The times., 1898-09-09
Fatal roLIT1cAL. STRIFE.
Silver Republicans Assaulted by
Their Opponents.

Their Opponents.
Colorado Sprihgs, CoE, Sept. S.-The po-
lItical war between the factions of the
Silver Republican party resulted yester-
day morning iri the death of Charles Har-
ris. of Denver.
It was the result of an attempt by the
Broad faction to capture the Opera House.
which was guarded by the Sprague fac
ton. AT O'Clock a rush was made by the
Broad men from both front and rear of
the building. and the Sprague men, who
held possession. opened fire on their as
| sailants The firing at once became gem
eral.
Harris, fell with bullet through the abb
domen and died within few minutes.
Another man was hit in the cheek by the
same bullet that killed Harris.
Sheriff Boynton and Chief Gathright
took control of the opera house and made
thorough search. The sheriff said they
discovered whole arsenal in the building.
The officers seized six Winchester rifles
| and ten revolvers.
The Opera House is in possession of
the police, deputy sheriffs and adherentS
of Former 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 en-
trance to the auditorium show the eff
fects of the shooting. The right hand
door is the room is entered is perforated
with the bullets from Winchester. and
ball also lodged in the left door.
The Wolcott- Broad faction applied to
Judge Lunt at l o'clock yesterday morn
ing for a writ of mandamus to remove
Chairman Blood, who was appointed by
National Chairman Towne to succeed
Broad, and to turn the building over to
the former chairman. The writ was re-
fused.
Former Mayor Plump gave the follow
| ing account of the affair
AT 4:f0 O'Clock this morning we were
| inside the opera house. There were TWEEN
| ty-two of u.s. Suddenly a fusillade or
shots was fired through both the front
and side doors. Then in a second the
doors were burst open and in rushed from
| rs to 100 men.
There was constant firing In all parts
| of the hall, we replying as best we could.
1 saw ene man fall shot through the
! body. They carried him to the balcony
! and laid him down. He died in few MIN
utes Another man was injured
I'VE were soon forced out of the build
! ing Sheriff Boynton and Chief of Po-
lice Gathright were in the front ranks OF
! the attacking party.
The police and sheriff's officers say the
! attack was made entirely by men brought
/ from Denver. They declare they only
rushed in afser the attack began.
/ Chairman Blood has issued a statement
in which ne says that the armed force
which entered the opera house was head
ed by ". S. Boynton and Frank How
bert collector Of internal revenue. and
policemen IN uniform. Sheriff Boyntor
| allowed the men from Denver, who par
ticipated in the riot. TO leave the city
unmolestedl
The ceiling of the bah is fun Of bulle
holes The attacking party shot into the
air with tile hope of frightening tht
guards into submission. The guards were
scattered in groups about the auditorium
where they could best command the en-.
trance, and they returned the fire. Those
who participated say that more than IS
shots were fired in the opera house with
! in few minutes.
The clash was precipitated by the action
of National Chairman Towne in removing
Richard Broad from the Craftsmanship q
the State committee, on the ground o.
! '-disloyaIty to tha- silver Republican par
! " and the cause it stands for, il beins
alleged that he had Joined a conspiracy
| with friends of Senator Wolcott to defea
! the proposed fusion with Democrats anC
! PODulistS