The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-30
BATTLE OF FORBES.

Continued From Page t3ne.3
agencies which added to the tense feel
ing today. Thirty soldiers, who had
served in the militia under Major Les
ter, who were in charge of hospital
corps, forgot their alleged grievance
against the state and late last night
hurried to Walsenburg to offer their
services in any future conflict with the
strikers.
The battle at Forbes, where seven
mine guards and two strikers were
killed caused state officials to announce
that drastic action would have to be
taken Immediately. to prevent further
bloodshed. For this work Governor
Ammons looks to the U. s. troops who
now occupy portions of the strife-torn
section Of Colorado. The troops from
Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming. arrived
in Canon City, Fremont county, and
took charge of affairs in that section,
which earlier in the week was the
scene Of desperate fighting.
Numbered Four to One.
The battle at Walsenburg was be-
tween one hundred state soldiers, di-
vided into two commands of about fifty
each and more than 400 strikers en-
trenched in rifle pits, behind the lava
formation of the hills which form a
semi-circle -ound Walsenburg from
north to south, for a distance of three
miles. Militia had started to the Wal
sen Hllne at the Lar eHQ Oh the T1O&G TO
aid in the defense of that property
against further attack.
Under Lieut.. Scott one detachment
advanced along the hills. Captain
Swope commanded the other which
followed a valley across an arroyo
from the first detail, and at considera-
BILE distance in the rear. The soldiers
were armed only with their rifles and
service revolvers and proceeded with
out thought of attack.
Suddenly from the rifle pits came a
rain of bullets over the heads of the
first detachment. Lieutenant 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 that
] tifications. He then ordered his men
into the arroyo. Fierce fighting ensued
| during which the troops punished the
I strikers severely.
An Hours Truce.
| Finally Horace N. Hawkins, attorney
| in Denver for the United Mine Workers
of America, who was in telephone COM
munication with the strikers, called
! upon Col Verdeckberg in Walsenbure
to agree to an hours truce to consider
! terms of surrender. 1t was said that
the union men agreed to deliver their
! arms to the soldiers provided they were
not held prisoners. To this it was said
COL NerueCkDeTS agreed II was ar
ranged that seven officers were to &c
forward to a spot to receive the arms
| Of the strikers as they filed past. Col
iVerdeckbcrg so informed the militia
and they ceased firing
The officers. it was stated, advanced
a considerable distance and the strikers
left their dangerous position. passed
the militia and then renewed firing. II
was at that moment that Major Lester
was killed. During the lull in battle
he had gone forward to the aid of Phi
vate Glen Miller, who had fallen 15l
feet from the point at which the strik.
ers then were. So hot was the fir
that the militiamen were unable to ad.
vance to the point where Major Les
ter's body lay and were fully occupied
in defending themselves For two hour.
more the fighting continued and finally
the strikers withdrew, carrying thefl
guns with them -
Lester q Kansas Man. -
Il Ottawa, Kans., April SOP p. Lester
killed yesterday while dressing a mill
tiaman's wound at Walsenburg, Colo.
left Ottawa ten years ago to make hi