Arizona republican., 1903-06-11
ADDS TO THE TERRORS OF THE SITUATION IN MINING DISTRICT.
A SCORE OF LIVES LOST
The Strikers at Horenci Made the First Demonstration in the Cap- ture of the Detroit Company's Mill and the Disarming of the Guard-Regulars Rushed in Aid of the Militia and the Rangers.

Clifton, AriZ., June 10-(Special)- )- The greatest confusion prevails in the mining towns of Clifton and Morenci and in the adjoining camps. The sit uation, threatening as it has been for days. was intensified yesterday by a flood. excepting the Walnut Grove disaster, the most destructive in the history of the territory A cloudburst in upper Chase creek canyon poured a flood down into Clifton, sweeping everything before it.
 At the time of the arrival of your correspondent there this evening the details of the disaster had not been gathered together. It is said that twenty-five lives were lost and that fourteen bodies have so far been re- covered. The shelter of the Arizona Copper company has been badly, and even seriously, damaged and it is re- ported that the "baby-g guage" road of the company, running up to Metcaf. has been carried down. The loss of life occurred near the mouth of the canyon. where Chase creek empties into the San Francisco. There was also a flood in that river and in the Blue.
 A result of it has been the cutting off of Morenci from the ordinary means of communica ton. All telegrams from that town are brought here by messen- gers from across the country, five miles distant.
 The strike situation is growing more alarming hour by hour and violence is expected to break out in full force any minute. The first demonstration oc- cured this afternoon in the capture of the mill of the Detroit Copper company at Morenci by strong and well armed force of strikers, who disarmed the guard Made bolder by their success and realizing that what is to be done must be done before the arrival of the military, it is reported that they are intending to make themselves complete masters of the town. They are also threatening the lives of prominent citi- zens, most of whom are officers of or mana gers of departments of the copper company. Reports of further violence at Morenci reach this place every few minutes, but beyond the fact of the capture of the mill nothing has been verified at this instant.
 It is feared by the officials of the company that footing will begin. The store of the copper company is said to be the largest west of the Missouri rlVer ana must O1er d strong dltrac- tion to the lawless element. The rep resentatives of the Western Fedora tion of Labor sent here from Colorado are said to be urging moderation but it is believed that they will not be able to control the movement which they were wholly instrumental in starting.
 There is a prospect of trouble here, but the storm center is naturally at MOrenci. There are about 1.500 strikers there and 1000 of them are we'll armed and desperate men. There are less than seventy-five men on guard. of whom twenty are Arizona rangers The rest are deputies of the sheriff of Graham county. They could offer nc resistance to the force opposed to them in the conflict today.
 The national guard, under the com mand of Colonel McClintock arrived here tonight and were at once hurried across the country to Morenci. Word has been received that three troops O: regulars will arrive from Camp Grant early this morning.