The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-09-21
HOT time IN COLORADO
l SILVEP REPUBLICAN BATTLE.
They "All Thought Alike" on Silver,
But One Man Was Killed and
! Three Wounded.
Our Own Charles A. TOwne Mixed Up
in the Row.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Col, Sept. IA
pitched battle occurred in this city at day.
break between the two factions of the Silver
Republican party of this state in which one
man was killed and three wounded. The
dead man is Charles S. Harris, of Denver
employe Of the Denver and Gulf rail-
way.
The wounded were removed by their
friends. and their identity has not been
definitely established. 1t is said that
man named Palmer was shot in the cheek,
but not seriously injured. Another man
had his left hand shot nearly off, and
other received a flesh wound in the arm.
The fight was waged for the possession
Of the opera house in which the Silver Re-
publican state convention is to meet to-
morrow. An armed guard representing the
Teler-BlooG wing was in possession. An
armed force. representing the faction de-
posed by National Chairman Towne, was
sent to drive the guard cut Of the theater.
After a hot scrmmage, in which many
shots We're fired the Tellerites fled in dis
may. Harris and the men wounded are
supposed to have been members of the at
tacking force. Chairman Blood, I. N.
Stevens and other leading Silver Repub-
licans openly charge Sheriff Boynton of
this city, and Internal Revenue Collector
Frank Howbert, of Denver. with leading
the attack.
Five men were arrested in the opera
house, and one, it is claimed by the police
had a smoking Winchester in his hand.
The prisoners. are: Walter Russell, j. W.
Lupton, J. w. Long, A c. Smith and A. F.
Monge, all of Cripple Creek. They were
charged with the murder of Harris, and in
formations were filed in the district court
against them. guard Of 20 men, under
Boynton and Castright hold the opera
house. and the Teller people are refused
admission.
Charles Sprague, representing the
Teller and Towne delegates, obtained pos
session of the opera house, in which the
convention is to meet tomorrow, and re-
fused to surrender it at the command Of
ex-Chairman Broad. Mr.. Sprague is editor
of the Colorado Springs Evening Tele-
graph.
Charles Harris lived in Denver, where
he went five years ago from Omaha, at
which city he formerly held the office Of
deputy United States marshal. He was a
carpenter by trade, about 80 years old and
had a wife and two children. For a time
he was a member Of the Denver fire de-
partment.
Harris died soon after he was shot. An
other man was struck in the cheek by the
same bullet that killed Harris.
Sheriff Boynton and Chief Gaithright
took charge of the opera house and made
a thorough search. The sheriff says they
discovered a whole arsenal in the building.
The officers seized six Winchester rifles
and 10 revolverS. The opera house Is now
in possession Of the police, deputy shertffs
and adherents of ex-Chairman Broad. No
one is allowed to approach the doors.
James A. Howse, Walter Russell, j. J.
Lang and A. c. Smith, of the party in the
hall, were arrested The sliding doors
which form the entrance to the auditorium
show the effects Of the shooting. The
right hand door, the room is entered is
perforated with bullets from Winchesters,
and ball also lodged in the left door. Both
were fired from the inside of the room and
are about as high as mans head from
the floor.
At 1 O'Clock this morning the Wolcott-
Broad faction applied to Judge Lunt for
a writ Of mandamus compelling Chairman
Blood, who was appointed by National
Chairman Towne to succeed Chairman
Broad to be removed, and turn the build
ing over to ex-Chairman Broad. The writ
was refused
THE EXCHANGE OF SHOTS
"At 4:10 this morning" said ex-Mayor
Plum, I'VE were inside the opera house.
There were % of us. Suddenly fusilade
Of shots was fired through both the front
and side doors. Then in second the doors
were bust open and in rushed from IS to
100 men.
There was constant firing in all parts
of the hall, replying best we could.
1 one man fall, shot through the lungs.
We carried him to the balcony and laid
him down. He died few minutes after
ward. Another man was injured.
I'VE were forced out of the building.
Sheriff Boynton and Chief of Police Gath
right were in the front ranks of the at
tackng party
The police and sheriff's officers claim
that the attempt was made entirely by
men brought from Denver. They say they
only rushed in after the attack began. 1t
is peculiar fact, however, that they were
all on hand.
Chairman Blood has issued statement,
in which he says that eX-Chairman Broad,
I. n. Stevens and Dewitt c. Webber ar
ranged with a gang of thugs to come from
Denver and cooperate with Sheriff w. S.
Boynton and the police of Colorado Springs
In seizing the convention hall and turning
it over to the anti-Teller faction so that
they may organize and control the con-
vention tomorrow