The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-04-26
COXEYITES Gagged.
The Montana Commune Runs
Against the Twenty
second.
The Details Of the shooting at Billings
The CommonweaI PesceabIy
>urrenders.

As darkness approached last evening
the interest in the movements Of both
the military and the Montana contingent
OF Coxey's army INCREASED. almost Dor.
dering on excitement, especially when 1t
became known that the track had been
taken up at Keogh. and it was firmly de
termined to use the military arm of the
United States government to capture
the army. This feeling was intensified
when the report OF shooting affray at
Billings spread around and many feared
serious conflict. About dark the com.
monwealers were at Sanders station. GO
miles west Of this city. and coming very
slowly with the old hog" engine which
had been contiscated from the Rocky
Fork branch. The military and railroad
authorities came TO the conclusion that
offensive operations were necessary. as il
was feared that the Coxeyites would re-
main all night at Forsyth. and eudeayor
To run the town.
The work crew hurried to Keogh and
after repairing the track. returned To
Miles City. Two trains were hastily
made up-one OF twelve cars for the
conveyance of the Twenty second in
fantry and another Of five cars for Super.
intendants Dorsey and Finn and the
railroad crews. Then as they sped away
il was realized that the soldiers were 90
ing TO meet the Coxeyites Arriving at
the post. six companies. with ten days
rations, all field equipments and ample
ammunition were found waiting. The
command consisted Of the following Off
GERS and companies:
Lieutenant Colonel Page, Major Lis.
cum. Adjutant Jones.
company, Captain ketchum and
Lieutenant Wolfe.
\ company. Captain Webster, Lieut.
Hambright.
B company. Capt. Conway.
{ company, Capt. Kell.
ID company. Capt. Lockwood, Lieut..
Wassel.
+ company. Capt. Hooten. Lieuts.
Swaine and Dawson.
Aggregating nearly 300 men.
These were hurried on the train and
as he climbed into the cab OF the engine.
Supt. Dorsey told Conductor BrickeIl TO
let her go, and onward she sped, closely
followed by the second section in charge
OF Supt. Finn and Conductor OBrien.
At Rosebud it was learned that the enc.
my was at Forsyth. but was having diff
ticulty with in getting an engine. and it
was decided to run to Dewey's. Again
no train was in sight, and without any
stoppage. the run to Forsyth was made
without any incident. But standing in
front Of the depot was the much sought
train. A commonweal brakeman flag
ged the military train, and when told by
Mr.. Dorsey that the troops we're on
board. he quietly remarked. We'll. the
jig's up"
In few seconds the bluecoats were
in line on the ground, one company was
then thrown along the platform beside
the Coxey train. and the Montana Com.
mune, which for sixty hours had held
full sway on the Northern Pacific track
were prisoners OF war.
The JOURNAL representative was then
afforded his first opportunity to inspect
the commonwealers and their train. The
latter consisted OF fourteen cars. one of
provisions land il was well filed, one Of
coal, one OF railroad tools and eleven 10
carry the army. each of which was well
lighted and contained from 30 to 40 men.
together witheir baggage. camp equip
page, etc, making a total OF about 400
men. and about 40 more arrived on the
passenger train at 3 o'clock, having
boarded il at Billings and refused either
TO get of or pay fare.
A close investigation among the men
and passengers from Billings il was
learned that the army had experienced
difficulty in getting from Logan to Bill
ings. and they insisted that Supt. Finn,
who was running ahead OF them, and in
his zeal to serve his company had dealt
them untold misery. Arrivinga at Billings
about noon. they took another engine,
and were almost ready to pull out when
the train carrying about 80 or GO deputy
marshals arrived.
BLOOD WAS SHED.
After the latter had pulled up close to
the Coxey train and stopped. about a
dozen of the deputies jumped down, all
armed with rifles. and started toward
the front end of the head train. intend
ing to capture the engine. but crowd
which had collected, closed in on them,
and in the conflict which ensued about a
dozen shotswere fred. eleven Winchest.