The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-05-01
MORE LIVES LOST IN
COLORADO STRIKE
Battles Take Toll of at Least
Nine in One Day.
MINE ATTACK REPULSED.
Union Men Driven OF After Spirited
Exchange of Shots With De-
tenders of Forbes.

IenUerS OF fOfDeS.
Denver, April 29.-Colorado's in
dustrial conflict today claimed a toll
of at least nine human lives.
This was the verified record to-
night, divided as follows:
At Forbes seven mine guards and
one striker dead, with two other
strikers believed to have been killed
At Walsenburg one officer of the
militia hospital corps killed, one Of
ficer and two enlisted men wounded.
The Forbes camp is a scene of des-
olation, nearly all the mine buildings
having been destroyed by fire. The
attack was opened by the strikers in
force about $40 a. m. With the wo-
men and children of the camp barri-
caded in the mine store the guards
responded spiritedly. About 10
O'Clock the firing ceased and the
camps assailants disappeared as
mysteriously as they came, some to-
wards Trinidad and others over the
hills in the direction OF Berwind and
Tabasco. A mine official said three
strikers were seen to tumble down
the hillside.
Fighting at Walsenburg between
strikers, militia and mine guards
lasted five hours. Maj. p. p. Lester
f the hospital corps met his death.
shot through the left breast, while
dressing the wounds of a ,omrade
within $50 yards of the strikers po-
sition. Firing ceased shortly after
3 o'clock.
With two troops of United States
cavalary in the Fremont county field
and citizen volunteers and militia on
guard in Boulder county, state Off
cials tonight prepared for sudden
outbreaks in Las Animas and Huer-
fano counties, where federal troops
were not expected to arrive before
tomorrow morning The militia
detachment relieved by federal SOL
diers in Fremont county was hasten
ing to Colonel Verdeckberg's assis-
tance at Walsenburg.
Members OF the legislature contin-
ued to reach the capital for informal
conferences preparatory to the con-
vening Of the special session on May
4, but tonight no tangible program
had been decided on.
Under a truce agreement which
stopped the fighting at Walsen-
burg late today approximately $50
strikers tonight were to surren.e .er
their arms to military officers ap-
Iproved by Colonel Verdeckberg. The
strikers are not TO be taken into
custody, but will be subject to prose
cution in the courts for killing Mai
p. P. Lester of the hospital corps.
At O'Clock strike leaders we're IN
conference with Colonel Verdeck
berg at the Welsenburg court hou~o
arranging details, according to ad-
vices received at the adiutant gen
erals office.
The announcement of the truce by
General Chase tonight furnished gu
explanation of the withdrawal of the
militia from the battlefield north and
west of Walsenburg today when ap-
parently they had the strikers hard
pressed. A suggestion that firing
cease for one hour to give oppo-tu-
nifty for negotiations looking to a
truce and possible surrender OF their
arms was communicated to Colonel
Verdeck berg.
Suggested terms of surrender were
transmitted to General Chase and
sanction for their acceptance given
by Governor Ammons. Confirmation
of the arrangement was given bv
General Chase to Colonel Verdeck-
berg and John McGregor. command
ing the strikers.
MAY QUEEN.