Hellraisers Journal: Explosion at Vulcan Mine, Near New Castle, Colorado, Entombs Miners; Mothers and Wives Give Up Hope

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Quote Mother Jones, Necklace of Blood Diamonds, Dnv ULB p6, Dec 20, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 19, 1913
New Castle, Colorado – 37 Coal Miners Dead in Explosion at Vulcan Mine

From Grand Junction (Colorado) Daily Sentinel of December 17, 1913:

…..Among the mine victims of Tuesday are many of the boys who were made fatherless by the previous disaster [Feb. 18, 1896]. Widowed Mothers forced them into the mine again……

“Thank God I am a farmer,” said A. S. Tibbits at 2 o’clock this morning to a Sentinel reporter, after having spent the day in rescue work at the mine.

“I was one of the helpers in the Vulcan disaster eighteen years ago, but this explosion wrecked the mine a dozen times as bad.”…..

New Castle CO Vulcan Mine Disaster, Grand Jctn Dly Sent p1, Dec 17, 1913New Castle CO Vulcan Mine Disaster, Wives, Mothers, Grand Jctn Dly Sent p1, Dec 17, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Explosion at Vulcan Mine, Near New Castle, Colorado, Entombs Miners; Mothers and Wives Give Up Hope”

Hellraisers Journal: Five Homes Dynamited in New Castle, Colorado; U. M. W. Strike Leaders & Families Targeted

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 18, 1903
New Castle, Colorado – Homes of Union Leaders Bombed

From The Denver Post of December 17, 1903:

New Castle UMW Homes Bombed, John Lawson, DP p1, 3, Dec 17, 1903

Thursday December 17, 1903, New Castle, Colorado
Homes of Five Strike Leaders Bombed While Families Sleep

At 4:47 this morning, while the families of striking coal miners slept, bombs went off in five homes of known strike leaders. Amazingly, no-one was seriously injured. In one of the homes, that of John Lawson, his wife, Olive Lawson, and little three-year-old daughter, Fern, were sleeping in the dining room, which had been turned into a bedroom due to the small size of the actual bedroom. The bomb went off underneath that small bedroom, where the bomber must have thought it would cause the most injury.

The home of W. G. Isaacs was also bombed. Brother Isaacs was away from home at time, which is the only reason that his two children were not killed. Mrs. Isaacs had brought the two little ones into her bed to sleep with her. The house was set on fire by the blast but Mrs. Isaacs was able to escape through a window near her bed, and managed to save both of the children. The family dog was sleeping near the children’s bed, and was found burned to death after the fire was put out.

The homes of three other strike leaders suffered similar damage, including the homes of William Doyle and Evan R. Davis. A building owned by John and James Doyle, occupied by six families was also bombed.

The bombs all went off early in the morning. The local union is planning a meeting today to form a committee to investigate the attacks since the local authorities seem disinclined to do so.

—————

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Five Homes Dynamited in New Castle, Colorado; U. M. W. Strike Leaders & Families Targeted”

Hellraisers Journal: Convention of the Colorado Federation of Labor Begins in Denver; Mother Jones Cheered Wildly

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Quote re Mother Jones Enters Dnv CO CFL Conv, DP p14, Dec 16, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 17, 1913
Denver, Colorado – Convention of State Federation of Labor Begins

From The Denver Post of December 16, 1913:

CO FoL Conv Begins, DP p14, Dec 16, 1913CO FoL Conv Begins, DP p14, Dec 16, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Convention of the Colorado Federation of Labor Begins in Denver; Mother Jones Cheered Wildly”

Hellraisers Journal: News from Colorado Coalfield Strike: Robert Uhlich and Louie Tikas Held in Cold Snow Covered Jail

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Quote John Lawson 1913, after October 17th Death Special attack on Forbes Tent Colony, Beshoar p74—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 16, 1913
Trinidad, Colorado – Tikas and Uhlich Held in Cold, Snow-Covered,
Jail

News from Southern Colorado Coalfield Strike

Sunday December 7, 1913, Trinidad, Colorado
Tikas and Uhlich covered in snow in jail as a blizzard raged.

Dangerous Uhlich Trinidad CO Jail, TCN p1, Dec 3, 1913
Trinidad Chronicle News
December 3, 1913

The jail cell in Trinidad where Louie Tikas, Bob Uhlich, and fifteen other striking miners are being held, is unheated. Also, there is a broken window through which the wind and snow filled the gloomy cell as the blizzard raged across Colorado a few days ago. The men were forced to sleep, as best the could, on bunks covered with 3 inches of snow, and no blankets.

Brothers Tikas and Uhlich were interrogated by Major Boughton, chief legal officer of the militia. The men were grilled for several hours. Uhlich refused to give any testimony whatsoever, stating that only the civil authorities had the right to question him. Brother Uhlich has been designated a “dangerous and undesirable alien.” Tikas was promised his freedom if he would persuade the Greeks at Ludlow to turn themselves into scabs. We may assume that he refused this offer, for he has not yet been released. Brother Adolph Germer was arrested returning from Denver recently. We are unsure at this time where he is being held.

—————

Saturday December 13, 1913 Cedar Hills, Colorado
Lt. Linderfelt Recruits Hard-Core Veterans and Mine Guards

Lt. Linderfelt has been recruiting new soldiers to fill the ranks of Company B of the Second Battalion. This company is camped at Cedar Hills, near to the Ludlow Tent Colony at the entrance of Berwind Canyon. Word has it that he has turned to the veterans with whom he served in the Philippines and Mexico.

More and more mine guards are also being recruited to fill the ranks of Company B. Linderfelt dislikes the part-timers now serving in Company B. He is only too happy to replace them as they seek to return to their civilian lives. Linderfelt prefers to approach the job of keeping the peace in the strike zone through the use of company gunthugs and battle-hardened soldiers. Company B has frequent run-ins with the colonist at Ludlow. They go heavily armed into the camp, unlike the soldiers of the other companies who often visit the Ludlow camp in small groups and without arms.

—————

From the Trinidad Chronicle News of December 15, 1913:

Louie Tikas Released fr Jail in Trinidad CO, TCN p1, Dec 15, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: News from Colorado Coalfield Strike: Robert Uhlich and Louie Tikas Held in Cold Snow Covered Jail”

Hellraisers Journal: Striking Coal Miners, Held as Military Prisoners in Southern Colorado, Victims of Uniformed Tyranny

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Quote John Lawson 1913, after October 17th Death Special attack on Forbes Tent Colony, Beshoar p74—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday December 15, 1913
Southern Colorado Coalfields – Striking Miners Victims of Uniformed Tyranny

From the Denver United Labor Bulletin of December 13, 1913:

“Militia Makes Man [Andrew Colnar] Dig Own Grave”

CO Militia Makes Colnar Dig Own Grave, Dnv ULB p1,2, Dec 13, 1913

“Soldiers Are Scabbing on Courts-Mother Jones”

Mother Jones re CO Soldiers Scab, Dnv ULB p1, Dec 13, 1913

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Hellraisers Journal: News From Strike Zone of Michigan’s Copper Country; Threats and Mob Attacks Against Union Miners

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Quote Mother Jones, Stick Together, MI Mnrs Bltn p1, Aug 14, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 14, 1913
Michigan Copper Country – MacNaughton’s Eye, Threats and Mob Rule 

News From Michigan Copper Country

From the Michigan Miners Bulletin of December 2, 1913:

“Seen by the Search-Light” is a regular feature of the Miners’ Bulletin and refers to “MacNaughton’s Eye,” the giant searchlight that James MacNaughton, manager of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, has had erected on top of the main tower situated in the middle of the town of Calumet, Michigan. The searchlight roams about the streets of Calumet, keeping a watchful eye on strikers and scabs alike. It shines into windows of the homes of the residents, interfering with a peaceful night’s rest. Of course most of those streets, the houses, and the property upon which the town itself sits, is owned by C & H. Therefore, we suppose, MacNaughton has a perfect right to make of the town something resembling a prison.

MI Miners Bulletin p1, Dec 2, 1913

Seen by the Search-Light

Senator James, in his office staring at the labor situation of the day, and concluding to remain silent; to draw the votes from both sides at election time.

James Torreana, the Laurium scab supporter, at mid-night when the Hyena walks around the graveyard walls, going to meet the modern Judas A. C. Marinelli, to furnish him with news of strike-breaking nature.

Mike Bargo, the Italian scab herder at the telephone, communicating some scabious news to the “Gazette.”

A small man with spectacles riding a bicycle, from West Portland St. to the office of “The Italian Miner” of Laurium, with a parcel of written matter for publication.

Paul Tinetti looking at Pietro Micca’s picture.

5th St.-The green grass growing in front of Keckonen store, but no other place for lack of pollen matter in the seeds.

[Emphasis added.]

Regarding the “green grass growing,” we will remind our readers that MacNaughton has vowed that “grass would grow in the streets” of Calumet before he would treat with the Western Federation of Miners. This kind man has also vowed to teach the strikers and their families how to eat potato pairings.

Poetry from Miners Bulletin of December 2, 1913:

THE WORKER
By Berton Braley

I have broken my hands on your granite,
I have broken my strength on your steel,
I have sweated through years for your pleasure,
I have worked like a slave for your weal.
And what is the wage you have paid me.
You masters and drivers of men?
-Enough so I come in my hunger
To beg for more labor again!

I have given my manhood to serve you,
I have given my gladness of youth;
You have used me, and spent me, and crushed me,
And thrown me aside without ruth;
You have shut my eyes off from the sunlight,
My lungs from the untainted air;
You have housed me in horrible places.
Surrounded by squalor and care.

I have built you the world in its beauty,
I have brought you the glory of spoil;
You have blighted my sons and my daughters,
You have scourged me again to my toil.
Yet I suffer it all in my patience,
For somehow I dimly have known
That some day the worker will conquer
In a world that was meant for his own!

—————

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: News From Strike Zone of Michigan’s Copper Country; Threats and Mob Attacks Against Union Miners”

Hellraisers Journal: From The Day Book: Government by Gunthug Starts Bloody War in Upper Michigan’s Copper Country

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Quote Mother Jones, Stick Together, MI Mnrs Bltn p1, Aug 14, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 13, 1913
The Keweenaw, Michigan – Government by Gunthug Starts Bloody War

From the Chicago Day Book of December 11, 1913:

MI Government by Gunthug, Bloody War, Day Book p1, Dec 11, 1913

Calumet, Mich., Dec. 11.-(Special.)-Bloody war has broken out in the copper country, and the battle has been waging since early this morning. It was precipitated by the Citizens’ Alliance, which has been making open threat for days that the union leaders would be forcibly driven from Houghton county.

Yesterday President Moyer of the Western Federation of Miners made application to Circuit Judge O’Brien for an injunction restraining members of the Alliance from interfering with officers and members of the Federation. The injunction was granted.

This morning about 2 o’clock gunmen deputies and members of the Citizens’ Alliance attempted to arrest striking miners who had barricaded themselves in their hall at South Range, about eight miles from Calumet. This started the fight.

Thirty-five armed strikers were arrested, and two special trains were sent out from Houghton loaded with reinforcements from the Alliance, one at 5 and the other at 9 o’clock.

In the battle Deputy Tom Driscoll of Houghton was shot and fatally wounded. Many others were wounded, although no list of them has been secured.

The fighting kept up all morning and before noon a total of 500 strikers had been arrested, including Victor Valimakki, Finnish organizer for the Federation, who is alleged to have confessed to the shooting of Driscoll, who was shot through the abdomen and the right arm.

Just before noon a third special train carrying gunmen, deputies and vigilantes was sent to the South Range district, a distance of 27 miles from Houghton.

The fire bells were rung in Calumet and Houghton this morning summoning all members of the Citizens’ Alliance.

Thousands are being held in reserve ready to be sent to any part of the county. The fighting today followed a night of terror throughout the strike district. Two of the gunmen deputies who were shot down yesterday are not expected to live.

Labor leaders predict that wholesale arrests will be made of members of the Alliance for violating Judge O’Brien’s injunction, issued yesterday.

Federation Hall, at South Range, where for more than eight hours today half a hundred striking copper miners battled desperately against a mob of vigilantes and deputy sheriffs, was surrendered by the miners into the hands of the Citizens’ Alliance at noon today. All the defenders of the hall were arrested. Thirty rifles and great quantities of ammunition were confiscated and will be thrown into Portage Lake.

As far as could be learned early this afternoon Deputy Sheriff Driscoll at Houghton was the only person to be fatally injured in the fighting. He was shot through the abdomen and cannot recover, it was stated this afternoon. Henry Koski has confessed to shooting the deputy, the authorities asserted. Koski’s wife is also held for complicity.

[Deputized Company Gunthugs]

The fighting deputy sheriffs are gunmen imported from New York by the Waddell-Mahon strikebreaking agency of 200 Fifth avenue, New York city. They were sworn in by Sheriff Cruse and armed with guns and deputy’s badges.

Waddell said himself that many of them were ex-members of the New York police department. Others were imported from Chicago and other cities, but most of them from the East.

The entire county has been under control of the mining companies, through the sheriff’s office and the Waddell thugs, ever since the strike began last July.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From The Day Book: Government by Gunthug Starts Bloody War in Upper Michigan’s Copper Country”

Hellraisers Journal: Thousands Attend Funeral at Trinidad for Martyred Coal Miners Shot Down at Battle of Segundo

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Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, ed, Ab Chp 6, 1925—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 12, 1903
Trinidad, Colorado – Funeral Held for De Santos and Vilano, Mother Jones Attends

From The Denver Post of December 11, 1903:

Funeral for De Santos and Vilano, DP p6, Dec 11, 1903

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Thousands Attend Funeral at Trinidad for Martyred Coal Miners Shot Down at Battle of Segundo”

Hellraisers Journal: John Mitchell Expects Peace in Southern Colorado, States Mother Jones and Best Organizers Are on the Spot

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Quote Mother Jones re North n South Coal Miners Separate Settle, Ab p99, 1925—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 11, 1903
Chicago, Illinois – John Mitchell Expects Peace in Southern Colorado

From the Chicago Inter Ocean of December 9, 1903:

John Mitchel Pres UMWA, fr Organized Labor p6, 1903

Speculation that John Mitchell would fire Mother Jones for her part in delaying the separate settlement of the northern coal miners has not yet been realized. The following is an interview published in the Inter Ocean:

John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers, is at McCoy’s hotel. He came directly from Colorado.

“I regard the situation there as hopeful,” he said. “I believe a settlement will be reached, and I do not expect to have to return there. ‘Mother’ Jones and some of our best organizers are on the spot.

“The public mind, I believe, is somewhat confused concerning the troubles in the silver mines in Colorado. Many think that the United Mine Workers are concerned with them. Our men are coal miners only, and have had nothing to do with bringing about martial law. We have secured satisfactory settlements in the northern part of the state, and expect solid peace soon in the southern.”

[Emphasis added.]

Mitchell’s lack of concern for the metal miners is stunning. This lack of concern by Mitchell for these striking metal miners, now oppressed under military despotism, is another bone of contention between Mother Jones and her boss. Mother has shown all the Solidarity possible with the metal miners; she advocates unceasingly for unity between the United Mine Workers of America and the Western Federation of Miners.

—————

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: John Mitchell Expects Peace in Southern Colorado, States Mother Jones and Best Organizers Are on the Spot”

Hellraisers Journal: R. E. Croskey of Cripple Creek: “I Do Not Fear the Bull Pen…It Is a Part of My Duty to Go There, and I Shall.”

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday December 10, 1903
Denver, Colorado – R. E. Croskey Interviewed, Does Not Fear Bullpen

From The Denver Post of December 9, 1903:

RE Croskey Ready for CO Bullpen, RMN p8, Dec 9, 1903, EFL p190, 1904

[Photograph of Croskey added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: R. E. Croskey of Cripple Creek: “I Do Not Fear the Bull Pen…It Is a Part of My Duty to Go There, and I Shall.””