PART ONE

Dedication

Introduction

The Cripple Creek District

Stratton's Independence

The Portland

Victor, The City Of Mines (Poem)

The Strike of 1894

The Strike Of 1903

The Strike in Colorado City

The Governor's Order

What Would You Do, Governor

Some Advice By Request

The Strike, (Eight-Hour)

The Call

Portland Settlement

"Here's To You, Jim" (Poem)

Owers' Reply To Peabody

Executive Order

Peabody's Statement

Commissioner's Report

Sheriff Robertson's Plain Statement

Mayor French Asks for Troops

Resolution (Troops Not Wanted)

City Council Protest

Conflict of Authority

Judge Seeds Issues Writs

Preparations to Fight a Nation

Press Comments Editorially

State Federation Aroused

Strike Breakers Arrive in District

Strike Breakers Converted to Unionism

Forced From Sidewalk by Fear of Death

Repelled the Charge of Burro

Military Arrests Become Numerous

Bell Announces Superiority to Courts

Democrats Censure Military

Our Little Tin God on Wheels (Poem)

Victor Record Force Kidnapped

Somewhat Disfigured But Still in the Ring

Denver Typographical Union Condemns

Gold Coin and Economic Mill Men Out

Bull Pen Prisoners Released

"To Hell With the Constitution"

Farcial Court Martial

Woman's Auxiliaries

Organized Labor Combines Politically

Corporations Controlled

Coal Miners on Strike

Peabody Calls for Help

Death of William Dodsworth

No Respect For the Dead

Conspiracy to Implicate Union Men

The Vindicator Horror

Military Arrests Children

McKinney Taken to Canon City

More Writs of Habeas Corpus

Martial Law Declared

Coroner's Jury Serve Writs

Victor Poole Case in Supreme Court

Union Miners to be Vagged

R. E. Croskey Driven From District

First Blood in Cripple Creek War

State Federation Calls Convention

Committee Calls on Governor Peabody

Telluride Strike (By Guy E. Miller)

Mine Owners' Statement to Congress

Summary of Law and Order "Necessities"

The Independence (Mine) Horror

The Writer Receives Pleasant Surprise

Persecutions of Sherman Parker and Others

District Union Leaders on Trial

Western Federation Officers

Congress Asked to Investigate

Conclusion (Part I)

 

Introduction (Part II)

PART TWO

The Coal Strike

Expression from "Mother" Jones

Telluride Strike (Part II) by Guy E. Miller

Moyer Habeas Corpus Case

The Arrest of Pres. Moyer

Secretary Haywood attacked by Militia

Habeas Corpus Case in Supreme Court

Independence Explosion

What Investigation Revealed

Denial of the W. F. M.

Trouble Over Bodies

Rope For Sheriff

Mass Meeting and Riot

Details of Riot

Trouble at Cripple Creek

More Vandalism

Martial Law Proclaimed

The Battle of Dunnville

Verdict of Coroner's Jury

Kangaroo Court

Record Plant Destroyed

Portland Mine Closed

Blacklist Instituted

Vicious Verdeckberg

Appeal to Red Cross Society

"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"

Deportation Order

Bell Gives Reasons

Death of Emil Johnson

Writ of Habeas Corpus Applied For

Information Filed

Coroner's Verdict

Another Suicide

Whipped and Robbed

Death of Michael O'Connell

Mass Meeting of Citizens

District Officials Issue Proclamation

More Vandalism

Rev. Leland Arrested

"You Can't Come Back" (Citizens' Alliance Anthem)

Appeal to Federal Court

Alleged Confession of Romaine

Liberty Leagues

Liberty Leagues Adopt Political Policy

Political Conflict

Republican Convention

Democratic Convention

The Election

People's Will Overthrown

Adams Inaugurated

Jesse McDonald, Governor

Governor Adams Returns Home

Governor Adams' Statement

Summary of Contest

Resume of the Conspiracy

Political Oblivion for Peabody

Eight-hour Law

Constitutional Amendment

Smeltermen Declare Strike Off

Sheriff Bell's Troubles

Who Was Responsible

A Comparison

It Is Time (Poem)

The Power of the Ballot

The Strike Still On

Conclusion (Part II)

List of Deported

Looking Backward (1917)

INDEX TO APPENDIX

(Double page insert) Moyer, Haywood, and Pettibone

Dedication

Famous Kidnapping Cases

Arrest of Orchard

Orchard's Part in the Play

The Kidnapping

St. John arrested

McParland in Evidence

Writ of Habeas Corpus Denied

Synopsis of Supreme Court's Decision

Where Idaho Wins

Harlan's Summing Up

McKenna's Dissenting Opinion

Adams' Case

The Workers Busy

Taft to the Rescue

Haywood Candidate for Governor

That Fire Fiasco

Blackmail Moyer

Kidnapping Case Before Congress

Eugene V. Debs

Mother Jones

McParland Talks

Wives Attend Trial

Prisoners' Treatment in Jail

The Haywood Trial

Court Convenes

Orchard as Witness

Other Witnesses

No Corroboration

Peabody and Goddard Witnesses

Not Guilty

Darrow Diamonds

Attorney John H. Murphy

Haywood Home Again

President Moyer Released on Bond

Pettibone Refused Bail

Pettibone Trial

Jury Completed

Moyer Case Dismissed

Haywood on Lecture Tour

General Summary

Orchard Sentenced

References

The Tyypographical Union

(Insert) Printers' Home

Supreme Court vs. Labor

Backward Glances

Anthracite Coal Strike 1902

Employes vs. Employers

 


book image

The Cripple Creek Strike:
a History of
Industrial Wars
in Colorado, 1903-4-5

By Emma Florence Langdon

pages 94 to 110

Governor Peabody's order calling out the troops read as follows:

EXECUTIVE ORDER.

"Ordered:—It having been made to appear to me by reputable citizens of the county, by the constituted civil officers and by the honorable commission appointed by me to investigate the matter, that an insurrection is threatened in the county of Teller, in the state of Colorado, and that there is a tumult threatened and imminent, and that a body of men are acting together, by force, with attempt to commit felonies, and to offer violence to break and resist the laws of this state, and that a number of persons are in open and active opposition to the execution of the laws of this state in said county, and that the civil authorities are wholly unable to cope with the situation.

"I therefore direct you, in pursuance of the power and authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of the state of Colorado, to direct the brigadier general commanding the National guard of the state of Colorado, to forthwith order out the First regiment of infantry, together with company H of the Second infantry, Colonel Verdeckberg, commanding, together with the First squadron of cavalry, consisting of troops B, D and C, also battery A, and the signal corps and the medical corps of the state, and to prevent said threatened insurrection; and he will protect all persons and property in said county of Teller, from unlawful interference, and will see that threats, assaults and all sorts of violence cease at once, and that public peace and good order be preserved upon all occasions, to the end that the authority and dignity of this state be maintained and her power to suppress lawlessness within her borders be asserted.

"Witness my hand and the executive seal, at Denver, this 4th day of September, A. D. 1903. JAMES H. PEABODY,

"To Sherman M. Bell, Adjutant General of the State of Colorado."

PEABODY'S STATEMENT.

"I have sent the guard to the Cripple Creek district because I saw no way in which it could be averted. I opposed it all I could, but the situation is such that I did not think it policy to delay any longer. My special committee sent me very alarming telegrams, but I did not act until the men came and made a verbal report. Their report was even more alarming than the telegrams that they had sent.

"The order was issued on the representation of the business men of the district, the mine owners and the mayor of Victor. At no time did Sheriff Henry Robertson ask for the guard. I have heard he maintained they are not needed. He also refused to join in the request. From the present outlook the men will stay there indefinitely. Of course, we cannot know when matters may quiet down. I did not act rashly In the matter. I did everything to avert sending the troops, but I have been forced from the circumstances of the case to do so."

COMMISSION'S REPORT.

"Santa Fe Depot, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 4, 1903. "Governor James H. Peabody, State Capitol, Denver, Colo.:

"Have visited Cripple Creek and Victor, and after careful inquiry among representative citizens and property owners, including mayors of Cripple Creek and Victor, we are of the opinion that the lives of the citizens of the district are in imminent danger and property and personal rights are in jeopardy. Prompt action is imperatively demanded by the above people to protect the lives and property of the citizens. We find that a reign of terror exists in the district. We do not believe that the civil authorities are able to cope with the situation.

"JOHN CHASE,
"N. C. MILLER,
"TOM E. M'CLELLAND."

The sheriff of Teller county published the following plain statement Sept. 5:

SHERIFF ROBERTSON'S PLAIN STATEMENT.

"TO THE PUBLIC—The commission sent by the governor of the state of Colorado to investigate the strike situation in Teller county, called me at midnight Thursday, the 3rd inst. I went to the National hotel at Cripple Creek, and reached there about 12:30 a. m. Friday morning Sept.4. I was with the commission about two hours and fully explained the situation. I stated to the commission I had authority to employ all the deputies I needed; that I had the situation in hand; that I had made arrests and was going to make more; that there was no trouble. Within three hours after I left the commission, the members thereof departed for Denver. There is no occasion for the militia here. I can handle the situation. There is no trouble in the district, and has been none. No unusual assembly of men. Saloons closed at midnight. The sending of troops here is a usurpation of authority on the part of the governor. 1 believe the action of the governor will have much to do toward injuring the district to such an extent that it will be a long time before a recovery will be had.

photo of sheriff of Teller County H. M. Robertson

H. M. Robertson, Sheriff of Teller County.

"As sheriff of Teller county, I do solemnly protest against the militia being sent here at this time. H. M. ROBERTSON."

District Union No. 1, W. F. of M., published the following statement in its official organ September 5, which speaks for itself:

"The executive committee wishes to state that they were not invited to appear before the 'special committee,' or 'commission,' appointed by Governor Peabody, neither were they in any manner consulted. So far as learned, the committee arrived in the district over the Short Line a few minutes after 9 o'clock, on last Thursday evening, Sept. 3, and after meeting certain persons in Victor, went to Cripple Creek where they were accompanied by bankers and sampling works men. At Cripple Creek they talked only with the sheriff of Teller county, but did not meet any of the representatives of the Western Federation of Miners, neither did they intimate any desire to hear the Federation side of the difficulty, but departed for Colorado Springs at 4:30 Friday morning, Sept. 4.

"DISTRICT UNION NO. 1, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE."

MAYOR FRENCH ASKS FOR TROOPS.

Everybody was surprised at the action of Mayor French in the matter and it was believed that if he wanted to do anything like that he should have conferred with the council. It was generally believed that he was forced to it; that influences that stood over him in a business way, allowed him no alternative but to ask for the militia, as he had always held the respect of the public generally up to this time. A resolution was prepared to be introduced into the council Sept 4, demanding an explanation and condemning his actions. There was some question in the minds of Mayor French's friends as to the report that he had wired for the troops, but the following settled that question:

Victor, Colo., Sept. 3, 1903. "His Excellency, Jas. H. Peabody, Governor of Colorado, Denver.

"There is in and near the city of Victor, Teller county, Colorado, a body of men acting by force and violence to resist and break the laws of the state, and that a riot and violence and bloodshed and destruction of property are seriously threatened and are imminent. The sheriff and other peace officers are utterly unable to preserve order and protect lives and property. I therefore request and demand that you send the National guard of Colorado to this city and community immediately, for the purpose of protecting the lives and property ot the citizens of this community. F. D. FRENCH,

"Mayor City of Victor, Teller County, Colorado."

Mayor French sent another dispatch with much the same wording from Cripple Creek, urging the governor to give assistance at once.

There was sent out in the district a few circulars, announcing a meeting on the corner of Fourth and Victor avenue, Sept. 5, at 4 o'clock for the purpose of making a formal protest against the outrageous proceedings and declaring against the threatened establishment of martial law, and for the purpose of placing the community in the proper light before the world. The meeting was called for the purpose of passing a resolution that would express the sentiment of the people of the district. In answer to the few circulars sent out, hundreds of representative citizens gathered and held a rousing enthusiastic meeting.

J. E. Ferguson, of Victor, was elected chairman of the meeting and delivered the following address:

"It is a very extraordinary occurrence which has, on such short notice, called out this vast assemblage of law-abiding citizens. We are today confronted with a condition which calls forth from the breast of every peace loving, law-abiding citizen expression of condemnation such as he has never before felt.

"Without any provocation whatever, we have in our midst an army of soldiers but for what purpose has not yet been declared. Last night while the community was asleep, this body of armed men were unloaded in our midst. Up to this hour, I am informed, they have not officially made known to the sheriff or any other peace officer that they are here. Why are we thus afflicted? Why this array of soldiery and munitions of war? It is said that the governor of this state sent them here and that he has been notified of the existence of that necessity. What peace officer has called for the aid of the state militia? I hear the name of Mayor French mentioned. Whether he is guilty or not I am not prepared to say, but it he is, his actions do not show that he acted in good faith. Mayor French is the mayor of this city. His authority as an executive officer extends only to the limits of his municipality. If there existed in his jurisdiction a necessity for troops, why has he not had them sent to Victor? Not a single soldier is stationed within the city limits or so far as I am informed, in any other city of the county. Your sheriff has called for no militia. He has need of none. The constitution of the state of Colorado gives power to the governor to call out the militia to execute the laws, suppress insurrection or repel invasion. Can it be said that any of these constitutional conditions existed as a basis for his recent action? Under the laws of the state which follow this constitutional authority, he has the power to 'call out the militia when there exists in any town, city, or county any tumult, riot, mob, or body of men acting together by force with attempt to commit felony, or to offer violence to persons or property, or by force or violence to break or resist the laws of the state, or when such tumult, riot or mob is threatened and the fact is made Known to the governor.'; and when the militia is so called it is to aid the civil authorities to suppress such violence and support the law. Did this condition exist in our midst? There was not a community in the entire county where such conditions existed. It is now over three weeks since the present strike was declared and such a condition has not at no time existed. I want to say to you as a citizen of your city, and as an officer of the law, for I am an officer of the court, that in over four years that I have resided in Teller county, I have not seen three consecutive weeks that were fraught with as little violence, as little disturbance, as little breaking of the law as the past three weeks have been. It has been charged that the mayor has been guilty of assisting in perpetrating this wrong upon this city and county.

photo of Frank P. Mannix, County Clerk of Teller County

Frank P. Mannix, County Clerk

If the necessity existed, when did he wake up to his duty? Mr. French was mayor of the city last April, and at that time there was not a property holder or renter of property who was not nightly and daily in fear of incendiary fire. House after house was fired all over the city, many of which were burned to the ground. Murder was committed by the setting of the fire. Yet this law-abiding mayor did not think of calling in the militia.

"The purpose of this meeting, ladies and gentlemen, is to adopt a set of appropriate resolutions, which I am informed has been prepared. It is proper that you should do so. Some action should be taken at once to show the powers that reign over us that we have been misrepresented. That we have no need of martial law, and I hope that proper resolutions will be adopted."

Frank P. Mannix was then introduced and went over the situation with a few appropriate remarks. Among other things he stated that he was responsible for the nomination of F. D. French, whom he condemned for what he, as mayor, had done. He said that French had to do it and that he did it against his will. Mr. Mannix said: "Frank, since you have done it, you ought to have the honor to resign."

The remark was heartily cheered. Mr. Mannix scored the parties that had the troops brought here in strong terms and received hearty applause at the conclusion of each sentence. At the conclusion of the meeting it was announced that the petition or resolution would be left at the Record office and at Judge Kavanaugh's store where people flocked by the hundreds to sign the petition. By 7 o'clock that evening at least 1,000 people had signed the petitions in Victor and others were being circulated over the district. When the resolution was finally sent to the governor it had the signatures of at least 5,000 of the representative citizens of the district attached. The governor utterly ignored the appeal.

Following is the resolution drafted, which expressed fully the public sentiment in the entire district:

RESOLUTION.

Whereas, a certain detachment of the Colorado State militia have already been landed in the Cripple Creek district with others to follow, and,

"Whereas, according to published statements of Adjutant General Bell, printed this morning, martial law is threatened in every incorporated or unincorporated town in the Cripple Creek district; and,

"Whereas, the vilest sort of misrepresentation has been employed in the effort to have the same camp invaded by soldiery, now therefore, be it

"Resolved by the people of Victor and the entire Cripple Creek district, In mass assemblage in Victor, this 5th day of September, A. D., 1903, that we deplore the action taken by Governor Peabody in sending troops into Teller county, and condemn the same as unwarranted by the facts and as anarchistic in its conception, spirit and consequence.

"We do hereby most emphatically protest against the threatened declaration of martial law in the communities of the Cripple Creek district, as a further invasion of our rights and liberties as American citizens.

"We protest that Mayor French, Postmaster Reardon and Banker Rollestone, who corralled the governor's advisory commission, while the same was on its brief but stealthy visit of 'investigation,' the night before last, do not represent the people of Victor in asking for the state soldiery, the necessity not existing for troops, and the people have not asked for them. Instead of being a lawless community, as a few high-toned anarchists seem to want the outside world to believe, the Cripple Creek district is one of the quietest and most peaceable, for its size, of any community in the country.

"Two comparatively trifling incidents of lawlessness have occurred in the whole camp since the miners' strike was declared, but all fair-minded people will agree these are liable to happen at any time and any place.

"We deprecate the strike that is now on, and upon this occasion do not want to go into the merits of the unfortunate controversy but we do wish to express our confidence in the ability of our county and city officials to maintain law and order and protect life and property."

At Cripple Creek, a similar mass meeting was held, presided over by Attorney Frank J. Hangs. (Mr. Hangs played a prominent and very commendable part in the strike, of which I will speak later.) Resolutions condemning calling out of militia were adopted. Major J. M. Brinson and former Attorney General Engly made addresses. Mayor Shockey was asked to address the meeting but refused.

The District Trades and Labor assembly, representing the entire aggregate of organized labor of the district, met in Victor Sept. 6, and passed even stronger resolutions than the foregoing.

CITY COUNCIL PROTESTS.

"As members of the city council of the city of Victor we take this opportunity to express our condemnation of the recent action of F. D. French, mayor of the city of Victor. He has willfully misrepresented the conditions existing in this city and we are informed has, as willfully, misrepresented the desires of the citizens. He left the council chamber when the council was in session, to meet the advisory committee, without asking for an expression from any member of the council, as to whether his contemplated action would meet approval. His action was taken wholly upon his own motion and without knowledge or consent of any member of the council. We condemn it now and would have condemned it then, had we known his intention.

"The conditions he represented do not exist and have at no time existed. The laws of the state and the ordinances of the city are and have been lived up to and respected by the citizens and property owners, and fully enforced by the officers of the law.

"JOHN TOBIN,
"H. HEALY,
"DAN GRIFFIS,
"JERRY MURPHY,
"J. W. WILLIAMS."

There were so many resolutions passed by fraternal orders about that time that it is impossible to reproduce them all. No one living outside will ever realize the strong feeling that existed against the troops being sent into the district.

Sept. 7, was Labor day and if anything had been needed to convince the mine owners and outside public generally, that organized labor was in the fight to win, that evidence was supplied on the foregoing date. There were nearly 5,000 members of organized labor in the parade in the city of Cripple Creek. Over an hour was required for the throng to pass any point on Bennett avenue. As the men marched, banner after banner of the different unions was cheered by the thousands that lined the sidewalks. There was over 3,000 Western Federation men in line. I will not give the number from each union of the district as I must press on, but I will make special mention of Victor Newsboys Union No. 32, which carried off the honors for appearance. Forty strong, the little fellows made a touching picture in their pure white duck suits and were heartily cheered.

Sept. 10, Chas. G. Kennison, president Miners' Union No. 40, was arrested while riding on an early morning train. There were a number of men on the train on their way to work on some of the unfair mines. Kennison got into an argument with a man by the name of T. J. Sturdevant, who was working on the El Paso and at that time was on his way to the mine. Sturdevant immediately became insulting to Kennison and finally struck him in the mouth and on the head. Kennison was reported to have drawn his revolver and attempted to strike Sturdevant over the head, when the gun caught in the bell cord in the car. Passengers on the car immediately interfered and stopped the trouble. Kennison got off the train at Elkton, where he was going, and attended to his business there and then went back to Cripple Creek and notified the sheriff's office where they could get him. He made no attempt to get away or avoid arrest. General Bell had a detachment of militia out all the forenoon and part of the afternoon looking for Kennison. After he was placed in the county jail, a detachment of troops was sent to investigate. They found him there but made no demand for him.

THEN CAME CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.

Under Sheriff Gaughan said in relation to the matter that the military had no right to interfere with the procedure of the sheriff's office and if they took Kennison into custody they would exceed their authority so far as he was informed. But as to authority, what authority had they in the district at all? This was only "the beginning of the end."

Lieutenant Wahm, with a squad of six soldiers, rather surprised the miners at union headquarters in Cripple Creek by stationing his detail in front of the hall. Two of the men were deputed to go up stairs and make a search for the president of the union, but as he was not in evidence they soon repaired again to the street. Lieutenant Wahm was informed that a warrant had been sworn out by some person unknown, for the arrest of Kennison by the sheriff's office, and was asked if he would take Kennison in custody in any event.

"Certainly I will take him," he answered, "even though he is released on bond. If he is not released on bond and is confined in the county jail I will go back to the camp and will secure sufficient force to get him anyhow.''

The Denver papers of Sept. 10, in speaking of the arrest of Mr. Kennison, said in part:

"C. G. Kennison, president of Miners' Union No. 40, was arrested about noon today and placed in the county jail on the charge of carrying concealed weapons. In an interview with our correspondent he said:

" 'I am guilty of the offense charged. I carried a weapon for the sole purpose of defending my life. The guards at the El Paso mine said that they would stretch me up to an electric light pole. Manager Sam McDonald of the Strong and Gold King properties told me on Bennett avenue that I would be in my grave before the strike was over. I was brutally assaulted this morning and shamefully abused by a lot of scabs and I drew a revolver in defense of my life. I do not care to say any more about the matter at the present time. No, I am not a deputy sheriff. 1 had a commission but I surrendered it some days ago.' "

C. G. Kennison was released Sept. 11, at 4 o'clock from the county jail on bond. The charge against him was "assault with intent to kill." He gave bond in the amount of $500. Mr. Kennison was in jail just a day when released. The men who assaulted him were never arrested, the reader will take note of that fact. Bell stated that the militia came to preserve order and serve everybody alike, even if the mine owners did put up the money to pay the freight. How perfectly ridiculous? We all knew what they came for in a few days after their arrival.

After the action of the military in the Kennison affair, the following telegram was sent to President Moyer at Denver, Sept. 10 and the original cannot be improved upon by the writer:

"The victims of the corporations' tyranny greet you in the greatest gold camp in all the world. (N. B. -- Quotation from K. P.)

"The civil power has been supplanted by military despotism. The laws of the state are overridden with impunity and the powers that be are using the glorious American flag to cover crimes against the constitution of the illustrious state of Colorado, and the 'Bill of Rights' of the United States of America. The rights of property has supplanted the rights of the individual and a lawless mob (militia) are arresting citizens without authority at their pleasure. Please arouse the citizens of the state and save us from this anarchistic anarchism, militaryism, un-Americanism, blatherskiteism and Bellism [sic].

"THE VICTIMS OF MILITARY DESPOTISM."

By September 10, guards were stationed practically all over the district, at all large mines where union men were out on strike and on the public highways. By that time the citizens began to realize the inconvenience of having to produce a pass every time they had business to use a public road leading to or from the cities of the district.

The guards stationed over the district were growing more particular each day. At the Strong mine the wagon roads were rendered useless for the reason that the guards would not allow teams to pass that way. There were so many camps established by that time that the soldiers branching out from each of them had the district practically covered. A man living near the Strong mine was forbidden, Sept. 9, the privilege of going to his own home because it was within the guard line. Is a "man's house his castle?"

There was a constant rumor of martial law, bull pens and almost anything else, being established. Of course, the people at that time could hardly believe this would be done, there were also those who thought that a part of the program, and pointed to the bringing of the troops here in the first place without any cause. Yet, there were still, at that time, a few that believed they were in "free America," where we have always prided ourselves on liberty, free speech and the rights of the individual.

Sept. 13, the rumored "bull pen" was found to be an established fact. It was found that a military prison, to be known as the "bull pen" was in truth a stern reality. The first surprise to the people of the district was the coming of the military. That was considered an outrage on the people here, but that disgrace to the Cripple Creek district was insignificant in comparison with the "bull pen." We were beginning, by the above date, to realize that while the militia was in the camp we could expect almost anything. When we retired at night, we did not know whether a stray bullet from a reckless soldier's gun would hit us, or whether possibly, we would be called from our bed and family at midnight, and taken in charge to serve time in the "bull pen." Governor Peabody told us that the troops did not come to the district to supplant the civil authorities, but to assist them.

The public at this date wondered whether they were to consider the governor joking. The words regarding the militia's purpose here had hardly left his lips when three men were arrested, apparently without cause, and lodged in the "bull pen" and all the consolation the people got out of it was to be told that if they were good they would prove to the public that the troops were not needed and that they would finally be rewarded when they had suffered all the humiliation known to man, by the withdrawal of the troops. Such conditions were, indeed, discouraging. We seemed helpless. It was apparent that we must not express our views for fear the general in charge would call it "intimidation'' and our arrest might follow.

September 13 found the military in complete control of the entire district. The troops dominated everything. A "bull pen" was established. Men were taken from home and families at dead of night, made to get out of bed and go with the militia and placed in the "bull pen" without explanation. They were not allowed defense and there were no charges preferred against them. Union meetings were, from the date given, broken into and obstructed without apparent cause.

One among the first shocks dealt the people of the district was September 12, when it was announced that the leaders of the military had ordered the arrest of Sherman Parker. It was learned that the order had been executed shortly after midnight, when Mr. Parker was at home asleep. At 12:20 Friday night, September 12, Mr. Parker was awakened by a knock at the door. He went to the door and answered the call. He was told that the gentleman calling had a note from a man by the name of Jack Minor to present to him in the way of introduction. Mr. Parker stepped nearer the door and was immediately placed under arrest and taken from his family without further explanation and lodged in the "bull pen," which was established near the Strong mine.

This was the opening chapter in a persecution against citizen rights which is without parallel in the history of the United States of America.

Sherman Parker is, and has always been, a peaceable citizen. There is probably none better in the county, but he was a member of the strike committee, and after the troops were here at the instigation and for the assistance of the mine owners, they were to arrest anyone that stood in their way of running affairs with an unlimited high hand. He was forbidden consultation, it is stated, with an attorney, and was simply told to ''lie there and take what he was given."

By September 12 the action of the military attracted so much attention that even the miners almost forgot they were out on strike. The district before was quiet and very dull. From the above date until December 25 there was amusement in abundance afforded the peaceable citizens by the maneuvers of the state militia.

On September 11, Lieutenant Greenwood of Colorado Springs, was leading a squad of troops over the hills in the vicinity of the Eagle sampler when his horse ran into a prospect hole. The horse fell to the bottom and the rider was severely injured about the hip but soon recovered. Upon this General Bell announced, while rather warm under the collar next morning, that he would issue an order to all people owning mining property to close up the prospect holes and if they gave the answer that they could not get men he would arrest them and put them in the ''bull pen.'' This was to apply to leasers; mine owners, or anyone having charge of property. Why did he not send for the searchlight corps of the army of Colorado?

At the present writing Pike's Peak still stands, not having as yet been torn down to fill prospect holes by order of Sherman Bell.

There was a story published about this time that a man by the name of Minford had been beaten up at Goldfield. The militia at once rushed to the supposed scene of action and made several arrests but had to release the men taken to the "bull pen" as the fake was exposed and the facts in the case were that the man was in a low resort quarrel and got a little the worst of the deal. There were no strikers implicated in any way whatever. We, however, held our breath and expected martial law to be declared at once.

One of the most ridiculous things that occurred during the strike was the operating of a searchlight. The light was moved from one mountain to another and turned on the various little cities of the district. Another ridiculous thing was that the citizens of the law-abiding community were given the opportunity of seeing a Gatling gun. One was taken from Camp Goldfield to Beacon hill in the afternoon of Sept. 11. It was probably the one that was borrowed from Wyoming to help out Colorado in the great war of the Cripple Creek district. At any rate the Gatling gun was here and was hauled from place to place as the great "rebellion" went on.

The direct state telegraph line between the adjutant general's office and Camp Goldfield, was overworked Tuesday, Sept. 11. From early in the morning until late at night General Bell and Governor Peabody were corresponding over it. The first telegram sent over the wire from Denver was from Governor Peabody, in reply to the telegram received from General Bell on the 10th.

"Denver, Colorado, September 10, 1903.

"Sherman M. Bell, Adjutant General, Camp Goldfield, Victor Colorado:

"Telegram this date received. I congratulate the people in Teller county upon the reported condition. Peace and prosperity will surely follow law and order. May both continue to exist throughout this commonwealth. JAMES H. PEABODY, Governor."

No greater parody on the sentiment of patriotic Patrick Henry, or liberty-loving Washington ever disgraced justice and debauched the name fellowmen than the above "congratulation" by the oath-bound "servant of the people."

Our ancestors were surely wrong in educational policy, for by it they have placed humanity above social gold idolatry. Shakespeare is dead, this is no rhyme—Byron, too, is dead—before his time.

Sept. 15, the militia aroused the people of the district when a company of cavalry marched to the residence of Patrick J. Lynch of Victor, and who is chairman of the board of county commissioners of Teller county, and, without doubt, as peaceable a citizen as lives in the state of Colorado, arrested and marched him before Generals Bell and Chase. Nothing since the strike started so thoroughly aroused the people of the county as this outrage Sept. 15. Mr. Lynch was presented with no papers. He was given no reason for arrest. He was simply taken from his table while dining, and marched to Camp Goldfield.

A troop of about twenty men marched down Fourth street across Portland, where Mr. Lynch resides. They immediately surrounded his residence, going into the back yard and into the alley, then an officer approached the house and arrested Mr. Lynch. He was rudely seized and taken out forthwith. He was not allowed to return to his residence, but soldiers were sent back for some purpose.

Mr. Lynch was ordered to mount one of the horses and was surrounded by troopers. Two were kept on foot also to guard him. As the procession marched along the street to the camp, hundreds of people lined both sides of the thoroughfare and the expressions that were uttered were possibly the strongest that had been heard. Others laughed at the folly and the absurdity of the action was ridiculed from every source.

Mr. Lynch was immediately ordered before Generals Bell and Chase when he reached the camp. He was told that it had been reported to them that he had criticised the soldiers and exercised the privilege of every American citizen in urging men not to return to work. This Mr. Lynch denied emphatically, and, turning to General Bell and pointing his finger at him, said: '' There is a man who has known me for ten years, and he knows that I am as peaceable a citizen as lives in the state of Colorado." After a few other remarks Mr. Lynch was released and allowed to return to his home and partake of another meal by his own fireside, though the military bravos were still in the district.

On the morning of September 15 the following protest was issued by an organization composed of men who had at one time been real soldiers and who had seen service in the defense of their country—the Grand Army of the Republic:

"In the Denver News of this morning, appears a report of a visit of several members of the Grand Army Post of Victor, to the military camp yesterday, in which it says that the old soldiers asked that their compliments be extended to the governor for his worthy and prompt action in ordering out the National Guard among us in this time of emergency.

"Now this is a lie out of the whole cloth. If said at all it must have been by an individual, and not authorized by word or voice of us veterans, neither was it in our presence. We were not then, and we are not now in favor of the militia being here, nor do we believe that they themselves take any pride in it, but being here, we are in favor of their being treated with' courtesy and respect.

"We are thankful to both officers and soldiers of Camp Goldfield for the courteous and soldierly-like manner in which they received and treated us, and we hope that they may soon be relieved from their unpleasant and distasteful duties in this district. (Signed)

"I. N. BERRY, Post Commander,

"MICHAEL DONNOVAN,

"J. H. DAVIS,

"JAMES MAHONEY,

"J. H. DUNN,

"HENRY NEARGARTER,

"W. H. TOPPING,

"SAMUEL HEWITT."

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