The Washington herald., 1914-01-02
'MOYER FIGURED
in ORCHARD CASE
Dynamiter's Confessions Give
Sidelights on Mine Fed
Grafton President.
TRIED TO ARREST LEADER
Article Deals with Inside Facts Re-
gardins Denver Conference Over
Strike Situation.
TRIED TO ARREST LEADER

Charles II. Meyer. president OF the
Western Federation Of Miners and CEN
trail figure in the copper miners strike
in the Calumet. Mich, district. whose ac-
cusations against the mining companies
charging them with an attempt on his
life. figures largely in the confessions OF
Harry Orchard. hireling Of the fedora
ton. in connection with his extraordi-
nary tale OF dynamite outrages. This
confession, or autobiography, which
makes frequent mention of Meyers name
in connection with many of the 'Jobs
was published in McClure's Magazine of
September. 1907, extracts Of which were
furnished The Washington Herald yes
terday by L. II. Burke, OF this city.
In view Of the recent assault upon
Moyer In the mining district wnen he
was beaten up by gangsters and driven
out OF Hancock, Mich, according TO
charges made by him when he returned
| to Chicago in a dangerous condition,
these extracts throw interesting side
lights in the confession of the dynamiter
which stirred labor circles half a dozen
years ago.
Orchard talked freely OF Meyer. WILL
| lam ID. Haywood Steve Adams, who con-
fessed in writing to being Orchard $
partner and co-worker in the field of
professional murder but later repudiated
the confession. and George A. Pettibone.
The article deals partly with some in
side facts regarding a conference at Den
yer over grievances OF the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners and the United Mine
Workers and the strike situation existing
at that time. Reference is made by
Orchard to a meeting shortly after with
George A. Pettibone at which ''explo-
sives'' was evidently the chief topic dis
cussed.
Frequent mention is made of hell fire, I"
which was Orchards descriptive name
for substance that would beat a re-
volver for setting OF a bomb" Meyer,
he said used to call Pettihone the ''DeviI'
because he was always making expert
ments with chemicals.
Lack of finances were depressing the
strike Orchard said, and Meyer told him
that I'VE would have to get busy Up in
the district and tear something loose, as
there was no money coming in TO the
federation. AS soon as something was
pulled of so that they got some adveT-
tising the money would pick up.
Meyer Warned Orchard.
Il have thought that many of these
horrible depredations were committed for
that purpose" said Orchard, ''as well as
to terrorize the mine-owner and nom
uIllOH IntH anu llldhf Nitiii al aAu Va
lives / do not mean that Meyer and
Haywood figured this out before the
strike, but that IT grew on them and they
found IL out while the strike was going
on.
They wanted me to take lot OF this
'helI-fre' up to the Cripple Creek dis
trict with me and throw IL through the
car windows at night when they were
full OF non-union men and throw it down
the shafts and set them on fire. So
Pettibone got me enough ms teriaI to mix
several gallons OF it, and l took 1t home
with me.
Before / used any OF the 'hell-frc'
Meyer came up TO the district and told
me I had better not use any OF il, as they
might have an idea where II came from.
He then goes on to tell about the
critical situation in the strike districts
of Cripple Creek and Telluride, when the
militia was ordered out and the local
unions were arming themselves. Meyer,
he said. was in Victor at that time ana
the militia made an attempt to arrest
him, but he was secreted away at night.