Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-03-24
ldahO's Governor TestifieS As TO
What He Knows About the
C0eur d'Alene Riots.
THE BUNKER HILL TELEGRAMS.
Said lie Had Thoroughly Investigated the
Need OF Martial Law-locai Admins.
tration OF the Law Was Farce.

WASHINGTON, March 23.--Unusual in-
terest attached to the Cuur d'Alene in
Vestigation yesterday as the prosecution,
after presenting testimony almost unin-
terruptedly for five weeks, closed its case
aud gave way to the defense.
Governor Steunenberg of Idaho was
the first witness called i'll rebuttal of the
charges made. As he took the stand lie
spread before him several hundred ttle-
graphic dispatches. The examination
was conducted by ]. c. Cheney. He read
telegrans dated several days prior to the
blowing up of the Bunker Hill mill on
April 20 and leading up to that event,
On April 2b Fred X. Burbidge of the
Bunker Hill mine telegraphed that an
armed mob had stopped the Bunker Hill
men from working and called for protec
ton TO property interests. He also read
and others showing that steps were neces-
sary TO maintain order. The governor
had suggested an arbitration Of the differ
ences, but in answer Burbidge stated that
there was nothing to arbitrate, and again
called for protection,
On April 20, the day of the blowing up
of the mill, Steunenberg said he received
at 1857 a. m a dispatch from Burhidge
stating that all the miners of Canyon
creek had laid off and were coming TO
| Wardner to menace the Bunker Hill men
| At the same time dispatches were re-
ceived from A. L. Mohler, of the O. X. x
n first stating that an armed force had
taken possession of the railway tracks al
| Wardner, and then at a p: III. stating thai
the rioters had set fire to the mill ant
that they had placed dynamite under th'
mill and ii would be blown up. Sherit
Young also telegraphed to him from
Wardner that the mill had been blown ur
At p. III. the governor said he sent
dispatch to the president calling for fed
eral aid, as the Idaho troops were absen
i'll the Philippines The governor said II
had been i'll prior to the Coeur d'Alen
excitement, and being unable to SO /
person he sent as his representative Bar
lett Sinclair to the seat of disorder. O
April 80 Sinclair telegraphed urging thu
, the president be advised to rush trool
from the nearest post.
He also telegraphed that the local a
mnistration of the law was farce Al
amounted to inaladministration. Mar
: like telegrans, showing the making
: arrests, etc, were read by the governo
: On this information and from his ov
. knowledge of affairs for six years, he HI
. proclaimed that a state of insurrecti'
!. and rebellion existed at the scene of t
!. disturbance.
Sinclair had made speeches in NJ
= York for Henry George, so that the &C
J. crnor said lie regarded him as qualitl
( to give fair consideration to the lat
) situation. Steunenberg then related
= detail the steps taken to carry out
D proclamation. Arrests were made OF tho
2 reasonably suspected OF completely i'll
" disturbance
The governor said he took such prec;
- tions as were possible to look after
prisoners But the condition of ins
reCtou we're most unusual, and at ey'
point the authorities were enhatras
by the insurI dictionary element, He
] tied the stoCkade occupied by the pris
; ers aud sought to have the stockade
permanent quarters completed lie S
he talked with the prisoners who
: him that the bread supply was top liz
but everything else was all right.
y chief connssary of the state inforr
him that the parties who furnished
1 bread had been waited upon by a C
mittee aud warned that they mnst
stint the supply. A bakery was ther
Ter built by the authorities and (
bread furnished.
Governor Steunenberg was asked vi
the iusurrection had its inception
what mining camps engaged in 1T.
He said that in his opinion the mil
district of Shoshone county he'd bee
A state of insurrection since ISg2.
nsurrection of April 70, he said, sta
At Burke, where meeting was hel'
the hall of the Western Federatio
Miners The participants proceede'
| arm themselves anu Nfuk ny NIaii
Warduer. AT Gem, he said sin
meeting at similar hall was held
arms and masks were distributed
y described the gradual concentratioi
the men at Wardner, where they wa
in disorganized state until single
u zine came from Wallace. Then sys
Y attic or 'e,s were gwen, the hrss u
'Wardner, to the front.
A party secured dynamite, which
nIaced under the mill and fired. +
~ ,egau .indiscrimiuately and one oi
" .nSadipp party was killed. Some G
O. Bunker Hill employees were Ia Ken
e oner by the masked mcn.
" The governors description was
@ tended and circumstantial, and hrS
= ,ut frequent objections from n T
vs. N the ground that it was hearSA y,
g GoyeTaor Steunenberg was as keh
- mart the United States troops to ook
~ frrest and detention OF the i1Hpn
,sN miners.
He said the position tn cc,1pie
" the same as that the state IN II a
NsG have occupied If they had been ava