The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-14
ACTED NTH PROMPTNESS.
Steps Taken by Governor Mcintyre to
Protect the Prisoners.

Steps Taken, by Governor Mcintyre to
Protect the Prisoners.
/ DENVER, March Ex-Governor Mcintyre
to-day received simultaneously from the
authorities at Washington and the Italian
Consul at this point inquiries concerning
the Walsenburg lynchings. The COM
munication from Washington was tele-
gram from the Acting Secretary of State
asking for particulars and that from Acting
Consul Cuneo at this point demand for
protection for any Italian citizens who
might be in danger in Walsenburg.
Immediately steps were taken by the
Governor to comply with both requests
and kilograms were sent out. To the
Sheriff of Huerfano County the Governor
directed telegram demanding full par
ticulars of what had occurred, together
with a statement of the feeling at the mo-
ment prevalent.
TO Washington the Governor telegraphed
such particulars as he then had, and prom
ised the fullest protection of all. He also
stated that it is probable that the Italians
lynched are American citizens; that he
had directed the Sheriff to protect his pris-
oners and maintain order and that he had
report from the colonel commanding the
nearest place that he could put troops
aboard cars in two hours.
Quickly following the sending of these
dispatches went others to Pueblo. One
was to the commander of the militia forces
stationed there and the other to the rail-
road company. The militia officer was or
dered to report Immediately and exactly
on what notice he could put his command
in the field, and the railroad authorities
were asked in what space of time special
train could be furnished and sent to the
scene of the riots 1t was found that with
in three hours of any order issuing the
Pueblo troops could be landed in Walsen-
burg.
Following is a copy of the communica-
tons passing between Governor McIntyre's
department and the acting Italian Consul !:
DENVER, March 13.
To his ErceIIency 4. ". Mcintyre, Governor of
CoIorado-SIR: l have from reliable authority
that at or near the town of Walsenburg, Colo,
this morning about 2 o'clock two Italians were
taken from the Jail by mob and lynehed, and
also that there are seven or more men supposed
to be Italians still in the custody of the authori
ties OF Huerfano County, who are threatened to
be treated in like manner.
Therefore, I, Joseph Cuneo, acting italian
Consul for this district, call upon you as Gov
ernor of this State to take such steps as may be
necessary to insure protection for the life and
property OF the Italians in the custody of the
authorities in the said Huerfano County. Very
respectfully your obedient servant,
J. CUNEo, Acting Consul
The following is the reply:
Sir: Replying to your communication of
March Is just received. l have the honor to
say that l have telegraphed to the Sheriff of
Walsenburg for information concerning the
alleged lynching and to protect his prisoners
and to maintain order within his jurisdiction,
and will take such further steps as are neces-
Sary and can be taken within the authority
conferred upon me by the law to insure protec-
ton to the life and property of the Italians in
custody in said county the same as If they were
American citizens.
have further the honor to say that it is not
yet known to me that the Italians in question
are not American citizens. Respectfully your
obedient servant
A. W. MCINTYRE, Governor.
To ]. Cuneo, Acting Consul, Denver, Colo.
The report of Sheriff O'Malley to the
Governor related that one Italian had been
killed en- route to Walsenburg, and two
escaped. Whether they are dead or not
he did not know. Two others were killed
in the jail Governor Mcintyre immedi-
ately sent the following telegram in reply:
Water 0Malley, Sheriff, HuerJano County,
Wdlsenburg: Wire me at once whether you are
maintaining order and protecting prisoners,
and whether you have sufficient force to pre-
vent further mob violence, and whether ex-
element has abated. You are expected to pre-
vent recurrence OF violence TO prisoners. Take
every precaution TO protect life and property,
and as soon as possible ascertain who composed
the mob doing the lynching, and as soon as
practicable arrest them.
A. w. MCINTYRE, Governor.