Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-23
Occur d'A|ene Mine |nvestIga-
ton Causes Much Interest
WHY TROOPS WERE SENT
The Governor Of Idaho Tes>
titles Before the Committee

Washington, March 23.-Unusual In
terest attached to the Ceur d'Alene In
vestigation. as the prosecution, afte
presenting testimony almost uninterrupt
eddy for five weeks, closed it's case an,
gave way to the defense. Governo
Steunenberg Of Idaho was the first wit
ness called to rebut the charges whicl
have been made.
Governor Steunenberg said he wal
elected governor of Idaho in 1895 on til,
People's-D Democratic ticket, having &C
cepted the nomination of the Democrat,
convention. He read a number of tele
grams dated several days prior to thu
blowing up of the Bunker Hill mill OF
April 20 and leading up to that event
On April 26 Frederick Burbridge of the
Bunker Hill mine telegraphed that al
armed mob had stopped the Bunker Hill
men from working and calling for protec.
ton to the property interests. He also
read kilograms to and from the sheriff
and others showing the steps taken to
maintain order.
The governor suggested arbitration OF
differences, but in answer Mr.. Burbridge
stated that there was nothing to arbi-
trate and again called for protection. On
April 20, the day of the blowing up of
the mill, Governor S~teunenberg said lie
received at 1887 a. IN. a dispatch from
Mr.. Burbridge stating that all the min
ers of Canyon Greek had laid off and
were coming to Wardner to menace the
Bunker Hill men. This was accolnpa-
MED by another request for protection.
At the same time dispatches were re-
ceived from A. l. Mohler of the o. r.
and N. railroad first stating that an
armed force had taken possession of the
railway tracks at Wardner and then, at
4 p. M, stating that the rioters had set
fire to the Bunker Hill mill, that they
had placed dynamite under the, mill and
that it would be blown up.rs Sheriff
Young also telegraphed him from Ward
ner that the mill was blown up and Civ
ing the gravity of the situation. At G
p. M. the governor said he sent a dispatch
to the president calling for federal aid.
AS the Idaho troops were absent in the
Why Sinclair Was Sent,
The governor said he had been ill prior
to the CGur d'.Alene excitement, and, be.
ng unable to go in person, he sent q rep
'esentative, Bartlett Sinclair. to the seat
If disorder. On April 80 Sinclair tele-
sraphed urging that the president be ad-
to rush troops from the nearest
post. He also telegraphed that
lie had thoroughly investigated the need
If martial law. shat nine-tenths Of the
'ltizens favored martial law, that the
ocai administration Of the law was a
arce and amounted to maladministra-
ion. that people were afraid to testify
nd that masked men were prowling
bout the town terrifying people.
Many like kilograms showing the ex-
itins developments from day to day, the
rming OF citizens, the making of ar
etc, were read by the governor. |
IN this information, the governor said. |
nd from his W knowledge of affairs
or six years, including repeated out
ages, with apparently no effort to an
rchend the guilty parties, he proclaimed
a state of insurrection and rebellion
xisted at the scene of disturbance.
Governor Steunenberg said he caution.
Sinclair not to align himself with Ell
her SIDE, employers or employed. Sin
ar had made speeches in New York
" Henry George, SO that the governor
nj he regarded him as qualified to give
'lr consideration to the labor situation.
Representative Lentz objected Mt this
lint 10 the line Of inquiry of Nj, Cheney
I'd. also questioned the propriety of hay-
& private counsel direct the investiga-
IN. AS there were frequent objections
questions. the committee agreed to a
otion by Mr.. Sulzer that the governor
allowed to tell his story in his W
ny without interruption.
The Arrests # Suspects.
S~teunenberg then related in
tail the steps taken to carry out the
The arrests were made.
said, of those reasonably suspected of
implicitly in the disturbance.
The governor said he took such nre-
utions as were possible to look after
2 prisoners, but the conditions of in
ERECTION were most unusual, and at ev-
Y point the authorities were embar-
'sed by the insurrectionary element.
visited the barn and the stockade oc-
pied by the prisoners and sought to
the s%tockade, Or permanent quar-
=, completed.
Governor St%eunenberg was asked
ere the insurrection had it's inception }
l what mining camps engaged in it.
said that in his opinion the mining
trict of Shoshone county had been in
tate of insurrection since 1892. The =
direction Of April 20, he said, started
Burke, where a meeting was held in
hall of the Western Federation Of
ners. The participants proceeded to
1 themselves and went by train to
lrdner. AT Gem, he said, a similar
citing at a similar hall was held, and
is and masks were distributed,
described the gradual concentra- ,
of the men at Wardner in a disor. ,
lied state until a single engine mr.
ID from Wallace. Then systematic
ers We're given, the first being Ward
to the front" A party secured dyna.
which was placed under the mill
fired. Firing began Unfortunately.
II of the invading party was killed.
he of the Bunker Hill employees were
N prisoners by the masked men. The
ernor's description was extended and
umstantial and brought out frequent
from Mr.. Lentz on the ground
it was hearsay. y