Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-06-07
REIGN OF TERROR.

~
tor TO the effect that Sheriff Bell was
shot and killed last night. Sheriff Bell
has sworn in 800 deputies. At mid
night more than 100 arrests had been
made.
A reign of terror, brought on by a
dynamiting plot followed by rioting and
an assault on the militia, existed in the
Cripple-Creek mining region last night;
Armed men thronged the streets and
conflicts are of hourly occurrence.
Militiamen are marching hither and
thither. making arrests by the whole
sale. A number of union miners have
been placed in the military "bull-psn"
and others are gathered in at frequent
intervals. City aud county officers have
been compelled TO resign because OF
heir reluted sympathy with law-break-
ers.
As near as could be estimated last
night twenty-one persons are dead and a
score are injured as a result of the events
leading up to the lawless conditions that
now prevail. Beginning with yesterday
morning, when an internal machine, set
under the station platform at Findley,
on the Florence and Cripple Greek Rail-
road. was touched off and a number OF
non.union men were killed and others
horribly mangled, events followed thick
and fast. They eliminated in a riot
at mass meeting, where bullets flew
in every direction. At least one man
was killed, while several were injured.
Later a company ofmilitia was march =
ing past union headquarters, searching
for union miners. The soldiers were
fired on, according to reports, from armed
men concealed in The hall. The soldiers
stormed the building, and, from last ac-
counts, shot at least seven unionists.
The remainder fled, blood streaming
from their wounds. The soldiers who
we're unhurt pursued and arrested num-
Der Of the fleeing men and continued far
into the night to scour the country IN
search of men supposed to have been IN
the union hall at the time Of the assault
on the troops. At the headquarters OF
Adit Gen. Bell, in Denver, everything
is in readiness promptly to meet acall
for additional troops in the gold camp
1t is said that the railroads have been
instructed to have locomotives and cars
ready. However, from the tone OF a
communication received from Sheriff
Bell, the newly appointed officer OF
Teller county, he will ask for further
aid from the military only as a last re-
sort. He intimated that he could con-
troll the situation unless a general clash
of opposing interests occurred.
Deadly rioting broke out in Victor
Yesterday afternoon, while mass-meet
| ing was being held to discuss the muir
der of twelve nOn-union miners by
means of an internal machine at In
dependence. Forty shots were fired IN
to a crowd in the street. r. MCGEE, o
Victor, was shot dead, and at least siz
persons were injured.
Secretary Clarence A. Hamlin, OF tn
Mine Owners Association, was making
a short address, and in concluding
said 81 want to hear what the boy
in the mines have got to say about thi
trouble" referring to the Independenc
disaster.
William Hoskins, a union miner iron
Goldfeld, threw up his hand and shouted
"I,et me talk" At this the GROVE
began 10 hiss Hoskins, and cried; "Pu
him out!
A free-for-aIl fight followed and shoot
ing be gan. Most of the shots were di
recteG skyward. Hoskins fell with
bullet in the body and the crow
scattered. Secretary Hamlin, who wa
standing on a wagon, kept talking, ur
mindful of the storm OF bullets ina
whizzed about his head.
After the first excitement had cleare
away somewhat the injured and dyin
were gathered up.
/. r. Mcaee, of Victor, who was IL
stantly killed, had been standing on
! embankment thirty feet above the me
who had been fighting, and was an il
J nocent spectator.
Alfred Miller and J. D, Davis wei
: carried to the Victor Hospital. A WI
!, ness of the shooting said: 81 saw the
e carry away three men, one shot throug
!, the head and another shot through II
S arm"
t A pitched battle is looked for at al
moment. There are 5000 men on Il
: streets, and union men are arming ther
selves. They are thrOnging the street
making threats. ar
Previous to the rioting Sheriff Hen
NJ Robertson had been summoned to
J. meeting of the Mine Owners Assocl
ton. in Armory Hall, by commit
c composed of C. G. Hamliu, secretary
\, the association; ]. S. Murphy, manag
5, of the Findley mine, and l.. E. Hill,
h the Theresa mine. At this meeti
AZ Robertson's resignation was demande
a He yielded to the demand a
is Edward Bell was appointed by t
D. county commissioners to ill Robertson
- term. Robertson was a union miner |
a. fore he was elected sheriff.
ds Bell is a member Of the Citizens
IS. lance. Nearly all the mines in t
us region had been closed by order of I
Mine Owners Association, and hu
= dreds of miners hocked into the To,