Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-15
RIOT AT VICTOR.
Colorado Dynamite Outrage Followed
by Fatal BATTLE.

The authorities at Victor, Colo, have
arrested and are holding 25O union min
ers prisoners, as a result of the riots
and clashes with the troops in the labor
war These men have been arrested
throughout the district and taken TO the
military prison. A reign Of terror still
exists throughout the region and although
the situation is well in the hands of the
troops. further outbreaks are feared Mt
any time. The union men are in the
minority and many Of them are seeking
the shelter of the military prison in or
der to save their own liIes.
At an early hour Tuesday n MOB of
2O1 armed men crushed in the front of
the Miners Union building in Bennett
avenue with q battering ram. Union
men fed 10 escape mob violence. The
soldiers pursued and continued firing and
to scour the country for men who were
in the union hall.
The vigilm * Committee organized IS
still. at 7 ork in the small towns arrest
ing unioaiSts and bringing them to Vic
tor. where they are placed under heavy
military guard These arrests viii con-
tinut, Victor dispatch says, until every
man of influence in union circles Is a
prisoner, when. it is understood, they
viii be placed on board a special train
anG deported from the county.
Sheriff Bell. who succeeded X. NJ.
Robertson. announced that all citizens
must 20 unarmed and any one who dis
obeys this order will be promptly ar
rested by the militia. Resistance to his
ORDERS means shooting and TO inSegfcr-
IT, 4 I. 4s.fa tod
Sheriff Henry NJ Robertson resigned
under compulsion. He was forcibly TAX
en- - the headquarters of the Mine Own
crs Association and his resignation was
demanded. At first lie refused 20 re-
sign, but when finally a coil Of rope was
thrt wn at his feet he weakened and sign
ed the resignation which had been pro-
vided for him
The sentiment Of the mine owners, as
voiced by c. c. Hamlin secretary Of the
association. is that all union miners must
lie driven out Of the camp. His decl1ra-
ton that the time had come to purge
the district started the rioting at the
mass meeting in Victor called to discuss
the dynamite outrage at Independence.
which resulted in the killing Of Roxie
Niece. a nou-union miner. and the
wcunding Of six other persons. one OF
whom, John Davis, also n non-union
miner. died a few hours later The iirst
shot was fred by some one in the crowd.
This was followed Immediately by two
rife shots from the windows of miners
union hall Sheriff Bell called on the
local company OF the State guard, com
manded by Capt. Harry G. Moore, to as
sist in pres 'rying order and in arrest.ng
the men in the union hall. Soldiers were
stationed on the roof of the building OPP
pcsite the hall and from this point of
vantage fired into the doors and win
dows of the hall 4 scattering fire was
kept up by both sides for twenty min
utes, at the end Of which time the min
ers surrendered Two men were killed
and sight wounded in the rioting.
The city marshals Of Anaconda, Gold
field and Independence are among the
prisoners held by the authorities. To
getheI with thu city marshal of Victor
and the sheriff Of Teller County this
makes a total of FIVE officials of the gold
camp towns who have been deposed
since the troubles Of Monday began.