Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-04-14
ADMINISTRATIONS INNING
A Reporter of the Review Sings
His Song TO the
Committee.
HIRED TO WRITE UP THE AFFAIR
Says the Prisoners At the Bull Pea
We're Well Fed aud
Cared For.

WASHINGTON, April I3 An interest
ing circumstantial story Of the labor
troubles i'll the CCeur d'Alene district was
given to the house military affairs com-
mittee yesterday by Conner Malott, re-
porter of the Spok esman Review of Spo-
kane. He was sent to Wardner April as
to report trouble which it was expected
would follow the miners strike declared
there. On arriving at Wardner, witness
said, he found serious condition of af-
fairs. The relations between the union
and non union elements were seriously
strained, the former alluding TO the lat
ter as 'scabs" and the latter calling the
no neutral element and open hostilities
were threatened.
Witness stopped at Pages hotel, the
| rendezvous of the union element, and
learned the results of union meetings
from President Boyle. Opportunity was
given he said, for non union men to join
the union of which the latter did not
avail themselves. Thereupou an all-night
| meeting of the union was held. Early
the following morning a visit was paid
to the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine
and the so.called "scabs" were driven
out amid boots and pistol shots. FIRE.
quent disturbances occurred during that
day. Witness said he asked President
Boyle if any further acts Of violence were
! to be attempted by the union. The lat
ter replied there would not, and ex-
pressed fear that the strike was not to be
successful. Witness said Sheriff Young
had requested him to color his report.
About that time Sheriff Young, Presi-
dent Boyle and others of the miners
union went to Wallace, and there was a
mysterious absence of union men for two
days from Wardner.
Saturday the town was seriously dis
turbed by report that the miners of Can
yon creek were coming down to clear
out the Bunker Hill and Sullivan,
Witness went to the station, where lit
found a crowd assembled. Shortly after
ward he observed train coming aroun'
the bend crowded with armed men, par
, of whom were masked. 1t stopped at tn
bend and took aboard large number O
union men of Wardner, who had bee
hiding in the bushes. Proceeding to th
station the train discharged its load q
human freight and Immediately thos
, who were masked formed processio
, and marched to the mill, leaving thos
, armed but not masked to guard the pow
, der and dynamite being unloaded froi
, the cars.
. Sheriff Young appeared, mounted
pyramii formed by boxes of explosive
and commanded as an official of til
county that the mob disperse, but NJ
body but the sheriff dispersed. Explo
: ives were then carried to the mill, place
: under the machinery and the building
' fired.
Witness was seized and taken to blu
overlooking the scene. Innocent spect
tors, he said, as closely guarded as hir
self, were cruelty treated by their guard
and some were ordered to run. The O
der was Immediately countermande
not. however, before two took to the
heels and were shot at. One of the
subsequently died.
As a result of fire and the explosion
he said, three large buildings and t'
smaller ones were destroyed. No offici
attempted to preserve order or preve
these acts of violence.
Witness declared that terror reigned
Wardner for three days following Il
attack, until federal troops arrive
There were frequent rumors that Cany
creek miners were going to return
sack the town, and business was 81
pended. Witness said he talked vi
members of both factions, and had be
told by Mike Flynn, committeeman
the union, that it was their intention /
he not escaped, of blowing up Burbit
with the mill.
TT