The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-05
OUTCOME OF OLD STRIKE
sx-Governor's Death by Bomb-Form-
er Idaho Executives Activity i'm
Crushing Riots al Court D'Alene
Mines the Accepted Theory of the
Assassination

| Boise, Idaho. December Silt deve.-
ioped today that the assassination last
might at Caldwell Of former Governor
Frank Steuenberg with a dynamite
sbomb was perpetrated by some one
!person by pulling a wire that exploded
the dynamite as the former governor
WAS closing the rear gate of his home.
1T was at first thought that the bomb
was arranged 20 explode automatical-
ly when the gate was opened. II also
developed that two bombs were used.
beth being exploded simultaneously by
means Of wire and waxed fish line,
remnants Of which were found today
Ion the lawn.
The conviction grows that Steunen-
berg was murdered as a result Of his
activity in crushing the miners strike
riots at Cour d Alene in 1899. On this
theory n man was arrested today,
but his name is kept secret by the po-
lice, who say evidence against the pris-
ioner is strong. Five other men lave
been detained on suspicion.
When daylight dawned on the
scene of the tragedy, it was found
that the dynamite had been exploded
by pulling a wire. The explosive
was placed against the latch post and
on the inside of the fence. That post
was to the victims left as he entered,
but the force of the explosion caught
him on the right side. showing thai
he turned partly around in closing the
gate before the bombs exploded. This
fact, with the finding of wire and fish
line. make the police certain that he
mine vas fired by wire. The assassin.
it is thought, knew ~Steunenberg's nab
it Of stopping 10 close the gate and
waited until the former governor turn
ed. 1t seems that the assassin knew
iSteunenberg's habits since a stranger
would have supposed he would 90 in
at the front gate.
S~teunenberg was terribly wounded.
the right arm being nearly torn off.
All his right side was fearfully torn.
the right leg being mangled and shat
tered. The left leg was also mangled.
The features Of the victim were not
Idisfigured. Portions of clothing were
scattered for fifty yards. The victini
himself was thrown ten feet from the
gate. where a small hole ten inches in
depth shows the spot where the bombs
lay. The gate is gone. not a splinter
being found. All the windows in the
rear side of the house were broken.
and much glass was broken in other
houses almost a block away.
Former Governor Steunenberg, who
stood seven feet in his stockings and
was well propOrtioned, seemed to hin
that he had been shot, according to in
lconerent remarks he made to those
who rushed to his aid. He remained
conscious until he died, 25 minutes af-
ter the explosion, but he could not an
'swer questions or talk i~ntelligently.
Shoshone county has offered a re-
ward of $4,000 for the apprehension
lof the murderers and has sent its
sheriff to assist in the search. 1t was
in that county, in the northern part OF
the state, that the Occur d. Alene riots
occurred in 1899.
It is probable that the funeral will
be held in Boise. the body lying in
state in the capitol building.
While governor of Idaho, Steuren-
berg became widely known. He favor
ed federation to Mormons, although
not a Mormon in belief. He strenu-
lously attacked the strike rioters during
his two terms as governor. He caused
Isome comment during a visit to New
York by stalking through the streets
wearing a sombrero and without a
Inecktie.