The San Francisco call., 1899-05-14
STRIKERS
DUPED BY
LEADERS
Did Not Know the Wardner
Mills Were to Be De-
stroyed.
ONLY A FEW GUILTY
Evidence That Smith and Cheyne
We're Murdered Because They
Drew Back.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


WARDNER, Idaho, May 18,-The
most important developments of the
Coeur d'Alene strike situation are the
disclosures made by members of the
Miners Union. who formed the mob
that blew up the Bunker Hill and Sui
livan mill. Through statements made
10 the prosecuting officers evidence has
been secured to convict over 100 ring
leaders, some for destruction OF prop
erty and arson and others for the muir
der of Smith and Cheyne The men who
will turn States evidence ask immunity
from punishment as accessories and
that they be given protection from the
friends of the leaders.
Another important development is
that Smith. and perhaps Cheyne also,
were murdered by members of the
union instead of being accidentally
shot, as was supposed. Smith had
been looked upon for some time as a
traitor and threats had been made
against his life by union associates.
The day the mob started to Wardner
Smith tried to beg off. but the officers
refused to relieve him. When the mob
arrived he was placed on duty in
certain position and some one shot him
in the back at short range. The assas-
sin was concealed in the brush near by.
The State is preparing a strong case
and a half dozen or more hangingS may
follow.
1t is growing more and more certain
that the plot to wipe out the Bunker
Hill and Sullivan mill was inspired by
a dynamiting clique which centered
around the Central Union at Wallace,
the miners organization in the Coeur
d Alenes, which dominated the rank and
file Of the union. Central Union at Wal
lace is made up of three delegates each
from Burke, Gem, Mullan and Ward
ner. 1t had long been under suspicion
of inspiring the outbreaks which the
miners here have periodically made.
Testimony being heard before the COro-
ner's jury is confirming that belief, and
ii appears a majority of the union men
whose adherence to the dynamiting
policy of the ringleaders could not be
depended upon were kept in ignorance
Of the coming destruction of the mill at
Wardner. 1t was given out that Canyon
Creek miners were perDetrating such
outrages as might be committed at
Mullan on the other hand. it was an
nOunCed the Wardner strikers desired
only the moral assistance of their
brethren.
Under these representations the dyn-
amiters herded together all the union
men in the Occur d AleneS and terror
lied them into move against the Bun
ker Hill mill, using their numbers as a
foil for frightening away any possible
defenders of the property. Then, while
the crowd stood by in ignorance, the
anarchists among them, 140 strong,
went forward, armed and masked, to
the wrecking Of the plant and the kill
ing of Smith and Cheyne. A murderous
company of 140 rifiemen represented the
total strength Of the dynamiting crowd
in the union. The others, to the number
Of 1000, who had arrived on the stolen
train, were, almost without exception,
ignorant of what the ringleaders in
tended to do.
Now the work of sitting out the mob
leaders is commencing. Already evil
dence is accommodating.