Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-29
WITNESSES FRIENDLY TO MlNERs
SAY ALARM CAME FROM
WITHIN HALL
EARLY STORIES DISPUTED
At coRoNER's INQUEST
Sheriff Declares PRECEDENT Meyer Was
Given Ample Protsetien by offiosrs-
Grand Jury 70 Begin Investigation Of
Alleged kidnapping Miners Bear
Bodies Of Dead Children to Graves.

inquest Of the Christmas eve panic
which caused the death Of seventy two
persons. and to tho Houghton county
grand jury investigation Of the forcible
election from the copper country OF
Charles "a. Meyer. president OF the
Western Federation Of Miners.
Tho coroner's Inquest began here to-
day and tho grand jury Investigation
Is expected to begin tomorrow at Han
cock. where Meyer was assaulted and
put aboard Chicago bound train.
John r. Densmore. q solicitor Tor the
department Of labor. Is expected here
today to mako IN Investigation for the
government Of the strike Of the copper
miners. Before reaching here he will
consult with Governor Ferris at Big
Rapids.
AIarmist Not Captured.
Gathering of evidence ~ to the
identity Of the men who escorted Moy-
er out of Hancock Friday night was
outlined by strike leaders. o. s. Hill
ton, Of Denver, chief counsel for the
federation. will present the evidence.
The man who shouted the first false
alarm Of IRE, thereby causing the panic
at tho Christmas tree celsbration for
the children Of the striking miners, 10
still uncaught. Union men intimated,
however, that they have q clue to his
identity and that an arrest may be
made soon.
Tho extent Of the investigation Of
Mr.. Densmore probably win be partial
ly determined at his conference with
Governor Ferris. 1t Is known that Sec
rotary Wilson. Of the labor department.
will not take further action until he
receives q comparative report
Say Cry Came From HALLS Center.
Several witnesses who expected to
testify were prepared 70 assers mat the
cry Of IRE" which started the panic
came from near the center of the haM
instead Of from near the doorway, as at
first related.
Only nine Of those who were killed
remain to be buried. Fifty mine bodies.
including those Of forty children, were
given q public funeral yesterday. Thou
sands Of miners ana their wives
marched In the procession.
Because Of tho limited supply OF
hearses the bodies Of the children were
carried by miners. while tho bodies Of
the adult victims were carried on an
automobile truck. in wagons and on the
few hearses. Delegations Of miners
from other towns marched in the pro-
cession which was headed by 4 oand.
citizsns' Alliance Exensratsd.
At the inquest today half dozen
witnesses testified. including Mrs.
Annie Clemens, leader Of the woman's
auxiliary OF the Western Federation of
Miners. the organization which was
distributing Christmas gifts to the chill
dren when the panic broke out. The
testimony Of tho witnesses disproved
the rumors that a man wearing a citi-
zens alliance button had rushed up
the stairs and shouted Fire." and that
deputies stood at the foot Of the stairs
and held back those coming from the
hall. All testified they had not seen a
man wearing citizens alliance button
come UP the stairs nor any person in
the hall wearing such button
Mrs. Clemens has been generally said
to have been one Of those who per-
sistently reported that the man who
gave the false alarm If fire wore an
alliance button, but on the stand she
denied she had seen any one affiliated
with the alliance. an organization OPP
posed to tho strike, come into the hall.
Meysr Given Protection.
Congressman Macdonald, Of Calu-
met. reached here at noon today, and
begun an investigation Of the strike
situation and the italian hall tragedy.
John B. Densmore. solicitor Of the de-
partment OF labor, 10 expected tomor-
row. Union officials wifi urge on both
Of these the necessity Of q federal in
vestiGation.
Sheriff James Cruise denied reported
assertions Of President Meyer, Of the
federation. that he was given no pro-
lection here. Tho sheriff declared that
for several weeks Meyer and other
officials Of the federation have been
guarded by deputies. He has been rn-
able to get to the bottom Of the mys-
terry Of the deportation Of Meyer.