Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-09-24
RIOT AT LEADVILLE.
MINE BUILDINGS ARE BURNED.
Coronado Mine Attacked with Dynamite
-Governor McIntire Orders Out the
Miiitia at Request of the sheriff and
Judge.

Judge.
Denver, Sept 21.-A special from
Leadville to the Republican this morning
says:
The Coronado mine was attacked with
rifles and dynamite by the striking
miners at l o'clock this morning and Is
now a a. m) a mass of blazing embers.
An almost constant fire of rifles from both
sides has been kept up since the first at
tack and six men are known to be dead
or fatally wounded, while there are re-
ports of more fatalities. The entire town
Is aroused and is in state of terror. Cit
izens are armed and defending their prop
erty.
The destruction of the Coronado being
assured, an attack with rifles and dyna-
mite was made at the Emmett and Ma
rian mines and fighting is still going on
there.
The flames ut the Coronado got beyond
the control of the firemen and four frame
dwelling houses. with their contents, were
destroyed.
The strikers interfered with the work
one hydrant, cut the hose and shot Jerry
O'Keefe, member of the fire depart
ment. In the side, inflicting fatal wound.
Sheriff Newman tried to go up on the
hill. but was stopped by the strikers and
told to 20 back. He said: II am sher-
iff." The reply was: "That makes no
difference. Get out of the way or you'll
get shot,"
Another dispatch gives further details
as follows:
At 1 o'clock this morning three heavy
explosions aroused sleepers In the east
ern part Of the city for blocks around the
Coronado mine. which Is the one which
first resumed operations and which was
heavily barricaded and well stocked with
provisions and arms.
The explosions were followed by n fu
silade Of rifle shots. apparently from
within the barricade. and rapid but irreg
ular shots from outside. apparently from
widely scattered force. who were on
hand to protect the retreat Of tie dyna
miters.
The shooting lasted for ten minutes and
all was silent for five minutes. when de.
sultory firing was renewed and has been
kept up ever since.
At 1:50 u. IN. another explosion was
heard, sounding like dynamite.
Ten minutes after the first explosions q
telephone message from the Coronado
stated that nobody inside the barricadt
had been hurt.
The local militia companies have beer
called out. and are now at their armorie:
getting ready for instant action.
Citizens have gone to the scene will
whatever arms they can gather and q
militia company quartercd across the
street has just marched toward the Coro
nado under arms.
The whistle which calls out all citizen.
In case of emergency has just sounded
and the streets are full OF rushing men
crying women and children.
2:1S a. m.-Another heavy explosion has
just occurred. Flames have broken on
at the Coronado and telephone call 70,
the fire department has jus; been turned
in.
The iircmen responded promptly.
$40 n. NIT Is reported that fire
man named o'Kecfc when he started Il
turn on water at the fire was shot. Shot.
are still heard at infrequent intervals.
An employe OF the Herald-Democrnt
just back from rather close inspection
OF the battlefield. says he saw the dead
body of striker on the sidewalk neal
the mine. He says that most Of tn,
shots fired for the last half hour have
been from inside the blrricadc.
$50 a. m.-Everything is on fire at thu
Coronado and the fire department is now
working to save the houses. which ar,
thickly clustered about the fated shaft
house. Women and children are rushing
to the spot. looking for relatives and look
Ing for those who are being driven from
their houses by the flames. creating Q
scene the pathos OF which is beyond de
scription.
The flremen hope to save the houses
and are helped by heavy rain which be
gan falling few minutes ago. When tn,
tircmen went to turn on the water they
were ordered to desist. which they die
from one hy,lran,. but got others to work
Ing.
a:55 a. n.-Another heavy explosion In,
lust occurred. Forty or fifty shots hav,
jus, been heard in. the direction Of III,
Emmett and Marian mines. located abou
a mile and half from the city. Thes,
mines were recently fenced In and worl
resumed by a small force OF men. whlcl
was being augmented every day. Il
would seem from this that. havinl
finished their work at the Coronado
where the buildings are now mass o
smoking embcrs. the merciless gang ha.
gone to wipe out the Emmett and Ma
rian.
3 a. m.-The first Herald-Democrnt re
porter to return from the fire states thai
Fireman o'llcefc and two unknown men
are dead.
3:O5 a. m.-Dr. Williams was just
called upon by two men. who state that
Andy Mahoney. who was coming from
the Big Four to town. was shot In the
melee at the Emmett mine: that he was
shot In the stomach. and they feared that
he Is dead. f
3.1O n m--The fire Is spreading in the