Since the Citizens' Alliance were not militiamen, nor acting under the orders of the governor, they most decidedly constituted what is commonly styled a mob; and, as they were all armed, they certainly constituted an armed mob. This armed mob which so boldly defied the law of State and land was personally led by Bulkeley Wells, general manager of the
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Smuggler Union Mine and captain of the State militia, and by John Herron, manager of the Tomboy Mine.
To guard against a second return of the exiles, armed squads of the Citizens' Alliance patrolled the streets of Telluride day and night, and met every incoming train in order to prevent union men from coming into the town.
The action of the armed mob in Telluride created the greatest excitement throughout the State of Colorado, and all the newspapers devoted a great amount of space to the deportations.
The deported citizens of Telluride chose a committee of three men to proceed to Denver, and personally petition the governor for protection. This committee consisted of A. H. Floaten, Stewart Forbes, president of the Telluride union, and Antone Matti. This committee, on their arrival in Denver, immediately went to the State House and asked for an audience with the governor. The governor's private secretary told them His Excellency was not in. The committee called again the next day, and met with the same lack of success. They then requested John H. Murphy, attorney for the Western Federation of Miners, to call the governor up by 'phone. Mr. Murphy did so, but he met with no better success than had befallen the committee. After trying in vain for three days to obtain an interview with the governor, the committee returned to those who had sent them — chagrined, empty-handed.