The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-18
SECTION OF TRACK BLOWN UP
Troops Reach Scene and Gain
Control Of Situation; Take
Guards TO M)haWk

The most desperate of the numerous
acts Of violence in connection with
the copper strike was an attempt q
wreck the Kewecnaw Central train
with dynamite at Copper City at 10
O'Clock this morning But for the
watchfulness OF Engineer Stephen
Cooking some Of the sixty passengers
would have been blown TO eternity
l'he dynamite exploded few seconds
after the engineer brought the train
TO a standstill. The explosion blew
out section of a rail, tearing IL 10
pieces.
So great was the force that a piec,
of 60-pound rail was hurled through
window in the second story Of a resi-
dence some distance from the scene.
An investigation conducted by tho
military officers disclosed an attempt
10 deraii and wreck tho train before
Cynamiting it. a number of rocks
were jammed into the frog" of a
switch near the Ulseth lumber yard.
but a few feet from where the train
was brought to "A halt. Had the wheels
II the engine passed over this switch.
the entire train undoubtedly would
have been derailed ana thrown across
the spot where the dynamite was
planted.
Wanted to Kill Mine Guards.
The Gastar5ly attack was directed
against a detail of mine guards. forty
two in number who were en- route 70
Mohawk, from New York agency.
The guards were in two Pullman
coaches attached to the rear of the
train and notice OF their coming
reached union leaders some time N
advance. When the train arrived in
Copper City. a small band Of stri',e~s
MAS gathered at the station. The
crowd gradually increased and by the
time the signal 70 proceed was given.
line OF strikers stretched along tho
tracks for distance Of about 200 feet.
The dynamite had been placed beneath
The rails at a point about 400 fe-,
cast Of the depot around a Slight curv.
which cbscured the view OF the eng
neer. The train had proceeded bu-
little more than $50 feet when the en-
gineer sighted the smoke OF the burn
ing fuse. The brakes were imme-
diately applied and the train was
brought to a standstll Almost IN
stantlr the dynamite exploded, hu.1ing
rocks aud earth into the air
Much Excitement Follows.
Tho crowd Of strikers scurricd to-
Nard the rear coaches and amid the
confusion, rocks and sticks were
thrown at the Pullman coaches. Pas
senSers other than the mine guards
ulighted and hurried to safety whilc
the leaders Of the guards prohibited
his men from leaving the train.
\ report OF the outrage was telc
phonsd to military headquarters and
the full quota of militia stationed n
KeweenaU responded. When Tho
mounted troops arrived. strikers. who
increased IN number 20 about l,ooe
hootei them, jeering and yelling mad
~ \ call for assistance was dispatch
Cd to brigade headquarters and Cen
eral Abbey ordered Troob Is. Cavalry.
under command Of Lieut. Ferris "
the scene. The cavalry made the trir
Of seven miles i'm twenty minutes. The
troops then numbered considerable
over one hundred and after contiu-
uation Of the riot for a half hour. the
militia was in control
Federal Violation is involved.
Men and women indulged in the me-
ZEE and defles were hurled at soldiers
TO leave their mounts. 4 guard line
was established and despite many at
tempts to cross, but one striker sue
ceeded He was placed under arrest
by artileIymen and turned over to thr
civil authorities.
The strikers later formed parade
Continued on 6th PAGE, 4th Column,