The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-03-18
NOW IT'S THE MINERS
Colorado Again On lhs Very Verge Of
q C!V!! War;
The TROOPS CALLED OUT
Several Hundred People Armed to
the Teeth and Spelling fer
Fight at Grip
pie Creek.

CRIPPLE CREEK, COL. March 17.-An
ANXIOUS day has followed IA night of 60
ciieneut in the great gold mining district
known 10 the world as Cripple =, r.ek. Re-
sistance offered To a sher IS nosse nv Tho
miners, who are striki .,r for an eirht-hour
day and the same 'Sases as formerly raid
Tor nine hours and q call for tho militia
nave given -fGirs warike aspect. After
driving LON Bull Hill six deputy sherifrs
static hed there, one OF whom was shot but
not seriously wounded, tho miners would
lot allow any stranger in that neichbor-
hood during the night. Sheriff Bowers
immediately called out troop A of Col
orado Springs, and to-day made requisi-
ton on tho governor for more troops.
III accordance with which the First regi-
nlent OF Denver, with tho signal corps,
and the Chalfee light artillery and COM
pany {, Second regiment, of Pueblo. were
ordered 10 proceed hither under command
Of Adjutant General Tarsney. These
troops are expected to arrive tonight.
The telegraph wires arc still down be.
tween Cripple Creek and Bull Hill. but it
Is learned that the miners are defiant and
threaten to resist the troops. The sheriff
Is armlny and ecu ipping men to supple
ment the troops. Every gun, pistol and
weapon available in tho town is ready for
use. The streets are throngcd with pco-
pie, among whom are many idle aud
hungry men. The saloons and gambling
places are jammed. In tho moving mass
the most iovial ones are the union miners,
who declare they are not afraid OF the so,.
diers. They represent n faction which is
sieadfast on tho hills awaiting deyelop-
men,s. Another faction OF miners, who
are believed 10 be III the majority. are
willing TO work at Mic hours, bu; say the
protection offered by the county is made
qunte.
II class OF arms occurs the miners
VIII nave the advantage of position. Ball
mouhlain is one oil the largest OF a cluster
OF hills that surround Cripple Creek. 1t
IS heavily timbered and is criss-crossed by
ioot ;ratls and wagon roads from various
mines. Between Cripple Creek aud the
summit OF Eall mountain are number
OF massive rounded hills almost destitute
Of tinSer, and among these hills are small
Ini.i!ug camps. II is in this desirable
camp that the scene OF the battle will
| be should ono occur. Along the trails
leading over the hills last night the min
ers wcrs collected. shooting at passn.
pedestrians or people On h9rsahaeh.------
Governor Waite, after receiving call
from Sheriff Bowers at Cripple Creek this
| incoming for troops, replied:
You ought first to summon a posse comitatus
! OF your county. II that cannot MAINTAIN order,
! then call upon ne for a.d. Calling the troops
must lie the last resort. | will order the troops
! held In readiness Immediately. Wire ME here.
Sheriff Bowers Immediately replied:
| have issued call to the colonies OF the First
AMI Second regiments for troops to aid the civil
authorities In enforcing the laws OF the state.
/ which. am authorized TO do. The emergency
| is great. II 1 have not this authority call
| upon You 10 order troops TO Grippe Creek i'm
med atey for there is at said camp body Of
men acting together, doing violence 10 persons
and property. and by force and violence break
| ing and resisting the laws OF the sta'e, and I
must have troops TO aid In the suppression OF
riot and nsurrectlOn.
! Governor Waite then dispatch ed the
FIRST regiment of this city. $50 strong, and
! Company c, Second regiment, Pueblo, in
| addition TO Troop A of Colorado Springs,
! TO Cripple Creek. The forces number
about $50 men. just before the departure
OF the troops. Governor Waite received a
message that Sheriff Bowers had been
| killed. This was incorrect.
Later Judge England OF Cripple Creek
wired Governor Waite: "Situation un.
changed; citizens about equally divided
as TO the necessity for troops. / do not
believe they are needed The governor
then ,elegraphed Adju;ant General Tars-
ncy TO hold the troops al Colorado Springs
until further orders.
The story was circulated at the state
house in Denver that the request for
troops ct Cripple Creek was really only a
ruse 10 get them away from Denver.