The
third received three balls, but fortunately
all were flesh wounds and not serious. At
what time during the fray the two depu-
ties were shot is not known. Rabideaus
body. containing three balls. one through
the heart. was found near the railway
tracks this morning by the construction
gang as 1t went to work. He evidently
had been deserted by his comrades. The
body of the other man was carried to the
dat cars and sent TO Florence BY the
themselves for his bearing towards them
while acting as deputy at Cripple Creek
during the past year and his efforts to
break I'D the strike A few weeks ago he
was beaten. run out of camp and warned
never to return.
Special Agent Nikirk, OF the Florence &
Cripple Greek railroad, has received word
from President Johnson that the officers
OF the railroad have been notified by the
miners union that the company viii not
be permitted to run passenger or box cars
In the town Of Victor. which is now the
terminus OF the road. The reason given by
the men is that they want to know when
deputy sheriffs and arms are sent in to
use against them. The miners appear to
have the key to the situation. They num-
Der nearly eight hundred, and are well
armed and have an abundance of ammuni-
ton On the other hand. the sheriff's
force is small in numbers, ana appears to
be poorly of5cered and equipped.
The strikers. who ready to do battle
with the armed deputies If any attempt is
made to reopen the mines with nonunion
men. give the credit OF disarming eleven
miners and seven deputies, which was ac-
complished yesterday. to two women. and
they are receiving all the honor due to hero
Ism. The bunk at the Independence mine
has been occupied by nonunion miners for
over week The sheriff had sent guards
10 protect them. and there they remained
In the very heart OF the strike district. All
efforts to force an evacuation had been in
effectual. According TO the story told by
the strikers, the women sought admission
TO the building. They were allowed TO en-
ter, then eacn fourished revolver and
commanded the men to throw up their
hands. The men acceded. and the striking
miners. who were near at hand. appeared.
The eighteen men were disarmed and their
arms forfeited. They were marched by the
strikers toward Cripple Creek, and ordered
not TO appear in camp again.
Every known newspaper representative
has been ordered away from Battle noun
Tain and Bull Hill. and told not to return
again at the peril of their lives. p j. Dom
ohue. OF the Denver News. was slow TO
obey, and several guns were ieveled at his
head. The order has gone forth that not a
line OF information shall go out from here
IL 1t can possibly be prevented.
AT BULL HILL.