The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-07
SOVEREIGN ON THE STAND.
TELLS WHAT HE KNEW OF THE
CoEUR D'ALENE DYNAMITING.
Also of the Manner in Which Mar
thai Law Was Enforced, and the
Privations of Men in the Bull Pen
He Himself Was Not Arrested.

WASHINGTON, March s-Before the
Occur d'Alene investigation was resumed
today the house military committee held
an executive session and decided not TO
call on the president for the affidavits filed
with him relative to the conditions in the
mining country under martial law, This
decision was due to some question as to
the right to make such requests OF the
president, and more particularly because
the af1davits were not considered legal
evidence.
Andrew DevIin was the first witness to-
day. His evidence was directed TO show
ing that orderly conditions prevailed and
that the local authorities could have dealt
with the situation without resort to mar
tial law.
SOVEREIGN Takes the stand.
James r. Sovereign, formerly master
workman OF the Knights OF Labor, said
he was in the Occur d'Alene district dur
ing the demonstration against the Bum
ker Hill mines, and was editor of the
ofYicia organ of the miners organization
at Wallace, Idaho. He attended a labor
meeting at Gem. Idaho, 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.
He never heard that any demonstration
was contemplated against the mining
property. The next morning, while stand
ing In front OF his ONCE, a man on horse
back rode by and said:
sovereign. they are coming
He asked who were coming. and the
horseman said: The Canyon Creekcrs.'
story of the Explosion.
He saw a train with a number OF men
aboard going down toward wardner There
were conflicting rumors Of what would oc-
cur at Wardner. He went down on the
noon train. and reached wardner In time
60 hear three explosions, when the mill
was blown up He saw many men. some
with Winchesters, and there was consid-
cradle firing. To avoid the confusion he
stepped on an engine. While on the en-
zine a man with revolver boarded the
cab and demanded that the train be
brought TO a stop. and this was done.
Meantime 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 pre-
vailed at Wardner, Kellogg and other
points.
Pretended to he . Mine Owner.
Sovereign told OF his appearance before
tho coroner. when many soldiers and sew
eral lawyers identified with the mining in
teYests were present. As the military were
In control Sovereign applied to military
headquarters for pass. He said he told
the major In command that he was presi-
dent OF Montana mining company.
Thereupon the officer showed excessive
sffabillty and said the military forces pro-
posed to take care OF tho mine operators.
He heard that he was to be arrested, but
this never occurred.
Martial Law Enforced.
Sovereign said he had advised that the
soldiers be used to assist the local au-
thorities, but not to enforce martial law.
Instead OF that, martial law was enforced
with extreme severity. The conditions
were less acute. he said. than I'm Chicago
during the great strike, and yet the mill