Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1894 — WOEFUL WEALERS. [ARTICLE]

WOEFUL WEALERS.

“Jordan Am a Hard Road to TrabbeL” Trials and T itralatlona Of tho Various 1)1 visions of the Commonweal Army. The Kelly army fleet got under way, A¥ednesdayy and at noon bid good-bye to Des Moines from the packing house, two miles south of the city, the boats halting altogether during the good-bye cheers. Most of the boats in the fleet were rigged With oars or sailing gear, and sails were improvised from army blankets. The men were In good spirits, and seemed glad to begin their cruise. Because of the numerous sandbars the men were frequently compelled to wade and tnish the boats. The men have ample provisions for several days and the towns along tho route will contribute liberally. Kelly’s boats were soon strung along the river five miles and made slow progress. One boat with ten army men and a number of Des Moines women and children capsized, and all narrowly escaped drowning. Fully two thousand people straggled along the banks watching the flotilla. Women and children from the city were in nearly every boat at the start, taking a short pleasure ride. Sanders’ division of the Commonweal, in possession of a stolen train, continued to defy pursuit on Thursday. The railroad company continued toplaca otbstacies on tho track. But they came to grief, Thursday night, as tho following bulletin from Salina, dated 10:30 o. m., shows: “The war is over. The Intrepid Colorado contingent of the Commonweal which ha 3 kept Colorado and Kansas in an uproar for two days, has surrendered unconditionally to Marshal Nefely. They were 450 strong, and every man was put under arrest. The surrender wa3 male peaceably, and the entire army is being taken to Topeka for trial. The special train is now with the captured army, and is making rapid time on its return trip.” Frey’s alleged industrial army marched out of Indianapolis, Monday morning, having been warned by tho police that their “welcome was worn out,” The “Gen,” was in a defiant mood and boasted that he had made S3OJ clear cash out of the town in spite of tho abuse heaped upon him by the locai press. Gen, Coxey appeared on the witness stand at the Washington police courf. Monday, in his own behalf. A number oT prominent Congressmen also appeared as witnesses—among them Representative Bland, of Missouri. Sweetland’s Connecticut division reached New York, Tuesday, fifty-nine strong. Randall's raid reached the suburbs of Laporte, Tuesday. Chief of Police Purcell and an armed squad of twenty-five policemen met the army and forbade Randall to enter the city. Randall and his officers became abusive and declared they would anter the town at all risks. And were accordingly arrested and placed in jail. Seeing that their leaders were gone the army decidedto go round the city,and proceeded to camp in Morrison’s woods, three miles out of the city.where they proceeded under command of Captain Leonard, of Company A, and Dr. Frank Shaeffer, the army physician. The city authorities furnished a day’s rations for the army. The Sullivan wing of the army, which mutinied at Valparaiso, passe&.around the city in advance of the main iifepay and created no trouble. They are now in St. Joseph county. Mayor Scott declared Laporte quarantined against the army on account of the rumored presence of small-pox or exposure thereto among the soldiers, and in arresting the leaders acted upon the authority of the State law governing such cases. Aubrey’s division arrived at Muncie, Tuesday mominy, from Yorktown. The men were nearly starved. A window glass broker gave Aubrey $75 to help buy provisions. A part of Fry’s industrials who left Indianapolis, Monday, drifted to Franklin, Tuesday evening, via Greenfield. About seventy-five men were in the gang under command of “Gen.” Jennings. Quite a demonstration was indulged In by the college boys on their account. A meeting was held to whiclf 10 cents admission was charged. Speeches woro made by Lon Bannard and others. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia, Wednesday, decided that Coxey was maintaining a nuisance by keeping his men in their present camp and gave him forty-efght hours to abate the same. A dispatch irom Yakima, Wash., says a battle occurred between deputies and Coromonwea’.er3 in which two of tho deputies were shot, one fatally. Twenty-three members of Galvin’s commonweal army were arrested at Bisscll, eighteen miles from Pittsburg, for attempting to capture a Baltimore <s; Ohio freight train. They were held on a charge of trespass, preferred by the officials of the railway company. Colonel Galvin says the men wero deserters and will be court-martialed. Gen. Randall and staff were brought Into court at Laporte. Wednesday, and arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to commit larceny. They plead not guilty. Ball was fixed at SSOO. A bond was prepared for Randall and ho was released. The .others were returned to jail. Later Randall signed an agreement that he would Immediately remove his army if be and his staff were dismissed. Judge Noyes agreed to this and all the accused wero discharged. Instead of moving on, Randall, on advice of his attorneys. Immediately issued hand-bills announcing that Ijhe General would deliver a lecture at the Opera House on the subject, “Has an American citizen the right to traverse the public highways without molestation?’’ There was much indignation at the violation of Randall’s agreement, Randall and his a'torney argue that there was iio case against them, and the former says that he will sue the city and county lor $100,0U) damages for false imprisonment. At Yakima. Wash., In a fight between deputy marshals and Coxeyites in possession of a stolen train, two officers and three wealors were shot aid severely injured. Sixty Coxeyites were arrested, One hundred arc still at Yakima, and claim they U 111 go cast on tho first freight train. » J Sandor’s Cripple Creek Industrials scdlze (i train at Pueblo, Tuesday night and tarted east. The railway company ditched one engine and box car to stop their progress, but the men succeeded in gle&rlng np the wreck and procedod on ithclr way. They encountered another obstruction near Arlington, where four engines a ero ditched by order of Super-

intendent Derby. The Industrie* prompt* ly began laying tracks around the Obstruction. Sheriff Moees endeavored to raise a posse to captors Sanders and Us army but could not secure more than forty men. At Ordway the wafer In the stolen engine gave out and the Industrials were obliged to obtain a supply from a well, carrying it in their dinner pails and coffee cups. Fry’s army was at BheibvvlHe, Thnrsday, and for some hoars it looked as if there would be a collision with the people and some one wonld be killed. The people would furnish the army no rations for breakfast. Camp was broken and the wagons and Fry with his staff started toward town. The army, greatly reduced in number by scant fare, under command of Col. Brownell, marched up into the open public sonre where Brownell spoke ' about the ingratitude and inhumanity of Shelbyville citizens, after which he disbanded them and told every man to hustle for himself for-food. His remarks were very bitter towards the citizens and they were getting together for the purpose of resenting it when Brownell changed the character of his talk and agreed to leave town with the twenty-six who remained with him. They moved out of town at 9:30 o’clock with flags and banners flying and the music of fifes and drams. Camp was made at St. Paul, Thursday night. Another collision occurred at Yakima, Wash., Friday, between deputy marshals and the commonwealers. Two industrials were shot. At Rocklin, Cal., Friday, "Col.” Paisley, an officer of a commonweal division, was killed by Constable Fleckinger. The Industrials became furious and tried to lynch tho constable, but he succeeded in escaping. Fleckinger was trying to arrest tho officers of this divisioii, now 700 strong, who were in possession of a stolen train.