The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-02-05
Montana Unit of Coxey's Army Had Glorious But Brief Career
On Stolen Freight Train Before Federal Officers, Augmented by
Troops From Fort Keogh1 Arrested Leaders at Forsyth Station
By ELMO

I'VE were met by the enemy, and
we are theirs" might well have
been the paraphrased report to his
Hogan in April, 1894, when his
"army," with a stolen Northern Pa
cific freight train, at Forsyth ran
int the arms of federal troops from
Fort Keogh, ending the march of
Montana's init Of the famous
Coxey's Army of the panic of
1S93-94.
During the panic General" Jacob S.
Coxey Of Masillon, O., organized a a
tion-Wide movement of unemployed on
Washington to demand relief. Only
CoXey and his own unit ever reached
Washington, and he and his leaders
were arrested under a law for tram
ping lawns in an attempt to secure IN
interview with President Grover CleVe-
land and other officials.
Coxey was released June 10, 1894,
when he was nominated for congress
in his home state.
Scattered d~etachments of the army
met various difficulties which ended
their journey. Stolen freight trains
we're a common mode OF Transports
ton. Montana's unit of the Com
monweal' or industrial Army had a
glorious but brief career on a stolen
train before the federal troops stepped
in.
The Montana contingent congregat.
ed at Butte under the leadership OF
General" William Hogan in early
April, 1894. AS the recruits reached
numbers sufficient &c Tor moVem nsnscti inc
trouble. discontinued running freight
trains east of Butte. This temporarily
held I'M Hogan and his recruits, and
HEY proceeded to take charge OF the
railroad yards in Butte, n
free transportation: superintendent
Finn of the Livingston offices OF the
Northern Pacific wired Governor Rick
ards at Helena for protection OF rau,
road property. The governor repileo
that the road was in recelvershlP
in charge of the federal courts anu
that the company nus look 10 tnat
source for relief.
An injunction was secured IN Ine
United States district Oh JuI i;s
leaders, restricting the Army from
illegal use of railroad property.
limited States Marshal McDermott
WAS Given the papers for service. real
inp the "army" would leave 6utte
before his arrival, he declded 70 go ~ ~
Logan, a junction near Sozenla aa w
intercept any movsment eeIore Siie we're
iearned by Coxey sympathizers, and
erai building to prevent passage OF
tha MARSHAL and his men. Then me
r11mor started that Hogan ana His
.army" would start April ~, w ";F;c
permission of the NortneTh crnwd
and with passage paid. Inc crown
dispersed. -.
Preparing for Train "Grab"
Marshal McDermott then proceeoeo
to RItte. and found the army IN
the Yards preparing to seize a tf ran.
lie swore in a large number OF ueps
uties and marched on the w SamP Fhe me Cox
auifes We're incensed and aided Hogan's
men in driving back the ot1lceIS IS
I%ie,itenant William Cunningham OF
The "army" said laters n
that "the deputies were driven 10 Sl.S
TOP of the Owsley block IN Butoe, aaa
those who could not reacn stlau 1e, vei
I honestly believe, are runnlng yeE ro
An engine and several 'boxcars were
seized and the train started east, stOp-
ming at ali stations and registering
and asking for running orders, WIicil
were refused. At Bozeman sympaCnu-
zers heaped the ne,, tram v @s'n encountered
a. Muir tunnel under the BozeHaI
hill enroute to Livingston. rms tne
aarmv" train crew solved in typical
boomer style.
Caye-in Couldn't Stop EN-
A cave-in had occurred at me GU
at the east end Of the tunnel au. "A
When it was learned the Coxeyites
were coming. The work train returned
to livingston, leaving the debris on
the tracks. The train entered tuI-
mel and met the drift. All na1os
turned out to clear the track. for
more fell from the soft walls OF the
So the train was backed up, and
shot full speed ahead as though DUCK
ing a snowdrift. BY sheer luck 1t came
through, mud-spattered from one enc
to the other. It moved on 70 sa LlvtHs5
with flags and banners. The army.
was cheering, and answering cheers
came from the crowd at the station,
a crowd largely in sympathy with the
CoXey movement.
Lieutenant CUNNINGHAM IN ms .d I1cn
giving the history Of the Montana
Commune and criticizing the federal
government. He said the army wouio
bush Montana's silver mining INTERESTS
at Washington, and gave a giow1ns
recital of the aims OF h Coxey move
ment. Jess Leonard, colored, sang
Coxey songs, and others had a part
in the entertainment.
Allen r. Joy, j. j. G. Burns, H.. ).
Miller Cfor several years district Judge
and still an attorney in livingston,
and George Anderson, editor OF tae
Livingston Post, among others, ad-
dresser the army, wishing the men
Godspeed, but Keep within the iaw!,
Livingston people gave lavishly OF
provisions and blankets.
general" Hogan had a knack OF
keeping posted on railroad t~elegraphlc
communication, and he learned az
Livingston that Northern Pacific OF,
ficials en- train at Reed Point had
reported a rock Side ie at nros Grey f foo1s
would not come amiss. So the train
crew added a tool car to the train:
AS the army started away from
Livingston the air hose was cut on one
car. suddenly stopping the train n