New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-24
E;qht Mines Burned-LOSS
Now Estimated at
100000.
TROOPS HURRYING
TOWARD LUDLOW
Unions Give Funds to Warning
Brothers-WOmen Rail
at Rockefeller.
by Telegraph TO Tho Tribune ]

Trinidad, Col, April 23.-One thou
sand strikers who swept to-day over
the southern coal fields from Delagua
to Rouse. left the smoking ruins Of
eight great coal properties in their
wake and added possibly a score to
the present death list OF twenty-six.
They are preparing for battle tonight
with the $50 militiamen who are being
hurried into the strike zone from
Denver
The strikers have entrenched along
the lines Of the Colorado Southern and
Denver & Rio Grande railroads. Camp
fires are agleam along the ridges, and
at Aguilar, scene Of the burning OF
the Empire mine property yesterday,
500 men are gathered for the first con-
ccrted attack. BY virtue of the fight
ing to-day. the strikers have possess
sion Of all the country between Ludlow,
where 100 men and two machine guns
under Major Hammock are stationed,
and the coal camp at Rouse. twelve
miles south Of Walsenburg. to which
fugitives from the burning camps
taken by the strikers have fed.
Miners Surround Town.
Rouse Is reported surrounded. and
200 men who hold the camp with their
rifles and machine gun are said to
be preparing for an attack. II Rouse
A.. Ao -
Lester, Cameron and Walsen will be
abandoned.
Property damage in excess Of ST.
100000 is said to have been done.
Should the troops fail IN running the
eighteen-mile gantlet. murder and
arson, which may end in the destruc-
ton Of every mining property from
Trinidad to Walsenburg, It is thought
will be possibility. Should the militia
succeed it is possible that guerilla
warfare may continue for weeks.
John Lawson, international board
member Of the United Mine Workers
OF America, said this afternoon that he
would refuse TO order the strikers to
surrender their arms until they had
been assured that they would receive
fa:r treatment at the militias hands
There can be no peace without Jus
Uce," he said.
J. ". Supple, OF Denver, president Of
the operating company, is facing death
tonight with twenty other men in the
Empire mine as the result OF their re-
fusal to surrender to the strikers at
Aguilar. Three women and five chill
dren. including Mrs. William Waddell,
wife Of the mine superintendent; Mrs.
Matthews Waddell, her daughter-in-
law; Mrs. Mcintyre, wife Of the camp
blacksmith, and the younger Mrs.
Waddell's baby. were removed from
the charred mouth of the air shaft and
taken out OF the danger zone.
The troop train is due in Trinidad at
II o'clock tonight, Western time.
Messages from Rouse said that
Primrose was being dynamited. All Of
he inhabitants are believed TO have
eft. At Cameron all Of the women and
children IN the camp have been placed
n the basement Of the company store.
Lieutenant Governor Stephen r.
Fftzgarrald has arranged to issue
proclamation calling a special session
IF the State Legislature 10 finance the
maintenance of the militia in the strike
zone. AdJutant General Chase issued a
,all for all branches Of services in the
Colorado National Guard to entrain for
Trinidad.
Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald
said
My investigation Of the riots has
disclosed the most terrible conditions
conditions which have never before
oeen equalled in this or any other
state. not even West Virginia. Even
granting all the strikers claims con-
,erning the actions Of the militia, It is
not justifable that the strikers them
selves should murder women and chill
iren as they have done to-day and are
doing, nor for them 10 burn and de-
stroy hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
worth Of property. They have no iusti
ication for numbering men whose only
,ffense is that they are seeking to earn
living without a permit from the
United Mine Workers of America"