The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-05-02
Strikers Destroy Property Of
Bunker Hill Company
at Wardner.
KILLONEOF THEIR MEN
By Mistake = Brig. Gen. Merriam
Ordered to Boise to Consult
with Governor.

"dSu., April 80. - II
special from Wardner to the Spokes
man-Review says: Wardner today has
been the scene of the worst riots since
the deadly labor war of 1892. One
man is dead, another is thought to be
mortally wounded and property valued
at $3.50, 900 has been destroyed by giant
powder and fire. The damage was done
by union men and sympathizers from
Canyon creek, about twenty miles from
Wardper. This morning a mob of
from 800 to 1000 men, all Of them
armed and many Of them masked,
seized a train at Burke, at the head Of
Canyon creek. The visitors brought
with them 5000 pounds Of giant
powder. After Il parley Of two hours.
40 masked men, armed with Winches-
tiers. Burke in the lead and Wardner
following, started with yells for the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan mill and
other buildings, a third of a mile from
the depot. They sent pickets ahead and
one of these pickets fired a shot as a
signal that the mill was abandoned.
This was misunderstood by the main
body of the mob, who imagined that
no%n.union miners in the hills had
opened fire Oh them, and they began
firing On their own pickets. About
1000 shots were thus exchanged be-
tween the rioters and their pickets, and
Jack Smith, one Of the pickets, former
~ of British Columbia and a noted
figure in drill contests, was shot dead.
The fatal error was discovered after a
few seconds firing and Smiths body
was brought down from the hillside.
By this time the strikers had taken
possession Of the Bunker Hill and Sulli-
a mill, which they found deserted,
the manager having directed his em-
ployes not to risk their lives by bat
thing with the mob. Powder was called
for and sixty fifty pound boxes were
from the depot to the mill.
The heaviest charge was placed among
the machinery of the mill. Another
was placed under the brick
office building. Other charges were
placed around the mill. Then the
boarding house, a frame structure, was
Fuses leading to the charges
were lighted and the strikers, carrying
the dead body of the picket, retired to a
safe distance. At 2 :36 p. m. the first
blast went off. It shook the ground for
miles and buildings in Wardner, two
miles away, trembled. At intervals of
about thirty seconds four other charges
went off, the fifth being the largest and
demolishing the mill. The
loss to the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
company is estimated at from $3.50, 900
to $500. 900.
In a few minutes the strikers went
back to the station, the whistle was
blown for stragglers, the mob soon
aboard and at 3 O'Clock. just
three hours after it's arrival, the train
out for Canyon creek.
During the fusilade from the guns of
The mob. Jim Chayne, a Bunker Hill
md Sullivan mill man, was severely
shot through the hips. 1t is reported
chat he was carried off by the strikers
md his wound is probably fatal.
j. J. Rogers, a stenographer in the
- the company, was shot
the lip. but his wound is
This morning the $50 non.union min.
,rs at the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
lad warning of the coming of the mob
md left the mine and took to the hills.
They have not been seen since. Union
men working in the Last Chance left
mine this morning, presumably to
take part in the riot.