The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-30

chants of the town shut up most of
their establishments. AS the first shots
were heard the excitement increased.
Children were running about crying
and trying to get comfort from older
persons but all were too busy to look
at them. Scores Of women and children
hastily made preparations to leave the
place. Packing what few belongings
could be gathered together quickly, the
crowd rushed to the depot. All were
intent upon getting aboard the passen-
gen train that was soon to leave for
Spokane. Others took to the hills for
safety for few hours, hoping to 'be
able to return soon to their homes.
The town of Wallace is situated in a
cuplike basin, from which radiate three
principal valleys. To the east runs the
mountain pass through which the Mis-
soula cutoff finds it's way into the i'll
starred mining region. To the north
the Canyon Creek pass leads to the
rich mining camps of Burke and Gem.
To the west runs the Occur d'Alene
river, to the lake of the same name,
and along this is the railway line of the
o. r. & N. Co., to Spokane. The North
ern Pacific has branch line which
runs up Canyon creek to Burke. Along
this branch are located the great pro-
ducers that have made the region IA
Gem, Tiger, Poorman, Black Bear and
others. The Miners union controls these
camps and it's power there is absolute.
1t was at Burke, at the head of the can
yon, that the mob that wrecked the
Bunker Hill property took forcible pos
session of the Northern Pacific train
and ran it down to Wallace, at the
mouth of the creek. There were not
cars enough in the train, according to
private advices, and the mob of miners
took box cars, fiat cars-anything that
would ROLAND rode down to Wallace.
At that point the 0. r. & n. tracks
have junction with the Northern Pa
ciiic. To get to Wardner it was neces-
sary to run over the tracks of the other
road. There was brief parley and the
stolen train was run upon the o. r. &
n. tracks and sent speeding on it's way
to Wardner, IL miles down the line.
There We're at least 500 of the miners
in the armed mob. Resistance was
useless and the roting miners had ev-
| erything their own way Fifteen or 20
of them missed the train at Wallace,
but they boarded an engine in the yards
and at the muZZles of their rifles, COM
PEELED the engineer to take them after
the flying train with it's death-dealing
load. The press dispatches tell the rest
of the story.
| +. r. Culbertson, manager of the
| Tiger-Poorman company, was a pas
senger on the eastbound Northern Pa
| cific train last night, en- route to the
| far East with his ft.hlilS. Tc a Stand
ard representative Mr.. Culbertson said:
Il do not look for any disturbance on
Canyon creek. I got up early this MORN
| ing to go to Wallace to take the train
for the East. I noticed that none of
our men were in sight and found that
none were at work This was a strange
! condition of affairs as we had received
no notice of the intention of the men to
! quit I learned afterward that they
We're holding a meeting and ! at once
| sent for one of the union leaders. In
response to a question from me he said
| that there would be no trouble on Can
yon creek. told him that | had planned
| to go East. but wanted to remain if
there was any trouble in sight. He in
| formed me that l might go East with
| perfect safety, as the men would all go
| to work when the night shift went on.
| He said that the men We're going to
Wardner, but that there would be no
violence. They We're going to try to
| persuade the men to quit work. I then
went to Wallace and knew nothing of
! the trouble till / reached Missoula.
where I was told of the destruction Of
the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mill. |
| have received no private information.