Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Military Despotism in the Cripple Creek Strike District of Colorado

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

Hellraisers Journal – Monday September 28, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Military Despotism Dominates Strike Zone

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

Military Despotism in the Cripple Creek District

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 Sept. 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 [a. m. Saturday], Sept. 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.

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.”

The executive committee of District Union No. 1, Sept. 13, ran the following statement in its official organ in regard to Minford and Sherman Parker:

W.H. Minford, the man who was supposed to have been beaten by strikers at Goldfield, was in reality beaten up in a bawdy house fight at Cripple Creek. He is now under arrest for giving false information and is detained in the county jail.

Sherman Parker, secretary of Free Coinage Miners’ Union No. 19, was dragged from his bed at his home in Independence by a squad of soldiers at 12:20 yesterday morning. No charges have been preferred against him and he is a prisoner without warrant of law. We want all union men over the country to know how the military are treating our members. Several have been arrested and in no case have charges been preferred against them.

DISTRICT UNION NO. 1, W. F. M., EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

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 was 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.

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 to appear before Generals Bell and Chase. Nothing since the strike started so thoroughly aroused the people of the county as this outrage of September 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 at command to Camp Goldfield.

A troop of about twenty men marched down Fourth street across Portland, where Patrick J. 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 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 criticized 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.

JUDGE SEEDS ISSUES WRITS.

District Judge W. P. Seeds late Sept. 15 granted writs of habeas corpus directing Generals Bell and Chase to bring into court the four prisoners confined in the military guard house and to show cause why Messrs. Parker, Campbell, Lafferty and McKinney were deprived of their liberty. Before reading the application of the court General Engley (Counsel for the prisoners) said: “‘The matters set forth in the opening of the petitions may not seem applicable to the questions at issue, but they will be found to constitute the reasons which have led up to the circumstances of which we here complain.”

At the conclusion of the reading of the application, Judge Seeds said: “It seems to me that you have set forth a large number of matters which are not pertinent to the question of the relief asked for. General Engley asked:

“Then, your honor, you will not issue the writs.”

Judge Seeds replied: “I will issue the writs as prayed for but I want it understood that upon the hearing at the return of the writs no matters will be allowed to be gone into except such as are connected with the question of restraint.”

The writs were made returnable Friday morning at 9:30 o’clock Sept.18. Sheriff Robertson’s demand for the prisoners was formally refused by Chase. The petition for habeas corpus in the case of Sherman Parker was a lengthy document, signed by Christian Kagy as petitioner. The other petitions were practically identical with it. It set forth that Parker was a citizen of Teller county, a miner, and was unlawfully imprisoned, detained, confined and restrained of his liberty by Generals Chase and Bell.

The facts of the strike was set forth: that the Mine Owners’ Association appointed an executive committee that had announced that it would destroy the Western Federation of Miners and would not confer with any labor organization. It alleged that the Citizen’s Alliance was in a conspiracy with the Mine Owners’ Association to compel and force the miners to return to work; that by a conspiracy these two organizations prevailed upon the governor of Colorado to send the National guard to the district to aid and abet in the intimidation of the officers and members of the Western Federation of Miners. It alleged that these two bodies reported to the governor that a state of lawlessness existed and that commission appointed by the governor to investigate and report upon conditions in the district was influenced by the Mine Owners’ Association and the Citizens’ Alliance, to report that a state of disorder existed, over the protest of the sheriff of Teller county.

The petition further stated that the National guard was not sent to the district to prevent or suppress any riot, or to, aid the civil authorities to suppress any tumult, but on the contrary in the sole interests of the said mine owners and at the expense of the state, for the purpose of compelling the miners to return to work; also to arrest and imprison without process of law the officers and members of labor unions, especially officers and members of the Western Federation of Miners, to arrest and imprison without process of law every one actively and peaceably engaged in supporting and advocating the rights of labor.

Further it said that the Mine Owners’ Association had selected and given to the officers the names of forty miners, peaceable and law-abiding citizens and directed their arrest and imprisonment by said National guard to the end that the labor organization might be crushed and employes forced back to work; that troops under the orders of military officers were making visits and searching the habitations of law-abiding citizens at all hours of the night. That these citizens were subjected to brutal and inhuman treatment, that troops had intimidated the civil authorities and had picketed and closed public highways, and the officers of the National guard had arrested and intended to continue to arrest without process of law, citizens who had committed no offense, refusing to release them or to deliver them into the custody of civil authorities and at the behest of the Mine Owners’ Association and Citizens’ Alliance. Sherman Parker was at that time unlawfully imprisoned; that the petitioner believed that the National guard had no jurisdiction or legal authority to arrest or imprison the said Sherman Parker and so believed that his imprisonment was illegal.

The petitioner asked that Judge Seeds command the officers of the National guard to produce said Parker and restore him to liberty.

PREPARATIONS TO FIGHT A NATION.

On September 15 Bell announced that he would appear in person before Judge Seeds Friday Sept. 18, with his attorneys and answer as to his reasons. for arresting and holding men in the military prison. But military activity continued as if the whole state of Colorado was in a state of armed rebellion; a first consignment of 1,000 Krag-Jorgensen rifles from the United States government arrived and were given the troops. All companies of the First regiment except E, G, and L companies not having Krag-Jorgensen rifles were given, Winchesters. Besides the new rifles 60,000 rounds of ammunition was also received. This was the first new equipment to be sent to Colorado under the Dick bill.

The signal corps commenced to establish a great many important (to them) signal stations on the following named hills: Heliograph stations during the daytime on Bull hill, Nipple mountain, Gold hill and Raven mountain. The night lanterns to be in constant communication with Brigadier General Bell’s headquarters. With the aid of search lights it would be absolutely impossible for any person to approach or escape from camp, as they would make objects plainly visible for miles around. Telegraph stations were installed on Bull, Mineral and Beacon hills, being connected by direct lines with Denver and all parts of the United States. Official messages were to have precedence at all times. Field telephones were installed in every camp. Also on Tenderfoot hill, Battle mountain and Cow mountain. These telephones were directly connected with officers quarters and the guard tent.

At any moment that a meeting of the Western Federation of Miners was reported a general alarm could be sounded throughout the camp. The new solar lamp which operates the heliograph at night was to be stationed on the following mountains: Cow, Pisgah, Straub and St. Peter’s Dome. All heliograph stations were equipped with signal flags for wig wagging purposes on cloudy days. The Signal corps was equipped with twelve powerful telescopes of the latest design, as well as binoculars. The use of cipher messages were used in communication between commanding officers and their superiors.

[Newsclip from San Francisco Call of September 13th added; emphasis added.]