The state herald., 1913-10-03
STRIKING MINERS
SHOOT up CAMP
BOARDING HOUSE OF NoN-UNIoN
MEN AT oAKvIEw is
ATTACKED.
fLEEAS GUARDS CHARGE
BREAK FROM BRUSH SHELTER
AND SEEK SAFETY IN THE
MOUNTAIN PATHS.
western Newspaper Union Nows Service.


western Newspaper Union News Service.
Walsenburg, Colo. Sept 3O.-A hail
Of bullets from the rifles of twenty
men concealed in the underbrush on
the brow OF a hill 400 yards northeast
Of the mine. whistled through the Oak
view coal camp. seven miles west Of
La veta. at $3.50 Monday morning.
For thirty-five minutes the bullets
ripped and tore their way through the
houses of the non union miners,
throwing them into a frenzy Of terror.
A party of twelve guards charged the
hill and drove the attackers into the
foothills around Old Badly mountain.
One thousand bullets entered the
camp.
A Japanese boarding house was
where the fire centered. Nor than
forty bullets lodged in the side of the
two-story building after the fusillade.
Two other Japanese houses were rid
died.
Dozens Of miners were on their way
TO the mine entrance when the first
shots struck. Wives and children
rushed into the streets. joining faith
ers and husbands. Almost instantly
the attacking party found the range Of
the huddled groups. Bullets tore up
the ground, and then followed a
scramble for safety.
Many ran for the cellar of the COM
pany's store and almost every cave in
the camp became n refuge for the ter
ror-strickcn inhabitants. A few ran for
the hills, rushing into the face of the
fire.
Among the dozens of narrow es
oapes was that of Michael Rech, clerk
Of the mine, who had just placed
book on the pay desk when it was
torn open by bullet
Several times the retreating men
were sighted by the guards, but only
for an instant The pursuit ended at
the foot of Baldy mountain, ten miles
aawy. when the guards realized the
marauders mad reached a place where
II was impossible to follow them.
Adolph Germer. international organ
izer In charge OF this district, said
that the shooting was a "frame-up" on
the part of the guards.
William ID. Lewis of New York,
president OF the Oakdale Coal Com.
pany. operating the Oakview mine at
Oakdale, who sat In the mine office
during the firing. says that there were
fully twenty men in the party which
shot up the camp.
1T was the most awful exhibition
OF lawlessness and insurrection ever
have run across in my forty years OF
mining experienced" he said. Utter
ly regardless OF men. women and chill.
dren. the attackers swept the streets
OF the camp with their bullets. II Is
remarkable that dozens were not
killed. The attack was entirely unex-
pected. Another time and We will be
ready to DO anything In our power to
protect our people"
Intense feeling has existed among
the striking miners at oakview be.
cause the company was able to retain
about half Of its working force when
the strike opened.
Willing to Return at Florence.
Florence.-Fifteen striking miners
OF the Royal Gorge mine at Canon
City have expressed willingness to
return to work II the company will ai.
ford them protection.
Strikers pea, Stable Boss.
william smith. 55. stable
boss at the Tobasoo mine. was at.
tackled Ny Joseph ollo. Russian
striker at the Ludlow colony Smith
received several deep gashes on the
head
Springs Mines Are Running.
Colorado Springs the excop.
tion OF the Pikeylcw properties. all
the coal mines In the region are run
ming full force. and the Pikcyiew has
sixty men a, work. So far as the lo-
cal supply 10 concerned the strike Ia
practically ever, The companies are
now about ten days behind their or
ders