Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-24
Dynamite is Exploded in
Hall Where Miners Are
Holding Meeting.
BUILDINGS BLOWN UP
Crime Is Laid at Door of InSur-
gentS-PreSident Meyer
Disappears.

Butte. Mont. June 24.-Property
damage estimated at 100000. caused
by last nights rioting and dynamit-
irs OF the Butte miners union hall,
the front OF practically every building
in the square Of which the miners
hall was the center being wrecked by
the charge Of explosives set on by
insurgent miners against the local
headquarters Of the Western Fedora
ton Of Miners. Two men were Sc
riously injured by flying bricks and
sticks and hundreds of persons were
struck by flying glass. which ratified
upon the heads OF people every time
a blast was set OF.
Preceding the dynamiting sheriff's
deputies stationed in the miners union
hall fred many shots into the crowd
OF insurEent miners. AS the crown
fell sack Ernest NOy. travelling in'
spector OF the Montana Demurrage
company. lay dead with a bullet in
his neck. and a federation miner was
dying OF bullets in the head.
after midnight when more than
score of blasts had been exploded at
the federation hall. practically demol-
fshing the walls. front and back being
blown out and roof caved in. Leaders
Of the new union with lieutenants
spent most of the night urging the
men 10 retire 10 their homes and early
today the city was quiet
Officials in Flight.
The whereabouts OF President Moy-
er OF the Western Federation, who
fed from the miners hall when the
firing began last night. is a matter of
He leaped into an auto and !
was driven away. The belief pre- |
vailed that Meyer and other fleeing |
federation officials left town and that |
further efforts OF the Western Fedora !
tion 10 hold its own in Butte are at !
an end.
Labor leaders expressed the belief {
that the new organization OF miners /
now is the dominant labor force in
Butte President Mcdonald Of the new 4
Butte Mine Workers union took /
prominent part in the restoration OF /
1rder He said; We would not have /
rad any trouble start for the world.
L was not within our power 70 pre- !,
vent IT, The first shot was fired by 1
Western Federationists. They started
he whole thing. There IS only a rem
lant OF the federation in Butte ana
: would not make any difference to
IS whether they met or not"
Operations Suspended.
Operations were suspended at the
stuart and Original mines as a con
-queuce Of a dynamite raid last night
Z these mines. but operations were
esumed with the morning shifts.
10Th mines are near the miners hall.
N other mines continue at work.
he managers say there is no lkeli-
ood Of a shutdown
No Troops 10 Be Sent.
Washington. d. C.. June 24.-No Of (
cisl dispatches regarding rioting al ,
ute. Mont. have been received at I
ie White house or the war depart |
lent and Il IS said the situation, as .
" as sending federal troops was con-
srned. remained the same. The presi-
snt vas informed Of the situation ]
trough the Montana congressman.
Indictments Nolleo.
Charleston. ". Va. June 2f.-Indict- >
ients against President White and is
her national and district officers OF f,
ie United Nine Workers were nolled =
day az the request Of the district at 8,
rney. They we're indicted on a "a
iarge Of conspiracy with coal opera y
r. Of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and east a,
pennsylvania. 10 increase the cost a,
mining IN West virginia. .,