The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-23
STRIKERS CHARGED
WITH AN ASSAULT
Witness Before Congressional
Committee in Colorado Is
Victim of Attack.
TWO MEN ARRESTED
Probers Visit. the Famous
Ownbey Ranch and Motor
Over Ration Pass.

TRINIDAD, Colo, Feb. 22.--Twc
men, said by the military authorities
to be striking coal miners. were ar
rested late last night at Frederick
| charged with assaulting Mike Pinchek
witness before the house committee
investigating tho coal miners strike
| The prisoners, Delayo Constantine, a
Greek, and Ettora Forrero, an Italian,
were brought to Trinidad this morning
and lodged in the city Jail, in custody
of the militia. Pinchek was not Sc.
riously injured
According to the story told TO the
military authorities. Pinchek was at
tackled at the mine bunkhoue where he
sleeps. His assailants began beating
HIM, but were dragged away and ar
rested before they had time to do Sc
rious damage.
John r. Lawson, Colorado member of
the executive committee of the United
Mine Workers of America, said tonight
that he knows nothing Of the details
of the alleged attack and did not know
whether or not union men were con-
cerned- Frank E, Cove, of counsel for
the mine owners, said he had heard of
the incident, but was not fully in
formed as to all the circumstances.
Witness for Operators.
Pinchek appeared as witness for
the operators last week, to refute
charges of pconage made by the strik-
erS. He testified that he had come to
Colorado with full knowledge that there
was a strike and that he was satisfied
with the conditions under which he was
working in the mines,
The congressional Investigating com
mIttee today made an automobile trip
to the ranch and mine Of Colonel j. A.
Owpbey, on the Colorado-New Mexico
line southwest of here. The party was
accompanied by Judge A. w. Rucker,
legal adviser to the committee. Later
in the day some members OF the party
motored over Ration pass to Ra-
ton. n. NJ.
The committeeman returned to Trini-
dad this evening.
At the Ownbey ranch the congress
men were entertained In typical west
erp style, strange to most OF the men,
bers of the party.
Rich in Memories.
Colonel Ownbey, who, ms mine op-
orator not connected with any of the
larger Colorado companies, testified be-
fore the investigators last week, is a
famous character throughout the Rocky
mountain region. He was business
partner and one of the few intlmates
of the late J. P. Morgan. His ranch,
which comprises some lo,ooo acres, lles
partly in Colorado and partly in New
Mexico, and is rich in memories of the
fast vanishing old west. Directly in
front Of tho door of the ranchhouse is n
thick post to which IN pioneer days
HOld Dick" Wootton fastened the chain
which barred his famous road to the
traveller who did not pay toll,
The congressman and their party
were met at the ranch gate by Colonel
Ownbey After briefly inspecting the
spacious house the party started for the
mipe. Five automobiles carried the Wis"
itors, but the host galloped ahead on
horseback. his pack Of hounds at his
heels, and his broad felt hat and his
long mustache flapping in the wind
Everything Shlp-shapc.
At the mine the congressman were
shown through the scrupulously, neat
quarters provided for tho employees,
and inspected accounts and payrolls-
Three hundred yards from the mine Of
fees the representatives were taken 10
the boundary stone marking the Colo
RADIO New Mexico line.
The entire party was thon enter
tanned at luncheon by Colonel Ownbey.
Afterward two motor cars made tne
trip TO Ration. crossing the 5000 root
pass in tho teeth of nm icy gale. me
Ration party returned to Trinidad, STOP
ping nt the Ownbey ranch on tho way
Colonel Ownbey, who has liVed IN
Las Animas county for thirty-hve
Years. created something Of sensation
Ia ST week by testifying before the com.
,n;ttce that combination Of railroads
md mining companies had been formed
with the Intention of putting, his mine
ont of business, AZ result. no de
cIared. of this alleged combination, tho
Wootton mine, controlled by him; mas
LOST lis market. For about a month the
,W; r,;ne practically has been shut down
THE committee will resume Its see-
aions tomorrow morning, with tne case
For The miners apparently far from
conclusion. 1t is now believed tnat IH1