The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-16
Riot Bell Rung From En-
gine Houses.
Six Hundred Armed Troops
Now in Possession.
Crisis in Senatorial Fight at Frank
fort Calls for Action.

FRANKFORT, KY, March l6.-The rio
bell rang from the fire.eneine houses at
o'clock last night, and at the same mo-
ment Governor Bradley ordered out tho
militia. Ten minutes later the McCreary
Guards. 59 strong, Captain Noel Gaines,
Were in possession of the state house, and
martial law was proclaimed. Until yes
terday Governor Bradley had persistently
refused to call out the militia, though
urged to do so by citizens, irrespective OF
party.
The Blackburn leaders, he was In.
formed. had been prepared all day to take
forcible possession of the state house to-
day. Threats were made that the senate
would arrest the governor for usurpa-
tion Of authority in giving the instruc-
tions he gave Saturday night to the sheriff
Of Franklin county to clear the corridors
and cloakrooms
All trains yesterday brought In re-en'
forcements for the men bent on mischief
today. 1t was only at the last moment,
when the presence OF these crowds pre-.
saged serious danger. that the governor
yielded TO repeated requests Of orderly
citizens Of both parties, and called out tho
militia.
The sergeant-at-arms. Somers,N had
sworn Jack Chinn, Jim Williams, Eph
Lillard and others as his deputies. 1t was
also reported to the governor, by numer
Gus aflldavits, that armed men had been
collecting In the capital for two or three
days, with a view TO take charge Of the
joint assembly today.
A company of the Lexington and tho
Louisville legion, 300 strong, arrived this
morning, General Collier Is in command.
Guards surround the state house and per.
init no one hut state officers, senators and
representatives and others having con.
stitutional right TO pass.
Senator Brownston came Into tho gov.
ernors Office and asked why he was do.
barred from the state house, who was tho
peace officer of the state and why the mill.
tia had been ordered oatp He then told
the governor that he would see that affi.
6avits would be filed In the senate. This
evidently referred TO an effort to impeach
= Governor Bradley by the senate, which
has been threatened.
The excitement In the city Is great, and
the streets arc full OF people. No little ap-
prehension is felt. Six hundred armed
soldiers are here, and 1t is hoped they will
be able to preserve peace.
A Talk with bradley.
Governor Bradley, In an interview at
midnight, said In explanation Of his action
that the presiding officers OF both houses
had called on him for protection, and that
he had called on the mayor to give IL. Ho
learned afterward from the sheriff that
the mayors police had been insufficient
and had done nothing to remove the dis
turbing element.
On Saturday the presiding officers OF the
two houses. along with others, had made
affidavit Chat armed dcsperadoes had In.
timidatcd members OF the legislature, and
some Of them had assaulted senator and
refused TO let him leave the chamber; thai
. portion of them, claiming TO be deputcs
Of the sergeantAt-arms OF the joint as
sembly, forcibly prevented, on March Ii
the doorkeeper of the house Of representa-.
tives from doing his duty.
They interfered with the proceedings o
che joint assembly, and peraatted out
siders to continue their intimidation, and
also permittSd numerous other persons.
who were armed, to occupy the senate
chamber and cloakrooms OF the two
houses during the joint session OF the
aforesaid, and that said authorities were
powerless, overawed or unwilling to act
'Unless ! interfere to protect the gen
eral assembly," said Governor Bradley
Legislative action will be prevented and
riot and bloooshed would follow, and tho
security OF the lives OF citizens of the com
monwealth required action on my part
Under these circumstances felt that
could not allow such state of things to
continue and called out the State Guard"
eaid the governor In conclusion.
Endorsed by PIatt.