Evening journal., 1896-09-22
BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE
Leadville Mines Attacked by
Riotous Strikers.
CITY VOW UNDER MARTIAL LAW.


How The Trouble Began.
LEADvILLE, Colo, Sept 2e.-The great
miners strike here has reached the bloody
phase. Yesterday morning three heavy
explosions aroused sleepers In the eastern
part Of the city for blocks around the Cor
onado mine. The explosions were fol
lowed by fusiade OF rifle shots. The
shooting lasted for ten minutes, and all
was silent for five minutes when desul-
tory firing was renewed. Fifty minutes
later another explosion was heard sound
Ing like dynamite. Ten minutes after the
first explosion a telephone message from
the Coronado said that nobody inside the
barricade had been hurt.
Soon q bright blaze broke out at the
Coronado mine, and the local militia com
panies were called out. The sights and
sounds were terrifying All tho whistles
In the CITY were blowing, and the sharp
cracks Of rides punotuated the din at ir-
regular intervals A few minutes later
there was another heavy explosion. The
firing did not stop until 4 O'Clock Before
that hour the sheriff had talegraphed to
Governor Mcintyre in Donver asking for
more troops.
shafthouses Attacked.
The first attack was made upon the
Coronado, which is in the city, being only
half dozon blocks from the postoflice and
surrounded by houses. A heavy plank
barricade was erected around the ma
chinery and shafthouse when the mine re-
sumed operations last month and tho
house was we'll stocked with provisions,
rifles and ammunition First few bull
lets struck the barricade, and the men on
guard prepared for action. The shots camo
scattered at first, then faster and faster
After 25 minutes of firing a sheet Of
flame burst out, followed by terrible ox-
plosion. The attacking party had used
dynamite. Tho firing then seemed to
slack up slightly. Occasionally bullet
went through the air and then sheet Of
flames from Eighth or Ninth street. It
was evident that an attempt was being
made to fire the property.
East Of the engine house are several
tanks of fuel oil, and the attack was con-
centrated on this point. There was a
sheet of flame and a sputtering rs though
of blazing powder. The engine room was
in flames. A few moments later and the
clang of tho fro engines was heard COM
ing up tho street. but armed men held tho
fremen at bay.
Tho men in the shafthouse were finally
driven from their fort by the flames, but
fought to the last. As they ran over tho
high trestlework a dozen shots were fired,
but the men reached the dump in safety
and escaped
As the sheets of flame relied over the
buildings It was apparent that unless there
was timely action the houses near by wore
doomed. The fremen rallied, for by that
time hundreds Of citizens, armed with
rifles, had appeared and guarded the fire
department and volunteers Ia spite Of
street were destroyed.
List of the Dead.
Five dead bodies lying at the morgue
and half dozen wounded, with damage
20 property to the amount of S3000O are
the visible effects of the lawlessness. 1t
is believed that when all is known the list
Of dead and injured will considerably ex-
need these figures. Everything Is quiet
now, the camp being practically under
military rule
The last name was added 20 the death
list by the discovery Of the body Of Michael
Daughterty on the ground near the En-
NETT Nine where he fell in the attack OF
the rioters upon the Emmett while flushed
with their victory at the Coronado. There
were many people In upper windows and
on house roofs provided with nightglnssos
who in the brilliant moonlight saw the
attack on the Emmett and the repulse Of
( the rioters. These watchers say the first
volley from the mino was delivered at
close range and that the attacking party
fell like grain before the sickle How
many met the fate Of Daughtorty It may
remain for the search Of long abandoned
shaft in that vicinity to tell Il now
seems that the rioters dragged away their
dead and wounded
The story Of the defense OF the Emmett
mine is thrilling one. Easily accessible
and surrounded only by light board
fence, it seems wonderful that it was not
quickly overwhelmed, its men slain and
buildings demolished. But the 10 buck
shot found in Daughterty's body and the
story of the fearful effect OF the first vol
ley from tho mine tells how quickly The
rioters lost stomach for the bloody.busi-
ness Had this mine been blown up, the
great pumps, which drain many other
mines, would have been destroyed and tho
ensuing damage be very heavy.
largely ATTENDED meeting of repro
sentative citizens has been held. Their
proceedings were secret, but It is under
stood stringent measures were decided
upon.
The Militia Arrives.
General Brooks, with several companies
Of the state militia, has arrived. The dam
age at tho Coronado by the burning Of the
oil tanks, boiler house and machinery is
now estimated at $685. on which is
S13, 500 insurance. The houses burned
were valued at SO, 600, with no insurance.
Despite the presence Of troops and the
unusual quietness Of the streets, there is a
very uneasy feeling prevalent, it being as
serted that thero are 800 winchester rifles
in the hands Of the strikers, whose repeat
.s cd threats agiinst the military are recalled
with alarm. 1t is the general belief,
however, that there will be no further
&4 trouble unless the managers begin in-
| porting miners
The strike began on the 10th Of June.
1t has paralyzed business caused hunger
and suffering in hundreds Of families and
has cut down the mineral output of the
camp more than one-half Many OF the
strikers have asserted all along that they
would clean out the stntA, and even gov
ernmont troops, if brought hero. rather
than see outside labor con q TO the camp