The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-12-13
Jacob waldeck Visits the Scene Of the
Mine Strike and Finds the Striking
Miners Peacefully in Camp Five
Miles Away-story That the Shoot
ing Is Done for a Purpose-Publio
Highways Made Dangerous.
By Jacob Waldeck.
Staff Correspondence of the News
4crI,ris.. ASSaciatinr

Stan Correspondence OF the News
paper Enterprise Association
DU QUOIN, Ill, Dec. Fort Zeig-
Ter stands and the searcnlight still
CLEANS. These glad tidings the war
correspondents are able to give the
world today. What the future, even
the morrow, will bring none can tell.
Perhaps then the besieging hosts will
batter down the brea stworks, put the
brave defenders to the sword and
steal all the coal in the Letter mine.
That there are besieging hosts a
look into Zeigler would convince any
body. Soldiers throng it's streets. 1t
has all the appearance of an armed
camp. Military strategists would
make such preparations only to re-
sist a regular Manchurian invasion.
While the means of resistance are
plain Hlough, the opposing force is
not so easily found. Search for the
besiegers on a sunny afternoon, a
few days ago, disclosed only some
cows grazing in the meadows and a
couple Of squirrels frisking in a
grove. If these were not the dread
Invaders, It may be that the defen-
sive measures were taken against the
fish in the Big Muddy that might
sneak up and bite somebody. No man
wants to be bitten by a fish from
the Big Muddy.
Another theory is that Joe Letter,
who owns Fort Zeigler, is working in
accord with grand strategy evolved
by General Bell of Colorado Bell
said that the mining troubles out
there might give rise to international
complications. In that case, he said,
he would fortify Colorado and if the
armies Of England, Germany and
Austria came along he would chase
them all around these here noun
tains."
Possibly Letter figures on inter-
cepting those armies in Illinois. 1t is
well known that Missouri and Kansas
are not well fortified. BY whaling
the foreigners here, Letter would pre-
vent them from tramping down the
corn crops in those states while on
the way to Colorado. And if he should
fail, a thing unlikely in view of his
preparations, he would at least so
weaken the invaders that Bell would
be able to chase them until they laid
down in the rarified air and gasped.
Then they could be shackled and set
to work in the mines. How their
cruel rulers would rue the day that
they braved the military sagacity Of
Letter and Bell,
The fact that the armies have not
dence that the monarehs are in fear
and will desist A number of for
eigners have been seen around Zeig-
Ter recently and the intelligence de-
partment reports that they were
probably spies. In that event the
foreign despots may have been tipped
that their armies will be Port Ar
thured if they monkey with Letters
stronghold.
Seriously, there has been shooting
and with deplorable results. On No
vember 16 a train conveying men to
tlle pant WAS HIeu upon ana one or
the newcomers, an Austrian, was kill
ed. On November 20 there was an at
tempted murder when Letters attor-
ney, II. r. Plat, and an employee were
fired at while driving In the evening
from West Frankfort to Zeigler. They
returned the fire and about 80 shots
were exchanged. There were no cas-
ualties.
Citizens hereabouts are unanimous
In the opinion that no effort or eX-
pense should be spared to run down
the criminals. They say, however,
that such occurrences mark most big
strikes and condemnation Of the
crimes does not prevent them from
criticising or making fun of the ex-
travagance Of the Letter war prepara-
tions.
Zeigler lies in the heart of that sec
ton of lower Illinois called Egypt
IT is composed wholly of the interests
that center about the Letter mine
There are no inhabitants except en-
ployes, and no stores except the big
one conducted by the company. The
125 single-story miners cottages are