Evening star., 1927-11-21
TROOPS ORDERED
OUT AFTER POLICE
KILL ain MINE WAR
Score Wounded as Hundreds
of Strikers Storm Shaft
in Colorado.
SEVEN TO TEN SLAIN,
I.W. w. LEADERS CLAIM
Governor Declares Martial Law in
Coal Fields in Northern
Part of State.
Bv the Associated Press.

law authorized in the Colorado coal
strike zone by Gov. w. II. Adams
this morning will not go into effect
until Col. Paul II. Newton. adjutant
general of the State, decides that it
is necessary, the chief executive
explained this afternoon.
BY the Associated Press.
DENVER, Colo. November H.-
First blood was shed in the l. w. W.
coal strike in Colorado early today
when State policemen fired on several
hundred strikers. who stormed the
Columbine mine of the Rocky Noun
tain Fuel & Iron Co.. 80 miles north
of Denver.
Four strikers were known to nave
been killed and more than score
were injured. Strikers asserted that
from seven to ten had been slain. but
this could not be verified. Many or
the State officers were injured.
Gov. w. H. Adams ordered out part
Of the Colorado National Guard ano
declared martial law in the coal neios
of northern Colorado.
Responsibility for the deaths OF
those killed today rests squarely on
the strikers themselves, Gov. Adams
declared in a formal statement.
"Chief Louis Scherf of the state
law enforcement squad nad every
patience with the advancing strikers
and he ordered his men to nre Only
when it appeared that his own life
and those of his deputies were In
jeopardy" the governor said.
Troops on Way.
Troops were on their way to the
Columbine mine when the governor
signed on order, shortly before lo am
giving the National Guard absolute
authority in the strike district
The State policemen turned nan
of hulrets into the strikers. Officers
were overwhelmed by the croWd tna'
swarmed into the mine property.
There were many woman sympa'
thizers in the ranks Of the strikers
The strikers apparently were un.
aware they were being fired on until
their ranks began to thin and the
shrieks of the wounded pierced the air.
Then they retreated hastily, taxing
many of their wounded with theIii.
Later they placed white nag over an
automobile and returned for severai
more wounded.
one of the dead and several OF the
wounded were left on the mine prop
ertv. The wounded were rushed TO
hospitals at Longmont and Boulder.
State Police i'm Hospitals.
Several of the State officers also
were taken to hospitals suffering from
painful injuries. They sustained
broken shoulders from being struck
with clubs. Sam Lee. one of the po'
licemen, lost a finger.
First reports that Adam Bell,
leader of the striking forces in. the
northern Colorado field, was killed
were found to he erroneous. Ben
was in the hospital at Longmont with
serious injuries.
PHYSICIANS at the hospital said that
six strikers being treated there
probably would die. Thirteen others
were expected to survive their
wounds.
One troop of cavalry, two armored
tanks. one headquarters company.
four companies of infantry and
medical detachment were ordered out
for strike duty by Col. Paul P. New
Ion. adjutant of the State Guard.
He said all would be on active duty
in northern Colorado early this
afternoon.
Disturbances broke out in southern
Colorado today. but there were no
casualties.
The casualties today were the first
since the /, w. w. called a strike in
the Colorado coal fields october Is.
Warnings had been issued by Off
Gals of the Rocky Mountain Fuel Co.
operators of the mine. that any at
tempt TO invade the property would
be met by gunfire.
One Woman Wounded.
One of the wounded was woman
dressed in mems clothing.
Nearly 500 strikers gathered out.
side the mine about am. They
were met at the gates by Louis n.
Scherf. chief Of the State law en-
forcement department. and a dozen
OF his men
The strikers were commanded to
halt, but surged tn ough the entrance
and engaged in hand to hand conflict
with the guards.
Guns were welded by the police.
but they were overwhelmed The
strikers used rocks. clubs and knives.
One of the injured was not expected
TO live and several others were seri-
ously wounded.
Officials Arm Guards.
The Columbine mine was the only
large property in the northern field
started picketing.
Columbine officials armed guards
with machine guns last week and in.
formed Gov w II Adams that the
special police would shoot the first
trespasser
However. at n demonstration short.
" after the shoot to-kill" order was
issued. guards withhold their fire
when women and children led dele
cation of strike sympathizers over the
patrol lines.
The demonstration today followed
a mass meeting last night at Boulder,
near the mine. attended by many
women. The principal speaker was
introduced by Adam Bell, chairma of
the meeting. as "the Duke" who said
he was a California longshoreman
and a member of the w. w. He
attacked State and mine company
officials.
."rhe duke" said he had served more
than three years in Il California prison
for violation Of the States criminal
syndica liSm act.
Speaking of Coy. W. II. Adams and
Thomas Annear. chairman of the Sta =
Industrial commission, he declared
Athem to be "either ignorant or vii
vlains'
Other speakers included sister of
Amelia Sablich, the girl in red" who
has been active in picketing. and Viii
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