The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-02
ROOSEVELT ASSAULTED
BY a Crowd of Roughs at Victor, Colo.
Escorted TO His Train by His Rough
Rider

Cripple Creek, Colo September 20
Governor Roosevelt had a most excit-
ing experience today at Victor, a few
miles from Cripple Creek, among the
mines where a demonstrative crowd
had assembled.
The governor had a narrow escape
from serious personal violence. The
incident was the only one Of the kind
that has occurred during the progress
of the trip. and il is said that the
roubl was occasioned By a small
BODY of roughs who had been organ
lied and paid for The purpos of break
ing up the meeting. The men gag
were few in number, but very violent
in their attack
Governor Roosevelt spoke at Armory
hall, which was filed. He had hardly
begun speaking when he was inter
rupted by noisy demonstrations. He
said:
I'm my state the men who were put
on the platform committee to draw up
an antitrust platform at Kansas CITY
had at that time their pockets filled
with ice trust stock. The democratic
leader in New York. Richard Croker
upon whom you base your only nope,
and il is a mighty slim hope too, was
another great stakeholder and II, in
fact, you were to read through the list
u SLJChloAutAS ~ NAAoN - 80 $1,000
sound lii reading the roll of MEM
bers of Tammany Hail."
A voice cried: What about the rot
ten beef?'
The governor replied Il ate il, and
you will never get near enough to get
hit with a bullet or within five miles
of it,"
Governor Roosevelt succeeded in
finishing his remarks, though there
was an evident intention among those
present that he should not do so.
When the governor left the a with
his party to go toward the train he
was surrounded by a company OF
Rough Riders, commanded by Sherman
Bell, one of his own soldiers in the
Spanish war. He was also accompa-
MED by General Curtis Guild. Jr., of
Boston; John Proctor Clark, of New
York; General Irving Hale, of Colora-
do; United States Senator Wolcott,
Frank c.. Goudy, candidate for gov
ernor of Colorado; Percy S. Ryder,
candidate for lieutenant governor; A.
NJ. Stevens, Lieutenant Tfce and sew
eral others.
Governor Roosevelt and his party
were on foot a crowd of boys and
men began throwing stones and shout
ing for Bryan. The Rough Riders,
mounted and unmOunted, closed in
around the Governor to protect him
from assault by the mob. One made
a personal attack upon the governor
and succeeded in striking him a blow
in the breast with a stick. The as
sailant was Immediately knocked down
by Daniel NJ. Sullivan, postmaster of
Cripple Greek. a rush was then made
by the mob ito drag the mounted men
in khaki uniforms from their horses.
The men on foot, also in khaki, closed
around the governor, making a wedge
which pushed through the crowd and
they finally succeeded in gaining the
train which was by the
mob.
BY this time there were probably
1000 or 1900 excited people in the vi
cinity and fstcuffs were exchanged
on all sides. Many of the mob We're
armed with sticks and clubs and some
with rotten potatoes, stale eggs and
lemons. The entire party regained the
train, however, without serious injury
and il pulled out OF the place with the
Rough Riders on the rear platform.
Governor Roosevelt, while regreOting
the occurrence was not disturbed by
the incident and was ready to proceed
with his speeches in Cripple Creek.
Nebraska City, Neb., September 20
Being shown a telegram to the effect
that Roosevelt was ~Saulte at Vic
tor, Colo, by a band of hired ruffianS
tonight Mr.. Bryan wrote the following
statement:
From what 1 know of the people of
Colorado L am not WlIlluS 10 DeLISNe
without further evidence that they de-
MED to MI. Roosevelt or to any one
else a fair hearing. If it proves true
that he was mobbed or in any way in
terferred with / am ure that il was
not the work of any political organi-
ZatiOn. There can be no justification
for a resort TO violence in this country
and those who resort to it injure the
cause which they represent"
Denver, Colo, September 26.-The
following message has been received
in this city:
1.-THE Roosevelt train will pass
through Victor tonight on its journey
to Pueblo. Several detectives with
WinchesterS guard h train"