Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-06
MET s..,UET|MELY END
l. sfbs
Explosion Kills T welve Miners
ae in Colorado.
STATION IsDYNAMITED
AN 1nHERa z MAcH1nz Is
FOUND M DETECTIVES.
5d '-ssis - ~ 90
Disaster Believed to Have Been Result
=, of Well-Laid Plot Against 1888
ea Non-Union Miners.
.
STATION fSDYNAMITED

MINERS were instantly killed ana eight or
ten Others badly injured by an explosion
that occurred after midnight at the hide
pendence station Of the Florence and Cripple
Creek railroad The cause Of the explo-
sion has not been ascertained, but appar-
emily 1t was the result of a plot against
the non-union miners on the night shift at
the Shurtlen, Findlay and Lost. Dollar
mines. who had just finished work and
were about to return to their homes.
Victims Hurled Into the Air.
The explosion occurred beneath the plat
form on which the men were waiting for a
train. hurting many of them high into the
air, destroying the adjoining depot and
rending great hole in the earth. 1t is
belived a large quantity of dynamite had
been placed under the platform and that
1t was set off by means of electricity or by
the concussion caused by the approaching
train.
The train had not arrived at the Inde-
pendence depot, but within short
distance of. it when the explosion occurred
About forty-five or fifty miners from the
Shurtlen, Finlay and Lost Dollar mines
had gathered at. the depot platform and
they were blown into the air In every d.
rection. One mans body, cut in two. was
found one hundred yards from the scene
out together and the remnants of others
were secured as fast as possible On ac-
count of the terrible nature of their wounds
identification was difficult.
Description Of Explosion.
Charles, Rector of the Shurlef mine.
describing the explosion, said:
There were about fifty or sixty of us
waiting for our, train, which was coming
up the track a few. hundred feet distant.
number of miners who had not yet
reached the depot were running toward 1t
with their dinner buckets in hand. The
train approached the depot at moderate
rate and the crowd on the platform be-
gan to move around to secure points of
vantage in getting aboard as soon as the
train stopped. At this moment a great
explosion occurred right under our feet
THE impact Shook the buildings in the
town and at l1:02 am everything became
absolutely dark..EA few moments later the
groans OF the injured were heard and peo-
pie came running from residences and
stores to the scene. I was uninjured The
depot, platform and surrounding objects
were rent into sphnters. The work of res
cue was begun atoonce., Six badly wounded
miners werssf picked up at different points
Later. detectives found the machine
which set off the dynamite under the plat
form. 1t consists. of revolver and 300
feet of steel wire. The revolver was
placed underneath the platform, close to
the powder. The other end. of the wire was
fastened to chair leg. which was used
lever, from the cribbings OF the Delmon-
leo propertyii The whole district is aroused
over the catastrophe and further trouble is
feared. A number of fist fights have al
ready occurred Guns will doubtless soon
be brought into play If conditions remain
as they are ''--i'' Z It. @-,f= 's 80 -
Independence is about six miles from this
city by raj. TsA special. train carrying ply
sicians was dispatched, to the scene of the
explosion, and the injured were taken to
the Victor Hospital
Sheriff Robinson. with deputies and po-
lice officers of both Cripple Creek and Vic
tor. went to Independence on the special
search for clues to the perpetrators OF the
outrage SO
Although the strike of union miners in
the Cripple Creek district, which, began
August 10, 1909. and which led to the dec
laration Of martial law in Telluride county
by Governor Peabody. Is still in effect,
good order has been maintained for the
suspended and all troops withdrawn.
The mine owners. with the exception of
the Portland company, claim to have as
many men working they need. and they
require all miners to renounce allegiance
to the Western Federation OF Miners be-
fore giving them employment.
Visit of Federation Committee.
A committee appointed by the federation,
now in session at Denver, to investigate
the situation in the district visited the camp
last week. Charles H Meyer. president Of
the federation, Is in Jail at Telluride, which
Is under martial law, being held as q mill
tary prisoner by Gov. Peabody, who charges
him with melting 1isurrection and rebel
lion Telluride Is in southwestern Colorado