Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-05-06
y. s. TROOPS REACH scENEsSoF
Is CONFLICT IN COLORADO
FAlL5ro END STRIFE. I:g.$
FIERCE CLASH AT FORBES
Major In hospital Corps Shot to Death,
While Dressing Wounds Of comrade.
Near Firing Lines Truce ls De-
cIared-650 Give Up Arms.

dotting the hills of Las Animas and
Huerfano counties, he first detach-
ment OF United States troops to arrive
In the strike zone on Wednes day failed
TO bring peace in Colorado,s mine war.
More federal troops reached the
scene on Thursday.
At Forbes seven mine guards and
one striker are known to have been
killed. Two other strikers are be-
lieved dead. 5ss js5 i
One officer and two enlisted men
were wounded in the conflict at Wal
senburg. It was here that Maj. PIP.
Lester met his death. n NJ ,{s,
Under a truce agreement which
stopped the fighting at Walsenburg in
the afternoon. approximately $50 fstrik-
srs at might are 5surrendering arms to
National Guard officers appointed by
Colonel Verdeckberg. The strikers
were not taken into custody, butSwilt
be subject to prosecution In the courts
for killing MAJ: p P. Lester Of the
hospital corps, II E:sSSs$
& The announcement Of the truce by
General Chase furnished an explana.
ton OF the withdra wal OF the National
Guard from the battlefield north and
west OF Walsenburg In the afternoon
when apparently the troops had the
strikers hard pressed. From another
authentic source it was learned that
John McGregor, In command OF the
strikers, had made It known that he {.
was hard pressed. but that his men
refused to retire from the field even
though their losses we're considerable.
The suggested terms OF surrender
were transmitted n to General Chase
and sanction for their acceptance
given by Governor Ammons.
Although strike leaders declined to
give out any informal ton as to their
losses, it was learned from an authen-
tic source they had suffered severely,
At the time citations for the truce
were opened they were fighting back
tho National Guard on three sides. S
While Colonel verdeck berg awaited
ID committee from the strikers to com q,
plete arrangements for the truce,
brisk fighting continued at point point
about three miles southwest OF Wal
senburg. where 80 men and three OH
GERS Of Company M, Captain Barrett.
were surrounded at Martins Lake.
The soldiers had been surrounded for
several hours, fighting for their lives.
They had left the military position IN
an effort to & turn the; flank of the
strikers who were firing from the hog
back toward the Walsen mines. They
were; trapped. however, and exposed
to a CALLING fire from two directions.
from the southwest end OF the hog
back and from another hill on the OPP
posite side Of Martins Lake. RI
+. Early in the evening troop, Of cav
airy under Captain Lightburn and
Company M, First infantry. sailed out
from Walsen burg to go to the relief
Of the entrapped guard men. II.
~ Captain Swope, who commanded the
right wing Of the soldier lines dur
ing the day, said that he would go e
the place where Major Il ester was
shot and recover the body.
Captain Swope said he would not go
for the body under Q truce agreement
unless lead ers OF the strikers went
with him as an eyide nce OF good faith.
Fighting that practically enc:rcled
the town cont inued for i've hours /: ct
Walsenburg between strikers, state
troops and mine guards. Maj. =. p.
Letter of the hospital corps met his
death, shot through the left breast. .
while dressing the wounds Of com;
r-ade within one. hundred and fifty feet
Of the strikers position. Firing ceased
shortly after three clock.
Washington, /, April 80. President
Wilson Tuesday ordered federal troops
sent to the strike ridden goal mining i,1
district Of Colorado for the restora-
ton and preservation OF peace and or
der. M II. Vi 5s2 81 Il & "a 33E
The action Of the president resulted
from indications that violent demon
Gtrations in the strike zone are In
creasing and from the refusal Of the
to conc EIDE recognition Of
the miners union, now the chief point
in dispute between the operators and
their employees: q a Il. t.it H 4
Secretary Of War Garrison imme-
diately ordered two troops Of the
Twelfth cavalry to the strike region.
II this force proves. INSULT cient for the
restoration Of order a larger body Of
troops will be dispatched from Fort