The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-24
Fighting in Streets, and 200
Troopers Surrounded
at Rouse.
PROPERTY LOSS S1,OOO,OOO
Eight Coal Plants Destroyed
State Soldiers Mutiny and Re-
fuse to Enter Zone.


strikers. who swept over the southern
coal fields from Delagua to Rouse to-
day, leaving behind them the smoking
ruins Of eight great coal properties
and adding possibly an additional score
~ the present death list Of twenty-six.
ere preparing for a battle with the $50
militiamen being hurried into the strike
some from Denver.
The troop train Is due in Trinidad
at II o'clock tonight. Western time.
One thousand strikers from Aguilar
left the town at 10 o'clock tonight UNI
der orders from their leaders to meet
the militismen at Lynn. The troops are
reported to be approaching. A battle
which promises to be the bloodest Of
the strike now appears inevitable.
Carried away by feeling Of power
and a desire for revenge. the strikers
have planted themselves along the lines
Of the Colorado and Southern and the
Denver and Rio Grande railroads and
are awaiting the troops approach.
A battle began in the streets Of WAL
oenburg tonight.
The streets Of walsenburg. It was
said. were filed with people and every
one who could procure a gun was arm
ing himself.
One man was reported killed early
in the evening. After the receipt of a
brief message here 1t was impossible
to get into walsenburg either by tele-
phone or telegraph. All wires are re-
ported down.
Campfires CLEAN along the ridges. and
at Aguilar. the scene OF the burning
Of the Empire Mine property yesterday.
500 men are gathered for what is sup
posed Will be the first concerted attack.
A. result of the fighting to-day
the strikers hold posse OF all the
country between Ludlow, where 100
men and two machine guns under
Major Hammock are stationed, and the
coal camp at Rouse. twelve miles south
Of Walsenburg, to which fugitives from
the burning camps taken by the strikers
have fled.
Strikers Surround Town.
At late hour Rouse was reported TO
be surrounded and 200 men who hold
the camp with their rifles and a ma
chine gun were preparing for an imme-
diate attack. II Rouse falls It Is con-
ceded that the camps OF Lester. Cam
eron and walsen will be abandoned
Property damage in excess of $1,000
600. 1t Is estimated, has been done.
Should the troops fail in running the
eighteen mile gauntlet spread for their
reception the citizens expect murder,
arson and pil.age which may end only
in the destruction OF every mining prop
erty from Trinidad to Walsenburg.
Should the militia succeed It is pos
sible that the guerrilla warfare will exist
for weeks.
John Lawson. international board
member of the United Mine Workers Of
America. announced to-day that he
would refuse to order the strikers to
surrender their arms until they had been
assured that they would receive fair
treatment a the militia's hands. There
can be no peace without justice" he said.
2, j. w. Sipple OF Denver. president OF the
operating company. and twenty men faced
death tonight in the Empire mine as the
result OF their refusal to surrender to the
strikers at Aguilar. Three women and
ave children. including Mrs. william
Wsddtll. wife Of the mine superintendent :;
Mrs Matthew Waddell, her daughter-in-
law; Mrs. Mcintyre, wife of the camp
blacksmith, and the younger Mrs Wad-
delfs baby, were removed from the
charr,d mouth Of the airshaft and got
safe conduct outside OF the danger gone.
Waddells son, the mine clerk. and J. W.
Church. chief engineer refused to ac-
company the women, though they were
wounded
The only conditions imposed were that
the men would give up their arms and
-Sccept safe conduct from the district
\ supply Of air at the Southwestern
property sufficient 10 last the captves for
iabout twelve hours remains in the mine,
III Is said. Ellsss aid reaches them by
that time they will face the alternative
Of either diving 10y suffccation or throw
Ing thems lvDs Gron the strikers mercy.
Al the southwestern mine, which broke
into ilames carly th.s afternoon, battle
took place between guards aud a strong
force OF strikers. The tippe and the
camp were destroyed. according to "a re.
port here tonight, and the guards were
forced back into the mouth OF the slope.
Communication into tho strike district
from Trinidad has been Interrupted and
grave fears for persons on the mine com,
rs IA e anti rkaln aA
''ne mines now known to he ablaze are
the Primrose Of the Colorado Fuel AND
Iron Company, Mine No OF the South
\ erh colorado Fuel Company, the Empire
an" southwestern mines OF the South
western Fuel Company. the Green Canon
Mine OF the National Fuel Company ant
the Rugby Mine OF the Colorado Fuel an,
Iron Company. In addition the Roys