The Glenwood post., 1904-08-06

there and it is believed that the people
of that district may at last enjoy
peace and quiet.
The Independence Outrage
The trouble in the Cripple Creek
district had apparently subsidized The
last of the troops We're withdrawn, as
| have stated, on the eleventh day of
April, 1904. The mines were all be-
ing operated with full quota of men
who were not affiliated with the
Western Federation of Miners save
only the Portland mine where many
federation members were employed.
The lawlessness which has everywhere
characterized the methods of that fed
Grafton seemed for time to have
been abandoned by it. The district
apparently was destined to enjoy a
period of peace But it proved to be
only the calm before the storm At
about o clock on the morning of
June 6, a mine of dynamite was ex-
ploded by means of an Internal
machine placed underneath the station
platform at Independence and l3 men
We're instantly blown to fragments
and many others mutilated and
manned for life All these men were
non union miners about to board a
train for their homes in the district.
This infamous outrage, following
as it did years of intimidation,
threats, countless assaults and mur-
ders, was the last of the series which
had caused veritable reign of terror
in that mining district. The citizens
of the county inexpressibly shocked
at this wholesale murder of innocent
men determined that the community
must be rid of the authors and insti-
gators of such crimes.
"A public meeting was held in
Victor the afternoon following the
Independence outrage and while the
meeting was being addressed the
crowd was fired upon from the fedora
tion store and union hall. Two non
union miners were shot and killed
and six others wounded. The local
troops We're called out the same even
ing at the request of the mayor of
Victor to prevent the eXcesses that
seemed Inevitable
Why Agitators Were Deported
When the excitement had subsid-
ed somewhat and the county was still
under quasi military rule, it was
found that there weIe several hun
dred members of the Western Fedora
tion in the district who would not
work and had resolved that others
should not if by such methods as those
employed at the Independence station
they could be driven or frightened
away.
1T became apparent that even
with every member of the national
guard in that county it would he i'm
posi- BILE to prevent the use of dyna-
mite in the stealthy manner always
employed by the federation. The
mountains and gulches OF that.rugged
country afford a multitude of safe
places for rec onnoiter and hiding.
The troops which had already been
there a greater part of the year, could
not be maintained Indefinitely with
out incurring immense additional ex
pense. The only safe and available
remedy seemed to be to disperse the
radical members. If all of them had
not personally participated in the
outrages they had at least stood ap-
provinsly by and given their support
encouragement and protection.
If these men We're scattered the
avenues which 10 years of organizt-
tiOn and association had opened for
crime in that district would be closed.
1t would require much time in any
other community before they could
gather about them new band of
couspirators with the inclination and
daring to innugurate in new field
another condition of terrorism. These
men. as I have said. had determined
never to yield the strike The mine
owners had resolved not to employ
again the members of that organiza.
tion. Therefore the only employment
which remained for them was that Of
stirring mp strife committing depre.
datiuus ana intimidatiug by inhuman
crimes the working miners.
" | resolved that they should he dis
persed and / dispersed them Tins
was done however. only after care
case.
IL hope and believe that these men
so sent from the district will when
released from the evil influences of a
criminal leadership return to lawful
living aud resolve that "A recognition
DF tba riuhts which fba laws rDufa,. l..