The Monmouth inquirer., 1896-09-24
RIOTS In LEADVILLE.
MINES BLOWN UP BY THE MINERS
WHO ARE STRIKING.

miners strike here has reached the bloody
phase. Yesterday morning three heavy
explosions aroused sleepers in the eastern
part of the city for blocks around the Cor
onado mine The explosions were fol-
lowed by fusilade of rifle Shots The
shooting lasted for ten minutes, and all
was silent for five minutes, when desul-
tory firing was renewed Fifty minutes
later another explosion was heard, sound
ing like dynamite. Ten minutes after the
first explosion telephone message from
the Coronado said that nobody inside the
barricade had been hurt.
Soon bright blaze broke out at the
Coronado mine, and the local militia COM
panies were called out. The sights and
sounds were terrifying All the whistles
in the city were blowing, and the sharp
cracks of rifles punctuated the din at ir-
regular intervals A few minutes later
there was another heavy explosion. The
firing did not stop until 4 O'Clock. Before
that hour the sheriff had telegraphed to
Governor Mcintyre in Denver asking for
more troops.
Shafthouses Attacked.
The first attack was made upon the
Coronado, which is in the city, being only
half dozen blocks from the postoffice and
surrounded by houses. A heavy plank
barricade was erected around the ma
chinery and shafthouse when the mine re-
sumed operations last month, and the
house was we'll stocked with provisions,
rifles and ammunition. First a few bull
let's struck the barricade, and the men on
guard prepared for action. The shots came
scattered at first, then faster and faster.
After 25 minutes of firing a sheet of
flame burst out followed by terrible ex-
plosion. The attacking party had used
dynamite. The firing then seemed to
slack up slightly. Occasionally bullet
went through the air and then sheet Of
flames from Eighth or Ninth street It
was evident that an attempt was being
made TO fire the property.
East of the engine house are several
tanks Of fuel OIL and the attack was con-
centrated on this point There was a
sheet of flame and sputtering as though
of blazing powder. The engine room was
in flames A few moments later and the
clang of the fire engines was heard COM
ing up the street. but armed men held the
firemen at bay.
The men in the shafthouse were finally
driven from their fort by the flames, but
fought to the last. AS they ran over the
high trestlework dozen shots were fired.
but the men reached the dump in safety
and escaped.
As the sheets of flame rolled over the
buildings it was apparent that unless there
was timely action the houses near by were
doomed. The fremen rallied, for by that
time hundreds of citizens, armed with
rifles, had appeared and guarded the fire
department and volunteers. In spite of
every effort four dwellings on East Eighth
street were destroyed.
List of the Dead.
and half a dozen wounded, with damage
to property to the amount of $50, 600 are
the visible effects of the lawlessness- 1t
is believed that when all is known the list
of dead and injured will considerably. ex-
ceed these figures. Everything is quiet
now, the camp being practically under
military rule u.
The last name was added to the death
list by the discovery of the body of Michael
Daughterty on the ground near the EN-
nett mine, where he fell in the attack of
the rioters upon the Emmett while flushed
with their victory at the Coronado. There
were many people in upper windows and
who in the brilliant moonlight saw the
attack on the Emmett and the repulse of
the rioters. These watchers say the first
volley from the mine was delivered at
close range and that the attacking party
fell like grain before the sickle. How
many met the fate of Daughterty it may
remain for the search of long abandoned
shaft in that vicinity to tell. 1t now
seems that the rioters dragged away their
dead and wounded.
The story of the defense of the Emmett
mine is thrilling one. Easily accessible
and surrounded only by light board
fence, it seems wonderful that it was not
quickly overwhelmed, its men slain and
buildings demolished. But the Is buck
shot found in Daughterty's body and the
story of the fearful effect of the first vol
ley from the mine tells how quickly the
rioters lost stomach for the bloody bust
ness. Had this mine been blown up, the
great pumps, which drain many other
mines, would have been destroyed and the
ensuing damage be very heavy.
largely attended meeting of repre-
sentative citizens has been held. Their
proceedings were secret, but it is under
stood stringent measures were decided
upon. M
The Militia Arrives.
General Brooks, with several companies
of the state militia, has arrived. The dam
age at the Coronado by the burning of the
oil tanks, boiler house and machinery is
now estimated at $25, 900, on which is
s12, 500 insurance. The houses burned
were valued at SO, 600, with no insurance
Despite the presence of troops and the
unusual quietness of the streets, there is a
very uneasy feeling prevalent, 1t being as
serted that there are 500 winchester ri fies
in the hands of the strikers, whose repeat
ed threats against the military are recalled
with alarm. 1t is the general belief,
however, that there will be no further
trouble unless the managers begin i'm
porting miners
The strike began on the 10th of June.
1t has paralyzed business, caused hunger
and suffering in hundreds of families and
has cut down the mineral output of the
eamp more than one-half Many of the
strikers have asserted all along that they
would clean out the state, and even gov
ernment troops, if brought here, rather
than see outside labor come to the camp.
The mine managers, who at first refused
to recognize the union, finally offered a
compromise but this was rejected and all
efforts by citizens and others to terminate
the strike since then have failed
The Gold Reserve