The San Francisco call., 1896-09-22
Six Men Are Killed and
Many Believed to Be
Injured.
FIVE OF THE DEAD ARE
STRIKERS.
Desperate Defense of the Men
Within the Burning
Barricades.
FIRE AND DYNAMITE FAIL TO
REACH THEM.
Troops Sent to the Scene and Hostili.
ties Are Suspended for the
Present.
FIRE AND DYNAMITE FAIL TO
REACH THEM.

LEADVILLE, Colo, Sept 21.-Six men
lost their lives in the attack upon the
Coronado and the Emmett mines early
this morning, five being of the attacking
party and the sixth city fireman, who
was shot down while in the discharge of
his duty. he dying to-day. The dead are
as follows:
JERRY O'KEEFE, foreman Hose 2, aged
"A, shot through the body.
BERT MEIR, 80 years of age, face riddied
with buckshot
JAMES BENSON. aged 40, eight buckshot
In the abdomen.
JOHN MAHoNEY, bullet in abdomen.
WILLIAM HIGGINS. bullet in abdomen.
NIKE DoUGHERTY, a striker found in the
Emmett mine ruins.
1t is believed that a number, variously
estimated from six to fifteen, were
wounded in the attack upon the barricaded
mines, but they were quickly taken away
and secreted, even the physicians attend
ing them being careful to make no report
of their patients. OF the besieged men
no one was injured, except one who was
slightly wounded in the foot as he escaped
from the Coronado mine over the trestle,
where he was a target for hundred guns.
Tonight the city of Leadville is quiet.
The saloons are all closed, and the people
who are on the streets stand idly about,
talking discreetiy low. The full moon
shines above Carbonate Hill, where from
one or two shafthouses the steam Jets
laziiy eoat into the clear air as the great
pumps continue their ceaseless effort TO
beat down the floods in the great under
ground workings from 800 to 1900 feet be-
low the surface.
The State militia, Tor the fourth time in
two years called out to stop rioting in
mining camps, is arriving tonight, and
they will do merely patrol duty, for there
is absolutely no evidence OF rioting in the
entire camp. The two militia companies
of Leadville, large company from Grip
pie Greek and two companies from Pueblo
were. on duty here before darkness came
on, one company patroling the powder
magazines, three at the Emmett mine
and the others on duty at the armory, who
will doubtless assist the Deputy Sheriffs
and Police Department in patroling the
camp. The First Regiment from Denver,
with the Chaffee Light Artillery and a
troop of cavalry will reach Leadvllle be-
fore midnight
While no one can predict with certainty
the outcome of the night the miners and
mine operators who talk say there will be
no further trouble until the militia return
home.
THE men who did the work last night
are a set of cowards," said mine oper-
ator this evening. 'They will do nothing
save in a sneaking manner. They prefer
to overpower some helpless man by num-
bers and brutaIly assault him. We
learned tonight that the miners had 8
meeting to-day and three men were de-
tailed to shoot down Mr.. r. B. Estey,
the manager of the Coronado, on sight.
They will never do it; they are too
coyardly. For weeks he has walked
through the streets TO and from the mine,
and though they have rallied at him they
never dared to touch him. His courage
has been wonderful throughout these
whole troubles.
1--WE can never hope for settlement of
this trouble until the Governor places the
camp under martial law, and thus over
rides the local authorities, courts. Sheriff
and Mayor. The camp has been under a
reign OF terror, and all officers of the law
have been inundated. No punishment
can be imposed upon offenders, except
through a military court, and until this is
done we need not hope for peace"
The miners, on the other hand, deplore
the whole mat er, and seem disposed to
Law the blame upon outside ruffians, who
have hocked 10 the scene of the trouble.
The destruction OF the Coronado has
finally aroused the law-abiding citizens to
take steps for a summary treatment of
the trouble hereafter. This afternoon a
meeting was held in the opera house, and
a document received 200 signatures which
is practically an agreement to stand to-
gether to protect life and property. In
short. it is a vigilance com mmittee.
There is a rumor sfloat that Amburn,
president of the Miners Union. has left
the city and officers and citizens unite in
saving that many familiar faces have sud-
denly disappeared.
That there was to have been trouble last
night was clearly understood by the mine
onerators and many of the miners. The
report was that the Emmet mine, being
located farther out of the town limits than
the Coronado, was to be assaulted and the
men there were warned to be watchful.
At the Coronado two officers were on duty
and they were warned to be vlgilant
while within all preparations were made
for q warm reception of the strikers.
Until midnight no evidences of trouble
were apparent. The streets were deserted
and all was quiet about the Coronado.
Midnight was evidently the time set by
the assailants to make an attempt TO stop
the Coronado mine from working. The
residents near by were mysteriously
warned 10 get out of harm way Small
groups OF men ran up the street or lurked
in dark corners. 1t is said that police
mans warning whistle was heard Just as