The San Francisco call., 1896-09-22
LEADVILLE'S MIDNIGHT RAID

moment of spluttering fire and then ter
rihc detonation. 1t was a weapon which
the miners know well how 10 use-a stick
OF giant powder. Another stick followed
the first, then a third, and with these
fusillade of small arms. Volley after vol
ley was poured into the Enclosure from
two sides. The high o utter fence and the
inner barricade. however, was evidently
designed wisely, for no one within was in
jured there. The giant powder soon ig-
nlted the woodwork, broke the pipe which
conveyed the crude oil from the reservoirs
to the battery of boilers, and, the oil ig-
hitting, great sheets of fame quickly illu-
minated the scene.
There, amid rain of bullets and giant
powder, with the immediate danger of the
exploding oil tank and steam boilers, the
twenty men fought as only men under
such conditions could fight. From within
the engine-house and from the high van
tage point at the top of the cribbing sur
rounding the shaft they blazed away at
the attacking party. For fully half an
hour the shooting continued, until 1 AS
o'clock, when the flames of the engine
house spread SO rapidly that the defend
ing party had to take refuge in tunnel
under the cribbing, where they made a
last stand for defense, believing that their
assailants would enter the inclosure to
shoot them down. They were caught like
rats in trap. 1t was certain death to re-
main, for the fire would consume them,
even if they were not murdered by the
enemy.
There was only one alternative and they
took 1t. Some made rush, leaping the
fence, others took the trestle across Or
ange street, running the gauntlet of a
calling fire to the dump, where they made
their escape. The explosion of giant
powder and the rattle of small arms
aroused the whole city, and the glare of
the flames brought the fire department
promptly to the scene. One line of hose
was laid and gallant Jerry O'Keefe, fore
man OF Hose Company q seized the nozzle.
He stood on the corner of Seventh and
Orange streets and the stream had Just
begun to come when bullet fired from
behind sent O'Keefe to the earth, bleeding
from q mortal wound. 1t was a shot
aimed by bastard and cowardly hand to
assassinate brave man in the discharge
of his duty.
Armed men were hidden in various
places about the Coronado shaft, and pre-
vented the firemen from working. The
hosecart with Fire Marshal E. V. Roder
and one other fireman, drove along Orange
street and when heneath the trestle started
to reel off the hose. They had got the
line almoss laid when three men leaped
from behind the house at the northeast
corner of the alley.
drop that hose,p was the command. |
Lii 4
glare OF fire, were raised and leyeIed at !
the marshal and his men.
Il would stay, by Cd, but do not |
want to be shot down in cold blood," said
one OF the firemen as he dropped the hose, |
and all three were compelled to retire to |
the corner OF the cribbing on the west side |
OF the alley.
The immense fuel-oiI tank was now a
mass OF flames. Great black clouds of
smoke rolled heavenward, illuminated by |
the dark-red flames which shot upward |
for 100 feet. Already the houses in the |
vicinity were beginning to crackle and
olaze. AT this moment an armed force |
appeared on the scene. From the direc- |
non OF Harrison avenue rushed the citi- |
zens OF the town. There were business
men, merchants, bankers, lawyers and |
others, each armed with a Winchester. |
ready to protect life and property.
1hen commenced the battle with the |
names. There were plenty of willing
hands to move the hose and the depart- |
ment could work without hindrance. The |
attacking party disappeared. But while |
the Coronado was the scene of great ex-
cltement the thirty men st the Emmett |
were not forgetting their danger.
About 2:30 O'Clock the sound of mus
kerry was heard in the direction of the |
Emmett mine, and soon the thunder of |
oischarglng giant powder followed. The |
n2ht made by the defenders was so terrific |
that the assailants soon were glad to re-
tire. The only damage done at the EN-.
NETT was the destruction of small fence |
inclosing the property.
That several were wounded is certain. |
and after dark tonight the dead body of |
Mike Dougherty was found near by and !
taken to the underlaker's. This makes a |
deathroll OF five of the attacking party.
The Coronado shaft is the only evil |
dence of the terrific struggle made lust be- |
fore dawn. The immense boilers, steam |
engines. tans and powerful hoist are a |
mass of tangled ruins, pipes and twisted |
AAOh lnS over bue ndSSlV6 machinery in |
APPALLING confusion. The tall gallows-
frame and the temporary barricade about |
the top of the high cribbing are practically
intact.
The Coronado property is but seven |
blocks from Harrison avenue and is sur |
rounded by small residences. Three of |
these were totally destroyed, causing a |
loss OF $4,000. The fremen and citizens
worked until the sun rose over Breeze
Hill before the flames were stayed.
The band OF dynamiters had not over
looked the Maid of Erin. 1t was doomed
to destruction, but the presence of mind of
Sam McCummings saved it. During the
night OF the early morning some one set
the shafthouse afire. Sam discovered it
and extinguished the flames before any
serious damage was done. An inyestiga-
ton showed that there was sufficient giant
powder beneath the floor to have blown
the building to atoms.
a 70