New Britain herald., 1914-04-30
NINE MORE KILLED
 IN COLORADO WAR Major Lester Loses Life Trying to
 Save Wounded CuaTdSman. DRASTIC ACTION IS PREDICTED

Four Hundred Strikers Entrenched in
 Rifle Pits Open Fire on One Hun-
 dred Militiamen.-Truce Violated
 By Infuriated Coal Miners.
 Denver. Col. April 30.-Nine iden- tifled dead and probably many more whose death was not reported, was the result of the fighting yesterday and last night in the strike zone of the Southern Colorado coal fields.
 The killing of Major P. F. Lester. a prominent physician of Walsen- burg while trying to save the life of a wounded guardsman, added to the tense feeling today. Thirty soldiers who had served in the militia under Major Lester forgot their grievances against the state on account of not night went to Walsenburg to offer with the strikers.
 Drastic Action Predicted.
 The battle at Forbes, where seven mine guards and two strikers were known to have been killed yesterday, caused state officials to announce that drastic action would have to be taken immediately to prevent further blood shed.
 For this work Governor Ammons looks to the United States troops. who now occupy portions of the strife-torn sections of Colorado. The troops from Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo.. arrived in Canon City yesterday and took charge of affairs in that section, which earlier in the week was the scene of desperate fighting.
 What disposition would be made of the troops from Fort Leavenworth, under Major Holbrook, who arrived in the Trinidad district, was not known early today. but it was ex- pected that a detachment would be sent into Walsenburg, where the most serious fighting of the strike has taken place.
 Strikers Open Fire.
 The battle at Walsenburg yester- day was between one hundred state soldiers divided into two commands of about fifty each, and more than 400 strikers .entrenched in rifle pits behind the lava forrna tten of the hills which form a semi mi-circle around Walsenburg from north to south for distance of three miles. The militia had started to the Walsen mine at the far end of the ridge. to aid in the defense of that property. Under Lieut.. Scott. one detachment ad- vanced along the hills. Captain Swope commanded the other, which followed a valley across an arroyo from the first detail and at consider able distance in the rear. The sol- diers were without thought of attack. when suddenly from the rifle pits came a rain of bullets over the heads of the first detachment. Lieut. Scott drew his men up in fighting line and ordered the fire returned. Soon he saw that the attacking force greatly outnumbered his men, and had the advantage of the natural fortiffca- ton, and he ordered his men into the arroyo.
 Captain Swope hurried to reinforce the vanguard, his men firing as they ran. When the two commands united they gradually withdrew from the ar- royo and advanced upon the trenches.
 Hours Truce Asked.
 Then, from the south came a small
 
 hurrying to relieve them Captain Swope deployed his men back to the north flank of the strikers, who faced fire from three sides. Finally Horace N. Hawkins, attorney in Denver for the United Mine Workers of Amer ica. who was in telephone communi- cation with the strikers. called upon Colonel verdeckberg in Walsenburg to agree to an hours truce, to con- sider terms of surrender. It was said the strikers agreed to deliver their arms to the soldiers provided they were not held prisoners. To this. 1t was said, Colonel Verdeckberg agreed. It was arranged that seven officers were to go forward to receive the arms of the strikers as they filed past.
 Major Lester Killed.
 Colonel verdeckberg so informed the militia and they ceased firing. The officers, 1t was stated, advanced a considera ble distance and the strik- CTS left their position, passed the militia and renewed firing. It was at this moment that Major Lester was killed. During the Hull in battle he had gone forward to the aid of Pri- vate Glen Miller, who had fallen 150 feet from the point at which the strikers then were So hot was the fire that the militiamen were unable to advance to where Major Lester's body lay, and were fully occupied in defending themselves.
 For two hours more the fighting continued and finally the strikers withdrew, carrying their guns with them
 CATHERINE O'MARA ESTATE.
 The estate of Catherine o'Mara has neen appraised as follows: Property