Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-19

chief, sides with Howat. The 100000
miners of Illinois pledged an equal num-
Der Of dollars month to feed the
Howatites.
Women Start Work
But men sent to the district by Lewis
began to get some workers back IN
the mines. Then the women seeing
control slipping from the hands OF their
men, took command. 5000
Headed BY General Goskie, 5000
women went into the field. J
They stormed the mines where Lewis
.loyalists' were working.
Men were dragged from the shafts
and strip pits. They were made to kiss
the American flag and swear obedience
to Howat.
Those who hesitated weer set upon,
scratched, clawed, and in many IN
stances their clothing was ripped from
their bodies
Tuesday the Amazon army grew to
1000. Wednesday saw the most ambl-
tious campaign of the drive. over
&. 900 women formed mob at Franklin
in the heart Of the so-called red cell
They were Poles, Slavs, Italians and
English, with goodly scattering OF
Americans.
Lead BY Band
In a babble of foreign tongues, and
with girls band, daughters OF miners,
at their head, they began a march
southwark into the territory loyal to
Lewis and against Howat.
Sheriff Milt Gould Of Crawford coun-
ty. who sought to block their progress,
was taken a prisoner Of war and made
to accompany the army. The shut
shut shut" of feet over the dusty roads
halted now and then for rest.
The majority affected the flaring colors
40 dear to the hearts of the foreign
women. Red wrappers, topped by
green and yellow capes, some with high
heeled shoes and silk stockings; others
stockingless; still others dressed in
their Sunday plumage formed the army
Of privates.
The women marched with babies at
their breasts, with their families of
six and eight and even ten tagging on
behind. They had come from the lit
tie homes, shanties in the implanted
mining towns, which spread over the
two counties. Many carried lunch bas-
kets. Others had deposited loaf of
black bread and some a bottle of the
"dago red" found in every miners
home in the supply train, the autos
driven by their men, which followed
the marchers.
Live on Strike Supplies
The food. like the food on which
the miners are now living, came from
the ration stores set up over the dis
trict by the Illinois sympathzers.
The strikers have been living on
these rations for many weeks. The
supply Of "claret" is the only article
bought AS the women marched out
the shack towns of the district were
deserted There women in their sos
carried in automobiles, in the line OF
march and girls who had left the class
rooms of the mining town schools.
Patriotic airs and jazz tunes were the
marching songs. Pepper boxes, clubs
and stones were the weapons.
Unable to control the situation,
county authorities appealed to the
state for aid. Troops were rushed in
from nearby points and are tonight
patroling the mine scene. The mines
are idle, however.
In terror of pepper barages, afraid
to face the clawing, screaming women,
the 'loyalists' will not return to their
posts.
When they do we will march again, .
General Goskie" declares. 1--WE are
fighting against the industrial court
law Of Kansas and we will fight as
long as we have strength" Mrs. Cos
kie's regiments were undismayed by
the presence of troops. The warriors
gather on street corners of the little
mining towns at night to discuss the
next drive.
May Fight Troops
A, report that Governor Allen OF
Kansas was to personally lead the at
tack against the women's army only
served to bring out recruits. While
| the Amazon army plans it's battle the
| nen Of the camps stand back as they
have done during the offensive. silent
! " smiling. The men. as the won en-
| raid mines, stand at a distance, the
reserve army, ready and anxious to
give battle to any who may lay hands
on their fighters.
The district is in state of terror
| From darkness to dawn the camps
are q nightmare of rumor and threat
| Vast quantities Of dynamite have beer
stolen from the mines about Mulberry
despite the guard Of the troops.
Both sides are ready for the clash
observers declared. And a clash il
believed certain.