THE CRIPPLE CREEK STRIKE — CONTINUED.
For over a month things were quiet in Teller County. The troops left the strikers alone, and contented themselves with loafing around the different camps. The miners were calm, orderly, and firmer than ever in their demands of fair play for the smeltermen.
This peaceful state of affairs continued until Nov. i6th.
During the night of Nov. i6th, 1903, someone loosened a rail on the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad on a high embankment near the town of Anaconda, by removing the spikes that held the rail in place. This felonious act was committed shortly before the arrival of a train which carried a large number of both union and non-union men.
No wreck occurred, as Engineer William Rush had received a "tip" that a rail had been tampered with, and his informant even told him where the act had taken place. On the strength of this information the engineer stopped his train just before the fatal spot, made an examination, and discovered that sure enough one of the rails has been loosened. Engineer Rush reported the case to his company, and the company officials quickly gave this information to General Bell.
At last the military had some work to do. In a few hours they had arrested two men, Charles McKinney and P. H. MuUaney, whom they charged with the crime of unspiking the rail for the purpose of wrecking train No. 51.
General Bell, as usual, talked freely, and gave out the statement that he was prepared to protect his prisoners at all hazards, and that he would not hesitate to shoot the entire population of Colorado if they