The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-22
A RIOT IN COLORADO
Striking Miners Destroy Life
and Property.
BLOODsHEO AND ARSON
Five Persons Killed and Others
Fatally Wounded.
CORONADO MINE DESTROYED

Armed Citizens Are Now Pat
rolling the Streets of
Leadville.
Leadville, Col, Sept. 21.-Three men
dead, two fatally wounded and two
others injured is the result Of a fierce
riot in this city early this morning.
The shaft and engine house Of the
Coronado mine was attacked by strik-
ing miners at j o'clock, the buildings
fired and burned to the ground. An
assault was made on the Emmett mine
but the strikers were driven off before
doing any damage. The mines which
were barricaded and guarded, were
attacked by men armed with Winches-
ters and dynamite was used. Follow
ing is the list of dead and wounded:
Dead: Bert Meyer, James Benson,
John Mahoney. All were miners EN-
ployed at the Coronado, and were kill
ed by the explosion.
Dying: VIM. O'Keefe, foreman of
Hozcomp No, 2, shot through the
stomach; j. Higgins, miner, employed
ait the Coronado, shot eight times in
arms and stomach
Injured: Frank Teller and Martin
Scott. Their wounds are not believed
to be fatal.
When the flames broke out in the
Coronado building the firemen hurried
to the scene, but were stopped by arm
ed strikers, and not allowed to work
on the fire. Fireman O'Keefe was shot
while turning on the water. BY this
time a large crowd had gathered; hum
dreds ready to assist were held at bay
by the rioters, who were concealed near
the building. But presently, as the
sheets Of flame rolled over the build
ings, it was apparent that unless there
was timely action the buildings in the
vicinity would be destroyed. A body Of
citizens, armed with rifles guarded
! the fremen as they proceeded to work.
At $3.50 a. m, the attack was made
on the Emmett There were over a
/ hundred shots fired but no lives are
/ known to have been lost, and no dam
age to property resulted.
The first attack at the Coronado was
made with dynamite. near the oil
tanks The men within the enclosure
of bullets followed, but the dynamite
did its work wen. After the fire was
well under way, the attacking party
disappeared and are supposed 70 have
taken to the hills.
At 2:30 p. M, Sheriff Newman, OF
Leadyille, and Judge Owens, of the dis
trict court Of Lake county, called upon
Governor Mcintyre for troops. The
Governor at once issued the call, and
| before daylight almost the entire mill
tary force of the State were en- route
for the scene.
When they arrived they found the
city quiet and no Indication Of fur.
ther trouble. The local companies have
been sent to the hills, and armed citi.
zens are pawolling the streets. The
city council met to-day and decided to
aid the State officers in apprehending
the rioters. At a mass meeting of citi-
zens this afternoon the lawless element
was denounced and it win be demanded
that the troublesome men leave the
camp.
1t is charged that the lawlessness
was due TO mob of strikers PRINCIPAL
ly from the Couer d'Alene country.
who have long been breeding trouble in
Leadyille, and who, seeing that the
strike which has been on since June 20.
was nearing am end, were determined
to make "a final stroke This assertion
is largely made by the peaceful miners
of the camp.
Fireman O'Keef died this afternoon,
making the fourth victim of the riot
The fifth name was added to the death
list at 6 o'clock this evening by the
discovery of the body of Michael
Daughtery, on the ground near the
Emmett mine, where he fell in the at
tack by the rioters. There were many
people in upper windows and
on house roofs, who, in the
brilliant moonlight saw the at
tack 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.
Despite the presence Of troops and
the unusual quietness OF the streets
there is very uneasy feeling preva-
lent, it being asserted that there are
500 Winchester rifles in the hands Of
the strikers, whose repeated threats
against the military are recalled with
alarm. 1t is the general belief, how
ever that there win be no further
trouble unless the managers begin inn
porting miners.