The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-07


Coeur d'Alene investigation was re-
sumed today the house military COM
mittee held an executive session and
decided not TO call on the president for
affidavits filed with him relative to
the conditions in the mining country
under martial law.
This decision was due TO some ques-
ton as to the right to make such re-
quests Of the president, and more par
ticuiarly because the affidavits were
not considered legal evidence
Andrew Devlin, a miner, was the first
witness today. His evidence was di-
rected TO showing that orderly cOndi-
tions prevailed, and that the local au-
thOrities could have dealt with the sit
uation without resort to martial law.
James r. Sovereign. formerly master
workman Of the Knights Of Labor, said
he was in the Occur d'Alene district
during the demonstration against the
Bunker Hill mines and was editor of
the official organ of the miners or
ganization at Wallace. Ida He at
tended a labor meeting at Gem. Ida.
the night before the blowing up Of the
mill. and later that night attended a
meeting at Wallace, but there was no
talk of blowing up the mill.
Blowing up OF Mills.
He never heard that any demonstra-
ton was contemplated against the
mining property. The next morning,
while standing in front of his Office. a
man on horseback rode by and said,
Sovereign, they are coming"
He asked who were coming, and the
horseman answered, The Canyon
Checkers"
He saw a train with a number of
men aboard going down TO Wardner.
There were conflicting rumOrs Of what
would occur at Wardner. He went
down on the noon train and reached
Wardner in time to hear the three ex-
ploSiOns when the mill was blown up.
He saw many men, some with Win
chesters, and there was considerable
firing.
To avoid the confusion he stepped on
an engine. While on the engine a man
with a revolver boarded the cab and
demanded that the train be brought
to stop, and this was done Mean
time there was some shooting into the
fiume of the mining camp.
The train then proceeded to Wallace.
There was no excitement there. The
same quiet prevailed at Wardner, KEEL
logg and other points.
Mr.. Sovereign told of his appearance
and several lawyers identified with the
mining interests were present As the
military were in control, Mr.. Sovereign
applied TO military headquarters for a
pass He said he told the major in
command that he was president of a
Montana mining company. Thereupon
the officer showed excessive affability
and said the military forces proposed
to take care of the mine operators. He
heard he was 10 be arrested, but this
never occurred
Severity of the Soldiers.
Mr. Sovereign said he had advised
that the soldiers be used 10 assist the
local authorities. but not to enforce
martial law. Instead OF that, martial
law was enforced with extreme sever
ity. The conditions were less acute. he
said. than in Chicago during the great
strike, and yet the military system
adopted was far more rigid.
Mr.. Sovereign described scenes az the
bull pen" He said he heard negro
soldiers use obscene language against
the imprisoned miners. When the men
were arrested they wore light clothing,
such as is used in deep mines. and al
though the weather. was very cold. they
received no additional clothing
The witness stated that while one Of
the miners was in the bull pen a
party attempted 10 force an entrance
to the room Of a miners wife. The
man committing the Offense was ar
rested by & local constable. but after
wards released by the soldiers.
When asked who was the response
bic official in charge Of affairs. Mr.
Sovereign said there was no difference
between Governor Steunen5eTg. Cen
eral Merriam. Captain Edwards and
Auditor Sinclair
They all had -Jorgersens be-
hind them. he declared. He added
that one of the mine officials had given
the order TO fire al the time the de-
mented miner, Johnson. was shot. Mr.
Sovereign win continue tomorrow.