The Washington herald., 1907-01-13

plot was laid to XIII him and blow UP
The $500 600 mining plant Before daylight
ono Anril morning in 1883 the miners met
in a darkened room and received masks
and REVIEWERS Then they were marched
seven miles In solid column to field,
where they were equipped with rifles
Thus armed the miners held up train
on the Northern Pacific Railroad running
between Wallace and Burke. At the point
OF their guns they forced the train crew
to go to Gem and Wardner, pick up
small army Of strikers and take aboard
eighty boxes Of dynamite. BY the time
the train left Wardncr It carried about
1900 men.
on reaching the mine the attacking
party found that BurbridSe and his men
had i'm some way learned OF their danger
and had beaten a retreat. Scouts were
sent out to shoot the few nonunion miners
who had tarried too long before setting
out for the timber. and one man, named
C5evene. was killed as he ran Mean
while the other desperadoes carried the
dynamite to the mill, placed 1t where 1t
would worl, the greatest destruction. and
then ''sparked-Ik The explosion was ter
rifle. The mill was torn 10 splinters.
Governor Acts ouickly.
When Gov. Steuuenberg harmed Of this
outrage he decided that the time had
come to act. and act quickly. lie had a
rapid inquiry made into the matter. and
called for Federal troops. The soldiers
came. They were under the command Of
Gen. Merriam. and were picketed around
the mines Of the whole Occur d'Alene re-
gion. As there were no jail accommoda-
ana in them were imprisoned whoever was
believed to be guilty Of blowing up the
Bunker Hill mill. Thus the much-exe-
Grated Dull pen" came into existence. In
one Of them at one time there were 700
prisoners, who were compelled 70 sleep on
the ground. each Of them with only q pile
Of straw for a bed. Some OF these pris-
oners, on obtaining their freedom. vowed
revenge on Gov. Steunenberg. holding
him TO account for the treatment they
had received Gov. SteunenbeTg also
stirred I'D the hatred Of labor leaders
throughout the Rocky Mountains by issu-
ing a proclamation fOrbcding mine own
ers 20 employ union men aud requiring
every man who entered the mines TO
obtain a permit from Gen. Merriam The
Republican members Of the Congress COM
mittec Of inquiry reported IN favor Of the
governors action. The Democrats under
the leadership Of Representative Sulzer.
made a minority report. censuring both
the State and national administrations.
1t was not until the confession OF
Orchard who was arrested shortly after
the assassination Of ey-GOv. Steunenberg.
that the murder was charged directly To
the Western Federation Of Miners After
ne had broken down and had admitted his
guilt, he said that he had committed the
crime according 10 the express orders OF
the leaders Of the federation He was 20
get $500 for the JOB. lie said he went
90 Caldwell and engaged room at the
Saratoga Hotel, from which he could
watch the First National Bank. Of which
Steuneube-g WAS president He studied
his victims movements for weeks. Uutl
ne came 20 know the mans habits he
earned that the governor was accustomed
10 go 80 has home each evening about 6
o'clock
First Attempt Failed.
( At first he decided he would use a shot
gun and shoot the msa as he approached
+ his home. lie lay in wait on Christmas
+ Eve to DO the deed. but. as it happened
7 the governor was accompanied then by
/ his brother and his son. Orchard named
l
+ tive committee OF the federation. as his
acconpIlce. Both Simpkins and himself
I had guns ready % shoot, be said. bur on
( The sight Of the brother and son they de-
sisted from the attempt
/ Orchard :hen made up MS mind 10 uss
q bomb. he constructed ar Internal ma
chine. which was % be worked by
wire thar would pull the cork from q
bottle Of sulphdr!c acid. spilliEg liz,
/ liquid and setting OF a charge a. dyna
mite lie made the bomb in bis room al
F the hotel and planted il one night undei
+ the gateway through which Mr. Steuncu
berg always passed IN going 10 h.s house
The wire by which tAe bomb WAS 10 %,
! exploded was buried beneath a thin crus
. OF earth. II was So placed that il Nigh
be attached 10 the gate quickly anC
/ easily.
\ few minutes before the governor
reached home on the evening OF Decem
Der % Orchard passed by the gate. h'
says. and letting fall Il newspaper b,
STOPPED down 10 pick it UP. Sut as h
did so be- reached under the gate and AZ
tachcd the wire. a moment later Mr
/ Steuaenberg approached his home. opcnet
the gate and discharged the dynamite
/ The explosion almost tire his body apart
. The whole fence. walk and front 81
the house were blown 10 pieces The eX
/ governor spoke few times before b,
died but incoherently. Suspicion i'm
mediately fell on Orchard. IN his room
were found powder. fuses. wires. an,
other material for making bombs. Th'
/ hotel keeper also said that be had Otter
noticed strong smell % acid OF pass