Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-06-24
fierce Battle IS
ON IN BUTTE, MONT.
THREE SHOT WHEN INSUR-
GENTS ATTEMPT TO
STORM UNION HALL
DYNAMITE Mines EXPLODED
Sheriff and Band of Deputies
Held Building in Fierce At
tack by Miners

between factions ut the butte miners
union and three men were shot one
being killed by a fuSilade fired by
deputy shcrlffs In clearing union hall.
An attempt has been made TO dyna-
mite the miners han, but the charge
failed TO do any great amount of
damage. The explosion could be
heard for blocks.
Armed men proceeded to the Stew
art mine and boldly carried down
boxes Of dynamite in the attempt TO
blow up the hall but the guns of
deputies prevented effective placing
of the charge
Chas. H. Meyer president Of the
Western Federation of Miners, and
other officers ot the union who were
to address a peace meeting i'm the hail,
fled through the rear door of the
auditorium when the shooting began.
They are said to have left the city for
fear OF attack by seccders from the
miners union, who several days ago
revolted against special assessments
for the Michigan copper mine strikers
and the use of the card system.
Many armed deputies were at the
hail tonight TO presrve order at u
meeting called to outline plans for
settling differences betweent he fac
tons of the local union. Many
soceders who have planned to or
ganize new union under the auspices
of the Industrial Workers of the
World were in ard around the hall
The insurgents started to storm the
hall, according to Sheriff Drlscolls
deputies stationed there, and several
shots were fired IN the air to drive the
beslegers back. The impetus of the
rush gTggt thut tho crowd
came on in spite of the warning
shots.
More shots wer fired and Ernest
Noy, travelling inspector for the Mon
tana Demurrage Bureau, fell dead.
He was an onlooker. A bullet passed
through his neck. J. II. Brune, 50
years old, who was going up the
stairs to attend the meeting in Miners
hall, was shot through the head as the
deputies, desperate at the continued
onset of the men, fired at every one
in sight. Brune cannot recover it is
said.
The third man shot in the first on
slaught was Chas. Kramer of Los An
geles, a bystander. A bullet grazed
his abdomen, but he was not severely
hurt.
Asst he three men fell the attackers
became frightened and fell back. The
deputies then reloaded their weapons
and prepared for any renewed as
sault on the building
AT the first volley President Meyer
and all other officials of the fedora
/ ton who had taken places on the roS-
| trum dashed out the rear door. An
/ automobile was waiting for them and
/ they hurrledly drove away it is said.
! sheriff TrigpA11 rttshAI
| ties to the hall and soon a hundred
men with sawed off shotguns We're on
! guard. They attempted to keep every
| body from the building, as it was re-
! ported the structure was about to be
| dynamited.
This report was well founded, for
shortly after the place was cleared
explosives were set off under union
headquarters. The detonation could
/ be heard for blocks but did little dam
age to the building.
OFFICERS believe that some of the
seceders from the union planned to
| blow up union hall and kill Meyer and
| other officers Of the Western Fedora
, ton OF Miners.
As the miners were driven back by
the incessant firing of the deputies
they scattered throughout the city
! shouting for dynamite Several
armed men went to the Stuart mine
and carried towards union hall several
boxes of the explosives They were
prevented from approaching the
building by the deputy sheriffs
Sheriff Driscoll, as soon as violence
started ordered all available assistance
to the scene As soon as the attack,
ers were forced down the street from
the hall by the fusiade the sheriff
stepped forward and shouted to the
crowd that he wanted five hundred
deputies. No one responded to the
appeal and the sheriff began to dis
pose his men as best he could
Mayor Duncan wired to Governor
Stewart at Helena. The mayor TOLD
the governor later that the city was
under control but this messag,
scarcely had been sent before dyna.
mite was set off under the unior
headquarters.
Many insurgent miners went TO the
tops of nearby buildings directly aftel
they were first iepulsed and opened
fire on the deputies in miners hall