The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-04
TARSNEY'S TALE,
He Tells How the Crime Was Com
mitted.

mitted.
DENVER, June pa representative of
the Associated Press called on Gen. Tars-
ney at his residence this evening. His
story of his experience differs from that
already related only that it is more de-
tailed. During the day physicians attended
him and succeeded in removing every par
ticle of the coal tar and from his neck
down there remains no trace of his ex-
perience beyond an occasional abrasion of
the skin. His face, however, is inflamed
and blistered because of the kindly in
tended service of who removed
the tar from the face, neck and hair by
the of coal oil.
After finding himself surrounded by the
kidnapers in the office of the hotel he was
Informed he was to be killed He requested
time in which to write to the members of
his family, but was informed 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 greatly re-
moved from the road. The masked men
with oaths and imprecations formed
circle about him and again he was in
formed that he was to be killed. At the
suggestion of the leader every man who
felt so disposed, told the general all thew
proposed to do with him, why they pro-
posed to do it, and their opinion of him.
He was accused of waging war against
the mine owners and deputies he was ac-
cused of handling the state troops in the
interest of the strikers he was accused of
issuing order to the troops to fire unon
the deputies from the IL FOUNDERS and
finally, accused of indirectly being the
of the death of the deputies who
Were killed during the Bull Hill CAMPAIGN
For this they proposed to kill him. Every
humiliating threat and profanity could sug-
gest was hurled against him.
When all those who wished had had
their say, Gen. Tarsney given an on
portunity to speak for himself. Without a
thought other than that he was in the pres
ence of death, he determined to make every
use OF his only weapons argument and
persuasion. That his life might be shared
to his family, he pleaded as he had never
done i'll court. He rehearsed the entire sit
uation during the time the troops and depu--
ties were in the field. He explained to them
that he was not in command of the troons
but that Gen. Brooks was in command
under Gov. Waite, the commander-in-chief
1t was true, he mingled with the miners.
but he had not tried to shield the leaders
by Withholding their names, for he knew
their names only by newspapers and com
mon report. When the order to fire the
artillery upon the deputies was given he
was wa. miles away from the scene He knew
that the men before him, but a few davs
before had stood by the graves Of their
comrades who had been killed but as he
was not in command of the troops he was
IN no manner connected with their death.
II die he must, die he would but thew had
the wrong man, and punishment nv dea1h
would be unjust to him.
When he had concluded the men held
consultation and decided to give rho COW
eral 100 lashes. When informed of ~
Gen Tarsney requested them to shoot hin,
as ne could never survive the punishnoon+
anu death by the bullet would be mercif,,l
Inel the leader turned to one Of the roar
anu .ola MN n, to get his implements and do
MS work. The man spoken to went away
ana minute later returned with a, nail Of
tar, brush, rag and feather pillow
The general was disrobed and the coat of
tar and feathers applied
When the work was finished and the o
eral daubed from head to foot. he MT on 81.
ciothing He was then faced down the road
and the leader said to him; "RoswaI1 IT,
IN that direction. Go down that wav ana
ooh turn back. Keep straight ahead Don,t
ever set foot In Colorado SPRINGS ~ C.
PIE Creek again or your life will nav tha
forfeit gay the
his ears were unnaturally awake TO ever,,
sound and after walking about two miles
he heard horses hoofs in the air E: es
the fends who had tortured him baa .a
pented of having allowed him to eso.no
with his life, and that they were in n,rs,,;t
OF him to kill him, he left the road and onn
sealed himself. After painful interval the
no, seiiittl. Gen. Tarsney felt convinced had
elther given up the search or had t,,,a.
on on cross road so he resumed his wa,,
Cohtinulng IN the direction in which he
was directed, the suffering man walked IA
iiieo. .He 'ai stiIened about his person
and walking caused intense pain Several
times he decided to apply at one OF tba
farm houses for help, but hatless in so;lad
clothing, and his face covered with tar ana
feathers, he feared he would brighten The
people to whom he might apply. But his
fatigue and injuries soon became too severe
and finally, he knocked at a farmers door.
A woman responded to his summons and
was almost overcome with fright. Gen.
Tarsney assured her he was human being.
and asked her to call the men, She did 80.
and after convincing the farmers who he
was, and after relating his experience,
everything that could be done for him was
done. He was urged to eat breakfast, and
could only swallow a cup of coffee. A