The evening times., 1898-09-08
FATAL POLITICAL STRIFE.
silver Republicans AssaiIed b
Their Opponents,


Colorado Springs, Col, Sept S.--The po-
litical war between the factions of the
Silver Republican party resulted yester-
day morning in the death of Charles Har-
ris, of Denver.
1t 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 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 gen.
eral.
Harris fell with bullet through he alb
domen and died within a 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
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. rsE+sF1
The sliding doors which form the en-
trance to the auditorium show the et-
| 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.
f4Cf tffTlfE q
Judge Lunt at l O'Clock yesterday morn
| ing for writ of mandafnus 10 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:l0 O'Clock this morning we were
inside the opera house. There were TWEEN
ty-two of us. Suddenly a fusillade Of
shots was fired through both the front
| and side doors Then IN d. second the
doors were burst open and in rushed from
* TO 100 men.
There was constant firing in all parts
of the hall we replying as best we could.
l saw one man fall, shot through the
body. They carried him to the balcony
! and laid him down. He died in few min
| uteS. AnOIHtE Vas iIiJHiNI"
I'VE were soon forced out of the build
ing. Sheriff Boynton and Chief of Po'
lice Gathright were in the front ranks o.
the attacking party.
The police and sheriffs officers say tht
attack was made entirely by men brough
from Denver. They declare they only
rushed in after the attack began.
| Chairman Blood has issued a statemen
in which he says that the armed fore
which entered the opera house was head
ed by w S. Boynton and Frank How
bert collector of internal revenue. ant
policemen in uniform. Sheriff Boyntoi
| allowed the men from Denver, who par
ticipated in the riot, 10 leave the cit.
unmolested.
The ceiling of the hall is full Of bulle
, holes. The attacking party shot into III
air with the hope of frightening tn
guards into submission. The guards wer
scattered in groups about the auditorium
where they could best command the en-
trance and they returned the fire. Thos
who participated say that more than Il
, shots were fired In the opera house with
in a few minutes.
The clash was precipitated by the actio
of National Chairman Towne in removin
/ Richard Broad from the Craftsmanship {
E the State committee on the ground {
t "disloyalty to the silver Republican pal
r " and the cause il stands for ii bein
| alleged that he had joined a conspirac
with friends of Senator WolcOtt to defea
Il the proposed fusion with Democrats an
2 | PopuliSts