Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-03
TELLS OF The CONSPIRACY
GOVERNOR STEUNENBERG. OF IDA.
HO, GIVES IMPORTANT IN
FORMATION
the Blowing Up of the
Bunker Hill Mine and h Law
lessness in Cour d'Alene Before
That Date-Ed. Boyce, of the Wes-
tern Federation of Miners, Blamed
With Originating the Conspiracy.

tAC
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE chief
interest in Gov. Steunenberg's testi-
mony before the Occur d'Alene inves-
tigation to-day was in his continuance
OF the recital, begun at the last session
of the committee, of disturbed eondi-
lions prior to the uprising of April
last.
He had been asked by Representa-
tive Dick why he refused to disband
the militia of the Occur d'Alene dis
trict in 1897. as had been requested
by the County Commissioners. He
said that at that time the officers OF
the Western Federation of Miners
were advising the arming of the
unions, and he read an address by one
of these officials stating that every
union should have a rife club" and
that lin two years we can hear the
inspiring music of 5 5000 armed men
in the ranks of labor"
Gov. Steunenberg said that follow
ing this there were evidences in the
Occur d'Alene district that the advice
was being followed.
A body of armed and masked men,
he said, appeared at Mullan and COM
PEELED the delivery of a large supply
of arms and ammunition, owned by
the State of Idaho, and stored there
pending the organization of a militia
company. He began correspondence
and inquiry and could get no trace of
the arms, or those who took them.
When he applied to the local sheriff
the latter answered in effect to mind
your own business"
The Governor said that about the
same time he received a letter from
the G. A. R. commander at Murray
stating that a number of rifles and
ammunition were in danger of being
stolen. Threats had been made to
seize them and a notification had been
served that they would be taken. The
G. A. r. asked to be relieved of furth-
er responsibility, and the Governor
said he had the arms boxed and ship
ped away.
Gov. ~Steunenberg said he sent Adju-
tant Genral French to Couer d'Alene,
who reported that q movement was on
foot, on the disbanding of the militia,
Tor miners to come to Wardner and
dynamite the Bunker Hill mill. There
were REPEATED threats, the Governor
said, that the officials of the mine
would be murdered if they did not es-
cape before the Canon Creek miners
came down. He said he was shocked
to learn that Frederick B. Whitney,
superintendent of the Frisco mine, had
been taken from his room at night by
sixteen armed and masked men,
marched down the creek and shot, dy-
ing in a day or two.
A stir was caused in the committee
room when Gov. Stenuenberg, in an
swering a question as to what he knew
of a conspiracy in connection with
the blowing up of the Bunker Hill
mill, said:
Il learned that Mr.. Ed. Boyce, presi-
dent of the Western Federation of Min
ers, was in that county ten days before
the explosion of the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan mill, and at that time he in
augurated or perfected this conspiracy
by choosing twenty men from the diff
ferent organizations in that county and
swearing them. These twenty mon
chose one each and swore him, and
the forty each chose a mar and swore
him, and the eighty each chose a man
and swore him. In that way, there
were at least 100 men in this conspir-
acy to do this thing sworn to secrecy
Representative Hay, of Virginia,
questioned the Governor sharply as to
his sources of information, and from
whom he learned this.
The Governor hesitated a moment,
and then said:
Il learned these facts from James r.
Sovereign, through a mutual friend"
When Mr.. Hay wanted the name of
the mutual friend, there was some
question as to giving the name, but
the Governor finally gave it as A. B.
Campbell. Mr.. Hay asked if Mr..
Campbell was in the committee room,
and the answer came that he a
Mr.. Sovereign was also present.
The Governor said he had not been
able to get further evidence, as people
who lived in the county were afraid
they would be assassinated if they
were known to have given any infor-
nation.
Committee took recess.
Late in the day. Gov. Steunenberg's
examination was completed, after he
had been on the stand twelve days, and
he was excused.
Brighten. ". H. Carlin, U. S. A, re-
tired. was the next witness. He tes-
titled that he was in command OF the
United States troops in the Couer
d'Alenes during the trouble in 1892,
and gave a recital of the disturbed
condition there.
Gen. Carlin will continue when the
investigation is resumed tomorrow.
INTO THE SHEET TRUST.