Evening star., 1900-03-22
Gov. Steuueuberg's Narrative to tho
Military Affairs Committee.
BUNKER hill MILL EXPLOSION
Demand for the Establishment of
Martial Law.
MANY TELEGRAMS OFFERED

ufunterruptSQly Tor nVe weeks, CioSeu IT'S
case and gave way to the defense.
Governor Steunenberg of Idano was the
first witness called to rebut the charges
which have been made. He is a type of tho
sturdy far west, of massive build. and his
indifference to epnventionaitties IS shown
by refusal to wear a necktie. AS he took
the stand he spread before him several
hundred telegraph dispatches.
The examination was conducted by ]. c.
Cheney. one of the counsel for the defense.
The Bunker Hill Mil ExpIosion.
Governor Steunenberg said that he was
elected governor of Idaho in 1896. on the
peoples-democratic ticket. having accepted
the nomination Of the democratic conven-
ticn. He read a number of kilograms, dated
several days prior to the blowing up of the
Eunker Hill mill on April %, and leading up
to that event. On April 26 Frederick bur
bridge of the Bunker Hill mine telegraphed
that an armed mob had stopped the Bunker
hill men from working, and he called for
protection to the property interests.
He also read many 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 there was
nothing to arbitrate, and again called for
protection. On April 29, the day of the
blowing up of the mill, Governor Steunen-
berg said he received at 1887 an a dis
patch from Mr.. Burbridge. stating that all
the miners Of Canyon creek had laid off
and were coming to Nardner to menace the
Bunker Hill men, This was accompanied
by another request for protection. At the
same time dispatches We're received from A.
L. Mohler Of the o. R. and N. railroad first
stating that an armed force had taken pos
session Of the railway tracks at Wardner,
and then at pm. stating that the rioters
had set fire to the Bunker Hill MILL that
they had placed dynamite under the mill
and that 1t would be blown up.
Asked for Federal Aid.
Sheriff Young also telegraphed him from
Wardner that the mill was blown up and
giving the gravity of the situation At 6
pm. the governor said he sent dispatch
to the President calling for federal aid. as
the Idaho troops were absent in the Philip
pines.
The governor said he had been i'll prior
to the Occur dAlene excitement, and being
unable to go in person he sent represen-
tative, Bartlett Sinclair to the seat of dis
order.
Bartlett Sfnclair's Advice.
On April 80 Sinclair telegraphed, urging
that the President be advised to rush troops
from the nearest available post. He also
telegraphed that he had thoroughly inves-
tigated the need Of martial law; that nine
tenths of the citizens favored martial law:
that the local administration of the law
was farce and amounted TO maladm!nis-
tration: that people were afraid to testify
and that masked men We're Drowling about
the town terrifying people.
Many like kilograms showing the exciting
developments from day to day. the arming
of the citizens, the making of arrests. ETC..
We're read by the governor. On this infor-
nation. the governor said, and from his
own knowledge of affairs for six years in
cludins repeated outrages with apparently
no effort to apprehend the guilty parties
he proclaimed that state of insurrection
and rebellion existed at the scene OF dis
turbance.
Governor steunenberg said he caut:oA: !:
Sinclair not to align himself with either
side. employers or employees. Sinclair had
made speeches in New York for Henry
George, so that. the governor said, he re-
garded him as qualified to give fair consid-
GRAFTON to the labor situation.
Question of Private Counsel,
Representative Lentz objected at this
point to the line of inquiry by Mr. Cheney
and also questioned the propriety of hav-
ing private counsel direct the fnvestisa-
ton.
Chairman Hull replied that the prosecu-
ton had selected Mr. Lentz to direct its
side, Mr.. Robinson. an attorney for the
miners. had assisted and the defense was
entitled to have counsel.
The committee voted to permit the ques-
ton to stand as the attorney propounded
1t. As there were frequent objections TO
ton by Mr. Sulzer that the governor be
allowed to tell his story in his own way
without interruption.
Gov. Steunenberg then related In detail
the steps taken to carry out the proca-
nation. The arrests were made. he said,
of those reasonably suspected of completely
in the disturbance.
Care of the Prisoners.
The governor said he took such precau-
ttons as were possible to look after the
prisoners. But the conditions of iusurrec-
tion were most unusual, and at every point
the authorities were embarrassed by the
iEsurrectionary element He visited the
barn and the stockade occupied by the
prisoners. and sought to have the stockade.
or permanent quarters, completed. He said
he talked with the prisoners, who told him
that the bread was too light, but everything
else all right. The chief commissary
Of the state informed him that the parties
who furnished bread had been waited upon
by committee and warned that they must
not continue the supply. A bakery was
thereafter built by the authorities and good
bread supplied.
Beginning of the Outbreak.
Gov. Steunenberg was asked where the
insurrection had its inception and what
mining camps engaged in 1t. He said that
in his opinion the mining district of Sho-
shone county had been in a state of insur-
rection since 1892.
The insurrection of April %, he said,
started al Burke, where a meeting was held
in the hall of the Western Federation of
Miners The participants proceeded to arm
themselv and went by train to Wardner
At Gem, he said, a similar meeting at a
similar hall was held and arms and masks
were distributed. He described the gradual
concentration of the men at Wardner,
where, he said. thsy waited in a disorgan-
lied state until a single engine arrived from
Wallace. Then systematic orders were
given, the first being "Wardner to the
'front.' A party secured dynamite which
was placed under the mill and fired. Firing
began indiscriminately and one of the in
vading party was killed. Some of the Bun
ker Hill employees were taken prisoners by
the masked man.
The governors description was extended
and circumstantial and brought out fire.
quent objections from Mr. Lentz on the
ground that 1t was hearsay.
Course of the Troops Approved
Gov. Steunenberg was asked what part
the United States troops took in the arrest
and detention of imprisoned miners. He
said the position they occupied was the
same as that which the state militia would
have occupied IL they mad been available
The governor said the course of the
United States troops as coming under his