Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-31
FRANK STEUNENBERG KILLED
WITH A BOMB
Crime Is Charged to Inner Circle Of
Coeur dAlene Dynamiters,
Whom He Prosecuted
In 1899
BY Associated Press.

dynamite bomb had been placed at his
front gate with some contrivance by
which it was exploded as he entered
Both legs were blown off and he lived
but 20 minutes.
There Is no known reason for the
outrage but it is charged to some mem
Der of the famous inner circle Of the
Occur d'Alene dynamters whom he
prosecuted so relentlessy in 1899 while
he was governor.
Governor Gooding Is In communica-
tion with the authorities of that county
and is prepared to put the full support
OF the state behind the officials there
in running down the perpetrator of the
crime. 1t is thought probable thaA the
leading detective agency of the coun-
try will be asked to send some of it's
best men to the scene and athe state
will offer as great reward as the
governor may find he has power to
propose. Deceased was governor of
the state from 1897 to 1901 having been
twice elected. He was born in Iowa
Al years ago and had been in Idaho
since 1887. He leaves a widow ana
three children.
Governor Gooding has Informed the
Canyon county officials that the state
will offer a reward of $4,000 for appre-
hension of the murderer.
A special train left for Caldwell at
10 o'clock tonight carrying the COVER
nor and others who go to assist in or
ganizing the work of running down the
criminal.
The latest information from the scene
is to the effect that the bomb was
probably placed by the gate post and
the moving of the gate exploded 1t.
When persons rushing to the spot
reached the prostrate man the latter
said something like "Who shot me?"
He also said something about turning
him over but he lapsed into uncon-
sciousness at once and died without
giving any information.
The victims clothing and his shoes
were torn to tatters and his back was
terribly injured. Both legs were shat
tered frightfully.
The shock of the explosion was felt
all over the town and broke all the
glass in that side of the governors
house. Every road out of town is be-
ing guarded and it is hoped to inter-
cept every suspect
Two men are under suspicion who
had been lying about Nampa several
days and left for Caldwell today. They
lived in the Coeur d'Alenes at the time
of the riots there in 1899. Descriptions
of them are being wired in every direc-
ton.
Gov. Steunenberg became known
throughout the ma ation through his con-
nection with the Coeur d'Alene miners
strike which began in the spring of
1899 The miners union made certain
demands which were refused by the
mine owners. Most of the mines We're
closed down. but an attempt was made
to operate the mill of the Bunker Hill
and Sullivan with non-union help. In
April of that year a crowd of strike
sympathizers took possession of a train
and went to the mill. The building
was blown up with dynamite and at
least one man was killed by the eX-
plosion. The mine owners appealed to
the governor for protection, alleging
that the strikers were resorting to
every form of violence and intimidation
to prevent the operation of the mine by
non-union men.
| The state militia being considered in
sufficient to cope with the situation,
Gov. Steunenberg proclaimed a state
| of insurrection and called on PreSi-
dent Mckinley for federal troops. Gen.
| II. c. Merriam occupied the district
and proclaimed martial law A stock
ade known generally as a "bull pen"
was erected. Stikers and strike sym
pathizers were imprisoned in great
numbers. A permit system was also
| established by the military and no
miner was permitted to work in the
mines who did not make affidavit that
| he was either not member of the
union or had severed his connection
with it and would not again join.
This drastic treatment resulted in the
| determination of the miners organiza-
tion in the Coeur dAlene and it has
never been re-established. The matter
aroused such widespread interest that
| congressional inquiry was ordered.
The Republican members of the COM
mission made report upholding Gov.
| Steunenberg, although he was Demo-
| crat, and the action of President Nc
Kinley. The Democrats, under the
| leadership of Congressman Sulzer, made
minority report censuring the state
and national administration. The Bit
terness against Gov. Steunenberg was
accentuated by the fact that he was,
at the time of his incumbency, a mem
ber of the Typographical union.
A state representative who went to
Caldwell on special train, sends the
following. after visiting the scene of
| the crime:
THE governor was killed at the west
gate leading to the back door of his
home. 1t is apparent the assassin knew
his habits since stranger would have
supposed he would go in the front
gate, but it was his habit to use the
other. The victim retained conscious
ness about twenty-five minutes. He
was struck down at 6:45 and died at
7:10, being conscious until he breathed
his last. When he was brought in and
laid on the bed he asked "Who shot
me?" Then he attempted to sit up,
but sank back with the exclamation
For Gods sake turn me over 1 am
dying"
Though he was conscious he did
not seem to understand what was said
to him. He thought he had been
shot and inquiries were not noticed,
nothing being learned from him that
would throw light upon the deed.
lie was terribly wounded the right
arm being nearly torn off, hanging by
"A few mere threads. All his right side
was fearfully torn, the leg being
mangled and shattered. The left leg
4 was also badly shattered.