The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

Strong testimony was given go he Occur
d'Alene enquiry yesterday 20 show that
men who could have had no connection
with the destruction Of the mill OF The
Bunker Hin mine were taken into GUS
tody boy the military authorities and cast
into he BUN pen TO languish without trial
The man who gave his testimony was
Allen F. GIL. master mechanic Of the Tiger
and Poor Man Mining Company. az Burke
Idaho
He had held various positions Of trust
and importance with other companies and
was not member Of any labor org8niza-
lion. As master mechanic OF the mine %
his duty 10 employ direct and. when
occasion required 10 discharge employees
in the mechanical department Of the mine.
He WAS ar Burke. engaged in the perform
snce Of his duties when the Bunker Hill
mill was blown up on April %. 1899
on that day he town had been normally
quiet His men were az work. Those al
the surface were members Of the Western
Federation Of Labor and those under
ground were members Of the Miners
Union. They continued ar work until the
arrival OF the colored troops. when many
of them and himself were placed under
arrest
Mr. Lent interrogated the witness He
asked:
Where were you on April 302"
u was al the mine, All my men were
at work at the mine on that day with the
exception Of four. Everything was per
fectly quiet and peaceahle-"
Did you see any evidences Of iusurrec-
ton ."
No. sir. the town was quiet"
Were the men al your mine al work.
They remained at work three OF four
days until a number Of them were arrest
ed When the troops came I went to the
commanding officer. Major Morton, and eX-
planned TO him that the manager Of the
mine being absent ! was in charge. and 7
would have to have passes for the men TO
come and go"
! do not know anything about sou
and viii place you under arrest said Nor
ton" The witness said Morton declared
This Is martial law He was not allow 4
ed 10 send telegram to the manager or I
president Of the mining company He 4
heard Morton order soldiers TO break into I
private dwellings and search them 1T /
was about in front Of my house said the 4
witness. that ! was arrested. ] heard .
Morton command a soldier TO break into I
my house. The soldier tried the door and
finding il locked broke il in. The house
was searched
Was there any disturbance in Burke
until the arrival Of the soldiers"
was there any opposition to the civil
"Nc sir
50 far as YOU observed was there any
need for the troops?"
You want my oPinion2
Yea sir.
Justice vas defeated by troops The
guilty men, who feared arrest. escaped
from Burke over a pass into Montana.
The men who were innocent. ana did not
fear arrest. remained until the troops ar
rived. and we're placed under arrest.
The witness told OF trip which be made
70 Nardner to seek the release Of men
from the pull pen, that be might keep his
mine IN operation; men IN whose behalf he
had made affidsvits 10 the effect that they
we're attending TO the regular duties al /
he time q thu blowing up Of the Bunker I
Bill properly.
When you were az Wardner TO see Sin
slair did you 60 10 he buu peug~
"Yes ] stood on jhe outside and saw I
srEe crowd Of men thought q very
gresi number Of men to be confined IN 80 /
sznall a building Many of the men had
heir gum clothes on. They were black and
iirty and miserable looking
What Is the difference in the temoers- /
lure Of The mine and The surface. o"
IN parts OF the mine 10 Is 100 degrees
and in all parts Of the mine 10 il too warm /
'Ur comfort At the surface d. b. chilly l
II Is the practice OF the miners. when they
are through with their WORK iu he mine I
70 change their clothing for heavier When I
he men were arrested they had on their I
working clothes which were vct. and OF . :
curse. thin.
The committee ~ noon adjourned to re- ,
onveue Al Do o'clock Monday morning
HeuHe,.s Haes Bo1 .s ,galu.ive 70 good