Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-05-04
A COXEY ARMY ARRESTED
BLOODSHED FOLLOWS THE
EASTWARD MOVEMENT.
Montana Allies Defend the Train
They Had Seized National Troops
Ordered Out-A Train Impressed
at Terre Haute, Ind.-Strength of
Various COntingcnts.

clashes between the law and the Inlus-
| lrial or Coxey army movement, which was
sweeping over the country in n wave of
monster proportions, was witnessed at Bill
ngs, Montana. At about II o'clock a. N.
that little city was thrown into wild excite
ment by the announcement that tho
contingent of the Coxey army which
seized the train at Butte City
was rushing into the city on Northern
Pacific train from the West at high rate Of
speed. closely followed by "a trainload Of
United States deputy marshals. The truth
of the statement was verified few minutes
before noon, when the train of box cars ran
into town.
When the train left Butte City the unem-
pOyCd were in possession of the railroad
yards, round-hOuses, freight depots, engines
and cars, and the train started out at the
rate Of about fOrty-tlve miles an hour. They
were notified Ofthc danger to other trains on
the road ana replied that tho company
could take care of its property itself; if
the road was not clear, it was not their
fault and the company must see
that it was kept clear. The train
went along all right until BOze-
man was reached when big landslide was
encountered, and the 500 men spent nearly
the whole Of the day in removing 1t. Then
they started eastward again, but it
was not long before they came
to another slide. which they also
moved, passing Livingston at $40 p. IN.
The officials of the Northern Pacific Road,
meanwhile were in communication with the
United States authorities in the West and at
Washington, and Attorney-General OIney
sent a despatch to the United States Marshal
at st. Paul, telling him to request military
assistance in enforcing the orders of the
Court if he found It necessary, and at the
same time the marshal received an order
from Judge Caldwell to seize the Industrials
if they should come into his distric'.
There was no legal difficulty in the way of
Government action at this stage, rs the rail
road property is now in the hands of the
Unitod States courts, acting through re-
ccivcr, and the President may move at once
dpOn the representations Ofthe United States
judicial officers.
The COXcytes were Overtaken by the spo-
ciai train of the marshals just as they en-
tered the limits of Billings. After their ar
rival it was learned that the marshals train
overlook the Hogan contingent Just as they
were pulling away from Columbus GOrmery
known as Stillwater), and attempted to
arrest the progress Of the train bearing
the 500 unemployed who were in posses
sion of the trains. The leaders would not
yield to the demands of the marShals to give
up the train, and instructed their men to go
ahead, which was done. The two trains
came on during the forenoon hours, until
Billings was reached, when n stop was
ordered, the conflict between the two bodies
resulting.
Marshall Med ermott ordered the leaders
OF The captured train to surrender, AMI
when they refused to do so q few of the
mar5hals, before receiving Il command to DO
SO. fired upon the crowd of men on the cars.
The shots were quickly returned by the In
dustrials. Anumber OF shots were exchanged
between the parties boforC Marshal McDer-
mott could regain control of his men. Dur
ing the firing one of the deputies was
seriously wounded and one of the rlen on
the rear platform car was shot iD the groin.
McDcrmOtt decided that his men were not
equal to the odds against them, and ordered
his men to desist firing, which they did.
Tho captured train soon after pulled out
from the depot, and McDermott notified the
authorities that his force was inalequate to
capture the 500 men who were determined
to retain possession ofthc train.
When these facts were reported to the De-
partment of Justice at Washington, they
were brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent. with the recommendation Of the At
torney-General that the Federal authority be
supported by troops. that being the sole
alternative left to the Government
In addition to the request of the Judge of
the United States Court, the United States
District Attorney and the United States Mar
shall for the District of Montana for Federal
aid IN arresting the Hogan contingent of the
army of the unemployed for seizing the train
ut Butte, President Cleveland received tho
following from the Governor of Montana
"HELENA, Montana. April 25
'To the President of the United States
Information reaches me by wire that Il band
of COxoyites, fleeing the State with stolen
train. were Overtaken at Billings by Deputy
United States MarShals, who were trying to
serve q writ emunating from tho United
States Court. A fight ensued. One deputy
marshal was wounded and the leader of the
Coxeyites wounded. Deputy marshals were
ovcrpowered and driven off with revOlvers
and other weapons. The MOB then sur
rounded the deputies and now hold them
prisoners. Train of Coxeyites within a
few hours run of Fort Keogh. Impos-
sibIo for State militia to overtako
them. As Governor of Montana /
hereby request you to have Federal
troops at Fort KeOgh intercept, take into
custody. arrest and hold these Coxeyitcs sub
iect to the Ordeas of the United States Court
issuing writ referred to. If CoXeyites pass
Fort Keogh before orders emanate from you
for their apprehension request that Federal
troops be ordered to overtake them. Prompt
ness required.
&c. E. RICKARTs, Governor of Montana"
The President at once called the General
commanding the Army into the consultation.
and General SchOtield was directed to call
upon the Commander of the Department of
Dakota to send sufficient force of troops to
arrest all persons engaged in the seizure of
the train and to hold the train and persons
until they could be delivered to the United
States Iarshal for Montana, subject to the
order of the United States District Court.
The order of the President for the troops
was issued solely to command respect for
the mandate Of the United States Court, and
was not in any sense National interference
in local affairs.
After the fight at Billings the marshals be-
came panic-stricken and were surrounded by
the Industrials who disarmed them ami
chased them back to the train on which they
arrived. firing revolvers at them to further
intimidate them. The COxeyteS then
changed engines and continued their east
ward journey.
Meantime Colonel Swaine, commanding
the United States Army in the Department of
Dakota, acting under orders received from
Ma General Schofield. Commander-n-
Chief of the United States Army, ordered
Colonel Page, commander at Fort K6Ogh. to
intercept the train and arrest the Industri
ais. and, II necessary, to pursue them. The
train bearing the unemployed left Billings
east oHnd at / ,. m., and moved toward
Miles City at the rate OF eight or ten miles an
hour.
The garrison at Fort Keogh which is two
miles west of Miles City consisted of five
hundred men, with q GattlinG battery, and
Colonel Page was in command. The rail-
road tracks had been torn up at Fort Keogh,
so the Hogan train could not pass that point.
When the Industrials, numbering $50 omen,
arrived at Forsyth, Montana, few minutes
before IL p. m, they We're informed that the
United States regulars were waiting for them |
at Fort Keogh, forty-three miles east.
The leaders were considerable discon-
certed over this announcement. but stated
that they did not propose to turn back or de-
sert the train.
While they were sidetracked deliberatinG
as TO what would be their next move the
United States regulars left Fort KeOSh to in
tercept the CoXeyites. The train bearing tho |
soldiers reached Forsyth before the leaders |
had decided upon advancing on Miles City,
and Colonel Page ordered them to sur
render. This they did and all were placed |
ander arrest. |
Train Seized in Indiana. |