River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-01
US. To INVESTIGATE
STRIKE SITUATION
DEPORTATION OF MoYER LEADS
TO ACTION ON PART or
GOVERNMENT.
CALUMET BURIES ITS DEAD
Last Sad Rites Said Over Bodies of
II Persons Killed in the Fearful
Christmas Disaster-Not
Enough Hearses.

Washington, Dec. 20-A special in,
vestigation by the department of JUS
tice Of conditions in the copper mine
strike area in Michigan was called
for in a letter which Senator Mar
tine of New Jersey wrote to Attorney
General McReynolds.
Evidence Being Secured.
The department Of labor already
has dispatched Solicitor John y.
Densmore to Calumet and Represent
tatiye Macdonald OF Michigan, who
IS pressing for q congressional inves-
tigation, is on the scene.
Senator MARITIME, in his letter to the
attorney general demanding an in
quiry says:
From reliable advice, / am inform
ed that or Dec. 26 President Charles
IL. Moycr Of the Western Federation
of Miners was abducted and carried
out of the state of Michigan; and
it is currently stated that the abduc-
tion was advised, instigated and paid
for by the mine owners or their repre-
sentatives."
calumet 6uFIeS DCdU'
Calumet, Mich.-The Western Fed
Grafton of Miners buried it's dead Sun
day. Fifty-nine bodies, including
~ children, we're carried through the
streets down q winding country high
way and laid in graves in snow en-
ahrouded cemetery within sight OF
Lake Superior.
Thousands Of saddened miners form
ed the escort Of the funeral parties
and passed between other thousands
who, as spectators, testified to the
grief that has oppressed the com
munitiy since ~ men, women and
children were killed in the Christmas
eve panic in Italian hall
Services Only Sound.
For hours the Sabbath calm was
broken only by the tolling Of bells
and the sound Of voices informing bur
ial chants. IN half a dozen churches
services were held earlier in the day,
and the mourners went about the
streets, passing from their homes to
the churches, back to their homes af-
ter brief rcspites, and again 20 the
churches to prepare for the last sad
trip TO the gravesides.
Delegations Of strikers began com
ing into Calumet early in the day
The special train Of nine coaches
brought hundreds Of rederationists
from the iron mines Of Negaunee and
Ishpcming, ard every town and min
ing location in the copper country
sent members and friends of the
union TO swell the ranks Of the march
crs in the afternoon.
BY noon the union host was assem-
hled Five months OF experience in
demonstrating their numbers by pa
rading had taught the men to form
ranks quickly and with little delay
they lined up four abreast
Not Enough Hearses.
The supply Of hearses was made
quate and there were only fourteen
OF these vehicles in the van.
Then came three undertakers' wag-
ons and an automobile truck, the lat
ter carrying three collins.
These vehicles contained the adult
victims and the older children
Beside one marched eight women
who acted as pallbearers for mem
Der Of the womens auxiliary Of the
western federation
1t was this wOmen's organization
which was distributing gifts of candy,
shoes, caps and mttens to the chill
dren of strikers when the panic broke
out
Behind the hearses was a section
Of the procession which brought tears
and sobs from onlookers Thirty
nine white collins, their size testifying
TO the short life of the little forms
within, were carried by relays of
strikers. Four men bore each coffin
and us their arms grew weary or feet
stumbled on the slippery roadway,
companions relieved them OF their
burden.