The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-05-05
Federal Commander In Colorado
Sends Wire To Wilson
Faces Serious Situation. Interest Divided By The
COrORGFS Inquest At Trinidad And The Headquarters
OF The United States Troops In Charge OF The Coal
Fields. STRIKERS Determined Not To Surrender Arms
To The Military

2 Beaver, Colo, May 2.-Interest in
seha coal strike tragedies was divided
by tive dramatic centers, the inquest
~Rt Trinidad over the bodies OF the
women and children burned to death
In the Ludlow tent colony and the
Sheadquarters Of United States troops
IN charge of the coal fields.
witness after witness told the cor
sseneT's court that the state militia
:: AIRED the tents where 1t was known
che women and children had taken
refuge from the bullets of the ma
-ehine guns. Mrs. Pearl jolly, leader
Of tho women in the Ludlow colony,
a described dramatically the attack
'apsn the colony and its terrible re-
salts. On the witness stand she was
'1a2m, showing not the least trace OF
-excdtement. Her story was well con-
,.1ected throughout.
A former stenographer for the mill
aATy company which investigated the
uainaa at the beginning Of the strike,
seven months ago, testified that he
ilAAd heard one of the state officers d.
rect that the tents be burned.
Major Holbrook, in command OF
9he federal troops, declared that the
situation is far more serious than
Aad been anticipated Consequently
ee sent telegram 10 President Will
econ asking that more cayalrymen and
AoIBe be sent at once. Governor e.
.sM. Ammons Joined in the request and
also asked that federal troops be sent
go the northern Colorado district,
Major Holbrook did not formally
demand that the strikers surrender
their arms. William Diamond, head
of the Trinidad union OF United Mine
Workers, however, informed the ma
ssor that the arms would not be sur
ssendered
'"The strikers will hide their arms
HRnd ammunition TO defend them
seslves in case the federal troops are
~taksn from the district before the
-sEt1ls IL settled" Diamond told the
army officer
Coroner's Inquiry.
A great crowd filled the Trinidad
-'eourthouse, where the coroner's In
'ssfiry was in progress.
Ntne Wlintshtb, lHtluulHF H. y. MC-
Donald. former stenographer for the
Colorado military committee, testified
oefore the coroners jury, which Is
recording the history OF Ludlow, Nc
Donald, who witnessed the last stages
"sf the fray and was spectator in
Nthe militia's lines, told the jury posi-
lively that the orders for the colonys
sHostruction came other from Major
AHAmrock, in command OF the state
troops and mine guards who partici-
pated In the night. or from Captain
Carson, one OF the aids. We've got
gust 30 minutes TO take and burn the
so'ony." he testified one OF the two
unmarked. before il gets dark"
A few moments later the troops and
mine guards, he said, swept down the
tracks in the charge that meant the
e0iony's destruction and the deaths
sof several women and II children
who sought refuge in the colony'e
'~ssfety" pit.
"IiaVe your big Sunday today, ole
Esrl" Pearl Jolly, leader OF women al
Sssudiow, testified militiaman told {
-fserhCer's wife on the day before th'
'esAgedy, Tomorrow wen have th'
ssosu1"
Mira. Jolly said that when the troops
rNspened fire on the colony many of tn,
women and children were only hal
lareBsed.