The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-22
LAWLESSNESS
AT LEADVILLE
Desperate Engagement Between Strikers
and Non. Union WOrkmen.
CORONADO SHAFT HOUSE IS BURNED
A Fireman. While EndeavOring 10
Extinguish the Fire, Is Shot and
MOrtaliy WOnnded-.Other Attacks
b, the Lawiess MObs Repelled by
BulIets..The Killed aud " Omndcd.

Ieadville. Col, Sept. 2l.--leadville is
battle ground toda. and the CorOn-
ado mine is the scene of desperate
engagement between strikers and the
twenty men who We're working in and
living NJ the mine. The bloody hand
of lawlesSness and anarchy by the use
Of dynamite bombs burned the Cor
OnadO shaft house and made q forced
attack ON the men, but they Were driv-
en- from their ground with three of
their number mortally wounded and
two seriously injured.
The most atrocious crime committed
during this lawless attack was the
shooting and mortal wounding of Jerry
O'keefe. who was doing his duty as
a fireman in trying to extineuish the
blaze that. des2ite the efforts of the
fire department., consumed four dwell
ing houses as we'll as the Coronado
shaft house and out buildings.
But the bloody work of the strikers
was not confined alone TO the Coron-
ado mine. \ lawless mob gathered
around the Emmett, little after the
attack was made on the Coronado. but
the men at the Emmett We're ready for
the attack and when the crowd APP
peared they fired such volley of bull
lets into them that they found 1t un-
safe to go further in their nefariOus
work Not one of their number was
killed but Jerry Mahoney, miner liv-
ing near the Resurrection. who hap
pened to be coming along the road at
the time walked between the strik-
erS and the men on the inside and with
the first Nolley was shot dead.
OTHER DISTURBANCES.
At the El Paso. also. the men We're
attacked by strikers, but they left the
bu hn,lsn aud gpIIpht 1ln1pr
bushes close by. Here they We're
awaiting the attack of the strikers.
but the latter did no. come near the
property, contenting themselves with
firing about hundred shots into the
shaft house. Armed men also prowled
around the ram mine at about the
same time and fred several shots into
the shaft house. but did not come
close enough to throw dynamite bombs
and fire the building. \ great quanti-
" of giant powder was burned out
side the fence OF the Emmett mine.
but no harm was done by it. This
powder was brought 70 blow up the
Emmett shaft house, but the resistance
made to the attack by the men on
the inside foled the strikers plans and
fearing being caught with the powder
on their persons. they burned it.
The men who We're killed at the Cor
onado are: Berry Weir, James Benson,
union strikers Jerry O'keefe. fire.
man: viii Higgins was mortally
wounded. No one is able to identify
either Benson or Weif, their names
being known by letters in their pockets.
William Higgins. who was mortally
wounded in the affair. has four bullet
wounds in his right arm. and one.
which is pronounced dangerous. just
below the abdomen. This is lodged i'm
his stomach and Dr.. jeanette says will
prevent his recovery. Higgins is not
more than 70 years old.
WALKED IN a TRAP
John Mahoney Is not dead, but the
doctors say he cannot live. Mahoncy
is not striker, although he is union
miner. lie was working lease with
two others and they were with him
when he was shot, but none Of the men
knew they walked into death trap
until Mahoney was pierced by IL ball
and fell from his horse. None OF the
men killed have families. O'keefe and
Mahoney are single men and ii is be-
lieved that Benson and Weir are also
single.
Tonight the city OF Leadville is quiet.
the saloons all closed and the people
who are ON the streets. are standing
idly about. talking discreetly low.
The Coronado mine is the only evi-
dence left of the riotins. and confia sra =
/ ton of last night. Apparently no in
nocent person was injured by the hail
| of lead.
The state militia. which has for the
! fourth time in two years been called
out to stop rioting in the mining camps.
is arriving tonight. and will do merely
patrol duty. for there is absolutely no
| evidence of riuting in the entire camp