The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
TRUCE HALTS -
A BIG BATTLE.
IN COLORADO
Striking Miners and State
Officials Make Two
Day Agreement.
GOV. AMMONS ASKS AID
Appeals to Wilson to Send
Federal Troops to
Riot Zone.
MORE MILITIA SENT ON
Fear That Strikers Will Ignore
the Pact and Begin
MORE MILITIA SENT ON
Fear That Strikers Will Ignore
the Pact and Begin
RiOting Again.


dramatic hut probably the least bloody
day of the 1--WE day Industrial war
in Colorado. a truce was declared this
evening which may temporarily check
the atrocities In the southern Colorado
coal fields. This truce was formed late
to-day in Denver.
When II was arranged the State
militia was marching upon Aguilar.
where the strikers were lined up more
than one thousand strong to meet their
attack. Acting Gov. Fitzgerald and
Horace Hawkins, attorney for the
miners, made the agreement.
The State promises that the soldiers
will not fire unless they are fired upon.
Hawkins has communicated with the
strike leaders at Aguilar, walsenburg,
Trinidad and Ludlow asking that they
respect the agreement for a cessation Of
hostiities for two days. Whether or
not these steps taken at late hour will
avail is doubtful.
The miners. lined up to avenge what
they term the massacre of their women
and children" at Ludlow by the militia,
are sullen and defiant. Almost to a man
the people Of the State Of Colorado
sympathize with them.
Gov. Ammons, who arrived here from
washington to- night. has wired to WASH
ington asking If he can have the aid OF
Federal troops to suppress the riots in
the mining district.
iUht
authoritative source. although the Gov
ernor refused to confirm or TO deny II.
The request was sent after his train
entered Colorado. 1t was dated Akron.
Col, and was addressed to the President.
Interest To-Day centred in the prog.
ress of tie troop train sent from Den.
yer to the Ludlow district.
Big Battle Prevented.
One thousand armed strikers met last
night to halt the progress of the train.
dispute over the exact point upon
which TO make the attack, coupled with
preparations taken by Gen. John Chase,
In command. prevented a big battle
Part OF the miners went to Lynn, lust
out OF Aguilar. These belong to Aguilar
camp. The men wanted to intercept the
Train AT point nearer Trinidad As a
result the forces were divided.
Chase fearful OF dynamite explosions.
held the troop train at Walsenburg
twenty-six miles this side of LuSlow
until daylight Consequently the strikers
retreated when the soldiers appeared on
FOOT, they having detrained six miles
away
The retreat, however. only added to the
strength of the miners. as they were in
t uShched al Aguiiar and In the Black
Hills, near Ludlow.
II the truce holds there will be no
hiring before daylight IL the strikera
ignore 1t or II the soldiers violate II no
one can estimate what the result will be.
Fears are expressed that the miners will
start shooting.
Acting Gov. Fitzgerald upon the ar.
rival OF Gov. Ammons was virtually con.
Ver'ed to the proposition OF calling a
truce. This sentiment was inspired by the
report that $500 miners would march
from Wyoming tomorrow and join the
colorado strikers in their defiance OF
the State militia
The events OF the week have paralyzsd
business In Colorado. The cost In lives
is not under sixty and the property loss
exceeds 100000
Colorado awoke to-day expecting 10
witness horror greater than the Ludlow
killing. but tonight every one is await
Ing the events OF tomorrow. The Aguilar
territory. over which swept a wave of
armed instruction yesterday, leaving
eight coal companies properties in ruins,
was quiet to-day.
Ready to Fight the Troops,
n Il. Cummins, manager OF the tele-
phone exchange, who has remained con-
unuously at his post for three days, said
that last night the town teemed with
hundreds OF armed strikers who filed out
along the main highway with the avowed
purpose Of meeting the troops when they
reached either Rugby. Lynn or their tent
colony at Mayne
The strikers determination to chan1e
their base of operations. II is said, resulted
from dissensions which al ose at Aguilar
last night regarding the best place TO
make stand The men from the AguiIar
territory II is said. insisted upon making
the stand In the northern country while
the strikers in the Ludlow district Dre
ferred 10 centre their operations there
Eahy this morning Aguilar was still
filled with men, who withdrew however.
as troops approached, evidently fearing
themselves not strong enough to venture
an ENCOUNTER. They are entrenched In a
canon nearby. however. about eight miles
from the militla's position.
officials at the Mine Workers head
quarters In Trinidad attempted to get
into communication with Adjuta mt General
chase early this evening. They denied
that II was to warn him against taking
bis torce into the Black Hills country
the General was r".'ol.ed TO he a short
distance outside Of LLomw. He went on
the train behind tho troop train.
Death Pits to ne Measured.
DR., Curry OF Hastings. representing the
Coroners office at Trinidad. went to the
site or the Ludlow tent colony TODAY
and announced his intentions OF measuring
the famous death pits. He said his pur-
pose was to find the amount OF space oc-
cnpied by each woman and child who
G!e" In the pits.
Major pliny p, Lester Of the Hosptal
Corps with party OF military Officers
also Investigated the colony site DIR
c H. Foster OF the Colorado Progressiyes
also made thorough investigation TODAY
He went first to Ludlow, where he spent
the morning talking with officers and
looking over the battlefield. This after.
moor ne boarded a mixed train and rode
70 Lynn. where the troop train was met