Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-06-08

Terrible Crime.

Terrible Crime.
Cripple Creek, June 7.-One Of the
most diabolical deeds in the black re-
cord Of crime which forms part of the
mining history Of this state was com.
mitted when. by means Of an Internal
machine, 81 men were killed outright
and nine others terribly injured, some
Of them fatally, at Independence. All
those killed and injured were nonunion
miners, employed on the night shift Of
the Findley mine. The men had quit
work and were waiting for the surbur-
ban train on the Florence g Cripple
Creek railroad to take them to their
homes in Cripple Greek and Victor.
When the locomotive was within Is
feet Of the depot charge Of dynamite,
estimated at 800 pounds, was set OF
underneath the platform on which ssthe
men were standing by pulling q wire at
the Delmonico mine, 400 feet away.
The result was terrible. Heads, legs,
arms and the trunks Of the bodies Of
the men were scattered all round.
Blood covered everything on the
platform which was splintered. and
the front end Of the depot was demol.
ished.
The injured were taken to the Victor
hospitals and the mangled bodies Of
the dead, patched together a. we'll -
possible, were removed to the coronor's
Office at Victor. A meeting Of the
mine owners association has been call
ed. Rewards aggregating many thous-
ands Of dollars will be offered for the
apprehension Of the criminals and
Governor Peabody will be petitioned
to send troops to the district.
Sheriff Robertson and q detective
force have found the machine v hioh
set OF the dynamite. II consists Of .
revolver and 800 feet Of steel wire.
The revolver was placed underneath
the platform, close 10 the powder. One
end Of the wire was fastened to . chair
leg, which was used - . lever from
the Delmonico property.
The mon employed on the night shift
at the Findley mine, who had Just fn-
ished work, had gathered ON the plat.
form to board = train and return to
their homes when tho explosion 90.
cuTred beneath their feet. hurling them
in every direction. destroying the do
pot and rending q great hole in the
earth.
Aspecial train carrying physicians.
nurses, detectives, rlineowners and
other persons. was dispatched from this
city as soon 40 possible after news Of
the explosion was received, and arrived
ct Idenpondence. six miles distant, at
4 O'Clock. Sheriff Robertson and other
officers Immediately began q careful
search for clues TO the pertrators Of the
outrage. Although the strike Of nm.
ion miners in the Cripple Creek dis.
trict, which began August 10, 1908,
and which led to the declaration OF
NATAL law in Teller county by Cover
nor Peabody, is still in effect, good or.
der has been maintained for tho past
six months and the military rule has
been suspended and all troops with.
drawn.
The mine owners with the exception
Of the Portland company ,claim to have
- maany men working ~ they need,
and they require all miners 10 renounce
allegiance to the Western Federation
Of Miners before giving them employ
ment.
Denver, June IA reign Of terror,
brought on BY diabolical dynamiting
plot. followed by rioting and an -
sault upon the militia, exists in the
Cripple Greek mining district. Armed
men throng the streets and conflicts
are Of hourly occurrence. Militismen
are marching hither and thither max.
ing arrests BY the wholesale. A mum.
bsr Of union miners have been placed
in themilitary bullpen, and others are
being gathered In at frequent intervals.
City aud county oflicials have been
compelled 10 resign their offices because
Of their reputed union sympathy.
As near - can. be estimated, ~ are
dead and SCORE or more injured - .
result Of the events leading mp to the
events above described