Tag: May 1899

Hellraisers Journal: “Military Stop A Paper At Mullan and Arrest Editor” – Wilbur H. Stewart Taken to Bullpen

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ed Boyce re Manly Blood per Gaboury 1967———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday May 29, 1899
Mullan, Idaho – Editor Wilbur H. Stewart Arrested

From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of May 26, 1899:

ALL THE SALOONS CLOSED
—–

MILITARY STOP A PAPER AT MULLAN AND ARREST EDITOR.
—–
Before the Coroner’s Jury at Wardner the Books of
the Miners’ Union Were Produced,
Showing Lists of Men to Be Run Out
—–

New Bull Pen of 1899, Class War in ID by Harriman, 1900

—–

WARDNER, Idaho, May 25.-All saloons in Mullan, Gem and Burke were closed today, the publication of the Mullan Mirror stopped and its editor, W. H. Stewart [Wilbur H. Stewart], arrested on a charge of publishing seditious matter. Four hundred and seventy-seven permits for employment have been issued in Wardner. The Last Chance mine started up with a small force this morning. None of the mines above Wallace have started, but many men are coming in and they win soon start.

Gen. Merriam left today for Denver, leaving Maj. Smith in command of the United States forces in the Coeur d’ Alenes.

There are now 225 men accused of rioting, confined in the new prison [bullpen] just completed here.

The coroner’s investigation into the cause of the death of two men during the riot of May 9 [April 29-The Battle of Bunker Hill, near Wardner] is still in session, and will probably last a week longer. Three hundred witnesses have been examined, and some very damaging evidence is said to have been secured against the alleged rioters. Examination of the records of the miners’ unions which were seised by the military authorities, show lists of the men who were to be run out of the country.

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Hellraisers Journal: Letter from Miner to President Boyce of Western Federation of Miners Describes the Wardner Bullpen

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege, Ab Chp III———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday May 21, 1899
Burke Miner Describes Suffering in the Wardner Bullpen of Idaho

From The Salt Lake Herald of May 17, 1899:

SUFFERINGS OF MINERS
—–
Imprisoned Miner Describes Experience In Bullpen
—–

WFM, Wardner Bull Pen of May 1899, Hutton photo 1, 1900

—–

President Edward Boyce of the Western Federation of Miners has received a letter from a friend who was among the miners rounded up after the Wardner (Ida.) riots and penned up for several days on suspicion of participation in those riots. The letter gives a graphic description of the treatment received by the miners at the hands of the Twenty-fourth infantry during the days of their imprisonment and is perhaps the first authentic description by one of the miners themselves.

It describes the arrival of the regulars at Burke and how the miners were made prisoners as they came up out of the mines off shift. Without being given the privilege of changing their clothes or of getting anything to eat they were herded into box cars and taken down the canyon to Wardner Junction. There they were kept standing in their wet clothes until midnight and then driven to a big barn called the bull pen.Between 350 and 400 men were here confined in a space about 40 by 50 feet all without food and some with wet clothes. Not until noon did the prisoners get anything to eat. Then they were divided into squads of twenty-five, and each squad was given a pail of what the author of the letter describes as “swill,” and told to eat it. Some had not had anything to eat for nearly thirty-six hours, and even then could hardly down the food.

[The letter goes on:]

We asked for soap and towels to clean ourselves a little, but the authorities did not seem to think the Canyon creek people needed such luxuries, for they would not give them to us, so, with grease and dirt sticking to us, we were driven back to our sty.

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Hellraisers Journal: 1000 Miners & Allies Herded into Bullpen at Wardner, Idaho; Includes Sheriff & Commissioner

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege, Ab Chp III———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday May 8, 1899
Wardner, Idaho – Bullpen Now Holds 1000 Men of Couer d’Alenes

From the San Francisco Examiner of May 7, 1899:

SHOSHONE’S SHERIFF IS HERDED IN
—–
Young Is Washing Dishes for
His Fellow-Prisoners.
—–
With Him in the Pen Is County
Commissioner Boyle.
—–

OFFICIALS TO BE IMPEACHED
—–
Nearly a Thousand Prisoners Gathered In
by the Troops at Wardner.
—–

WFM, Wardner Bull Pen of May 1899, Hutton photo 1, 1900
—–

WARDNER, May 6.-Bartlett Sinclair, the Governor’s representative, to-day called upon Sheriff Young and County Commissioner Boyles to tender their resignations, and when they refused, were placed under arrest and turned into the bull-pen with the hundreds of other prisoners. They protested vigorously against this proceeding, but to show them that they were no better than the rioters, both were assigned to the culinary department of the prisoner’s pen and made to wash dishes.

Impeachment proceedings will be brought against Young and Boyles on Monday before Judge Mayhew of the First Judicial District, to remove them from office.

Prosecuting Attorney Samuels will also be taken into custody should he show up at Wardner. He is not considered of sufficient importance by General Merriam to be sent after.

The inquest is proceeding slowly behind closed doors, and is more in the nature of a Grand Jury investigation than an inquest. From a reliable source it is learned that evidence of a most satisfactory nature is being obtained. Judge Lindley is conducting the prosecution, assisted by Attorney Beale.

[The Bullpen at Wardner.]

Considerable sickness has broken out among the prisoners. This is due to the fact that many were arrested at the mines, as they came out from under ground in their wet clothes, which they had no opportunity to change. Besides, the accommodations of the bull-pen requires herding the prisoners closely. More sanitary quarters will be provided as soon as possible.

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Hellraisers Journal: Statement of Ed Boyce, President of Western Federation of Miners, on Coeur d’Alene Trouble

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege, Ab Chp III———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday May 3, 1899
From Butte, Montana: W. F. of M. President Boyce on Idaho Trouble

From The Butte Miner of May 1, 1899:

THE MINERS SIDE OF IT
—–
President Boyce of the Federation
Makes a Statement.
—-

ORIGIN OF COEUR D’ALENE TROUBLE
—–
It Dates Back to 1887 When an Attempt Was Made
to Reduce Wages in That District-
Present Demand on Bunker Hill Did
Not Come From Miners Union Men.
—–

WFM Coeur dAlene Affair, Editorial, Btt Mnr p4, Apr 30, 1899
The Butte Miner
April 30, 1899
—–

Butte, Mont., April 30, 1899.

To the Miner: Dear Sir-Having read your editorial in today’s Miner-“The Coeur d’Alene Affair,” the spirit of fairness contained in the article prompts me to inform you on the true status of the situation in the Coeur d’Alenes, as you have been misinformed through the Associated Press dispatches or some other unreliable source:

Previous to October, 1887, all mines operating in the Coeur d’Alene district paid underground men $3.50 per day; at this time the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Minning company reduced miners to $3 per day and other laborers in the mines to $2.50 per day. This reduction caused the employes to go on strike and organize a miners’ union, since then known as Wardner Miners’ union. During those pioneer days in the Coeur d’Alenes laboring men were not plentiful and in order to operate the mines the company was forced to restore miners’ wages to $3.50 per day, and other laborers in the mines to $3.00 per day. This wages schedule continued to 1890, when a demand was made upon this company to pay the same wages to underground men as was being paid by all other companies in the district-namely, $3.50 per day. To this the Bunker Hill and Sullivan company objected and another strike ensued. After two weeks’ suspension the company agreed to pay the prevailing wages of the district.

Peace and tranquility reigned in the district until 1892, when the Mine Owners’ Industrial Protective association reduced wages in all the district from $3.50 per day to $3 and $2.50 per day. This is the reduction which caused the great strike with which the world is familiar.

Gradually the mining companies consented to pay the former wages-$3.50 per day-till every mine in the entire district was paying it.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Butte Miner: “Strikers at Wardner Attack the Bunker Hill and Sullivan”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ed Boyce re Manly Blood per Gaboury 1967———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday May 2, 1899
Wardner, Idaho – Miner Jack Smith Killed in Violent Struggle at Coeur d’Alenes

From The Butte Miner of April 30, 1899:

RIOT AND BLOODSHED
—–
Strikers at Wardner Attack the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan.
—–

THE MILL BLOWN UP
—–
Sixty 50-Pound Boxes of Giant Powder Placed
in the Structure and the Charge Fired-
Jack Smith, One of the Leaders of the Rioters,
Killed by Mistake by One of His Own Men.
—–

WFM, Coeur dAlene Struggle, Stt PI p1, May 1, 1899
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
May 1, 1899
—–

Portland, Ore., April 29.-The agent of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation company at 3:30 o’clock this afternoon telegraphed to this city from Wardner, Ida., that the striking miners had fired the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mill and that it was burning. It is claimed that the mine is loaded with dynamite and if this proves true the entire property will be a loss. The striking miners are also reported to be in possession of the Northern Pacific and O. R. and N. trains and in control of the situation. There are about 100 masked men heavily armed at and about the mill and there have been several skirmishes with the authorities, during one of which one man is reported shot. There are fully 800 miners at Wardner. They are forming to go to the mine in a body and drive out the 270 non-union men employed there.

The company has notified the governor of Idaho of the situation and the secretary of state has been dispatched to the scene of the trouble. The governor has promised to do everything in his power to preserve order and prevent bloodshed, but it is believed that unless prompt steps are taken there will be great loss of life and destruction of property.

Since the telegram from the agent was received the strikers have cut the wires and telegraphic communication with Wardner is now cut off.

The present strike in the Coeur d’Alene mining district in northern Idaho was inaugurated about 10 days ago and is directed principally against the Bunker Hill and Sullivan at Wardner, where non-union men are employed. The demands of the miners for increased wages were granted by the owners, but the miners demanded that the union be recognized and that non-union men be discharged. This the mine owners refused to do and the Last Chance mine closed down. The Bunker Hill and Sullivan, however, decided to run with non-union men until today, when they were driven out by union men.

———-

[Newsclip and emphasis added.]

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