The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-09
STRICT AND RELENTLESS
Will Be the Prosecution of the
Ceur d'Alene Rioters.
ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE
1t Is Stated That Some Of the Miners
Have Weakened-Men Who Took
Part in the Riot Can Be
Identified

Stsil correspondent oil the standard.
Wallace, May S.--With the exception
OF few men at work on the Frisco,
not one of the big properties of the
Occur d'Alene region is operating to-
day. the pumps are kept working to
save the mines, and that is all. The
majority of the miners are imprisoned
at the military pen at Wardner juno
| tion and they will probably remain
there for some time according to pres
| ent indications. 1t was not known here
till this morning what the plan of ac-
ton or the owners would be. A tele-
| phone message from Spokane gave
briefly the result of the conference be-
tween Merriam and the mine owners at
that place yesterday. When it was
known that the mine owners would be
| permitted to continue operations only
upon the condition that they employ
no union men. the speculation that has
been rife here for several days was
succeeded by much guessing as to what
effect this order will have. All of the
mine owners will submit to the order
without protest, as they are as much
under the orders of the military as are
the miners and other citizens of the
county.
At the Standard and the Hecla mines
on Canyon creek the management post
ed notices to the effect that work would
be resumed as soon as a force of min
ers could be secured, and that under
the orders issued yesterday no men
would be employed who would not re-
nounce allegiance to the Coeur d'Alene
Miners union. So far as known, this
notice has not been posted at the other
mines, but the provost marshal will
soon post the official order. 1t will be
difficult to fill the forces of the big
mines for long time, as no members
OF the Occur d'Alene union will be en-
ployed, as it requires experienced and
expert miners to work these properties
Most of the mines will at once endeavor
to secure the necessary men, but it can
not be done in a. short time
The rigorous terms of the order pro-
mulgated by General Merriam in this
respect are construed here to indicate
that the prosecution Of the cases against
the rioters would be strict ano relent-
less. 1t will be war to the end 1t is
stated positively here that some of
the miners have already weakened AMI
that the prosecution will have an
abundance of evidence at it's disposal
when the present inquest terminate
When that will be is guess The ex-
animation of witnesses is progressing
slowly, and there are many of them to
question. Conductor Olmstead, whose
train was stolen by the rioters on the
day of the explosion, is now held by the
coroner as a witness at the Wardner
prison. few witnesses have been re-
leased to-day on their own recogniz-
ance. There have also been numerous
releases to those of the miners who
have been able to prove an alibi.
In Wallace there has been a general
scurrying for affidavits on the part of
such miners as have not yet been ar
rested, but who think that they
may be.
There have been some important rev.
elations made to-day, and the prosecu-
ton is tonight more confident than
ever of its ability to prove positively
the identity of many of the men who
took part in the destruction of the Bun
ker Hill and Sullivan mine.
That the situation is very serious for
the Miners union men is generally ad-
mitted That the pressure that is be-
Ing brought to bear upon the union
men is very strong is apparent This
is being done with the evident purpose
The troops have all been Withdrawn
from Burke and Gem, and are concen-
trated at Wardner and Mullan. The
safes from the Miners union halls at
Burke and Gem have been taken to the
scene of the coroner's inquest at Ward
ner. The statement was made here to-
day that both safes are empty and will |
add nothing to the information sought |
by the coroner.
The quiet of the past week has con- |
tinued to-day Not since the blowing |
up of the mill has there been any dis |
turbance at any point in this district. |
This may seem to be an unnecessary |
statement in view of the fact that, the |
mill destroyed. there was no occasion |
for any disturbance, but inasmuch as
there have been repeated statements |
sent out from here that reign of ter |
rOr prevails here, as matter of fact |
there has been no time since the eXplo- |
sion when life or property has been in !
danger.
Wardner has ceased to be a popular |
resort for eXcursiOnists. Several who |
left here to look over the situation there |
were held at the bull-pen by the Offic |
crs, and yesterday some men who went |
down to attempt to secure the release |
Of men who We're detained had some |
difficulty in getting back themselves. |
1t is not expected that there will be |
any further break in the routine of the |
coroner's inquest and the people have |
settled down TO await the developments |
of the inquest. This will take so days |