The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-09-26
USE DYNAMITE AND FIRE
The Striking Miners at LeadyilIe
Open a Deadly Strife.
They Use Fire md Dynamite With
Deadly Erect :. Everybody In
Arms--some Lives Are
Sacrificed.

Leadvflle@Sol., Sept. 21.-The trouble
that has been brewing here for some
time has reached the point of open
hostilities, with lives sacrificed and
property destroyed by fire IL dyna-
mite.
The miners strike of which this law
l%essness is the outcome, began three
months ago yesterday. when at IL
O'Clock at night the men in W. or three
of the leading mines walked out. The
union scale of wages In Leadville was IS
for everybody, but in 1893 when the price
OF silver dropped below 60 cents an ounce
agreement was made that $3.50 should
be accepted for some classes of work
until silver should return to SO cents.
This agreement, the miners afterward
declared was unfair. IS many Of the
mines paid large dividends. 1t was to
enforce the original scale OF 81 that the
men struck. About 5000 men were IN
volved. Within the last two weeks sev-
eral mines have resumed work and last
week the OUTPUT has been 1000 O dali
ly, against 1000 tons before the strike.
For some days there has been n lu1l
In the proceedings of the miners
and many believed that the
trouble would be bridged by an
amicable agreement, but this hope
has been a!ssipated now. AT / o'clock
this morning three heavy explosions
aroused sleepers in the eastern part OF
the city for blocks around the Coronado
mine. which is the one which first re-
sumed operations, ard which was heav-
lily barricaded and we'll stocked with
provisions and arms. The explosions
We're followed by a fusillade of rifle
shots apparently from within the barri-
cade and rapid but irregular shots from
outside. apparently from a widely scat
tered attacking force, who We're IN hand
to protect phe retreat OF the d~ynamiters.
The shooting lasted for ten minutes
and all was silent for FIVE minutes, when
desultory firing was renewed and has
been kept up ever since.
Another explosion was heard at 1850.
sounding like dynamite. Ten minutes
after The first explosions "a telephone
message from the Coronado stated that
nobody inside the barricade had been
hurt. Since then it is Impossible to
reach the Coronado by phone. The city
was in a panic of fear. County and city
officials are out laJking after the work
of the police and the sheriff. Bullets fire.
quently whiz, and altogether the situa-
ton is warlike. -
AT lis a bright blaze broke out at the
Coronado mine, and -hots were being
frequently exchanged. The fire was sup-
posed To be the oil tank inside
of the Coronado shaft house. AT
this time the sights and sounds beg
CARED description. All the whistles in
the city were blowing and two or three
steam sirens added discord to the dark
nights alarming chorus. The sharp
crack of rifles punctuated the footing
at irregular intervals. Citizens Went
to the scene with whatever arms they
could gather and a militia company
quartered across the street marched
toward the Coronado under arms. The
whistle which calls out the citizens in
a case of emergency was sounded and
the streets were full Of men, crying wo-
men and children.
There was another heavy explosion
at 2:1S.
AS soon as the nre broke out the fire de-
partment went to the scene and the flames
are now dying down, indicating effective
work by the firemen. The shots are grow
mig less frequent and 1t seems probable
that something definite from the battle
field may be obtained,
everything was OIL lire At the coronado
and the fire department worked to save
the houses which are th;ckly clustered
about the0fatal shaft house.
The firemen hoped to save the houses and
were helped by a heavy rain which began
a few minutes after. When the liremen
went to turn or water they We're ordered
to desist. which they did from one hydrant,
but got others to working.
Another heavy explosion occurred at 2:55
a. m. Forty or fifty shots were heard in
the direction of the Emmett and Marian
mines, located about a mile and a half
from the city. These mines We're recently
fenced and work resumed by a small force
of men, which was being augmented ev-
cry day. 1t would seem from this that
having finished their work at the Coron-
ado, where the buildings are now a mass
of smoking embers, the merc.less gang had
gone to wipe out the Emmett and Marian.
The first reporter to return from the fire
stated that Fireman O'keefe and two I'M
known men were dead. He cannot tell as
yet how many are injured and is not sure
that this covers the list of dead.
Militia Called Out.
Denver, Sept. 81. At 2:3O o'clock this
morning Sheriff Newman Of I,ea1vsla and