Volume 16 , Issue 19

August 1893 Crowds of Hungry Miners Leaving Colorado

It was back in 1893, August 2, Wednesday, in The Advocate And Topeka Tribune, published in Topeka, Kansas, that we found this article, Leaving Colorado. It concerns crowds of hungry miners and other laborers seeking respite from starvation.

Denver, Colo., July 28 (1893) -- Camp Relief, at Riverfront park, was in perfect working order, and over 1,000 of the unemployed were fed during the day. Tents were erected capable of sheltering 800 or more persons, and they were being used to lodge part of the indigent. During the day about 600 men were taken out of the city by the different trains.

At one time the scene at the Union Pacific yard in East Denver and in the vicinity of Fortieth Street was quite exciting. Here was gathered an immense crowd waiting for the outgoing trains, and when any one of them came along, a scramble would be made to get aboard. The train officials, knowing how impossible it would be to keep them off, gracefully submitted, and is the way about 600 persons left town.

Before leaving, the crowd entered many of the neighboring bakeries and stores and asked for food. No threats were made, but they go nearly all they wanted. Passing milk wagons also contributed to the needy, and no serious trouble ensued. That night everything was quiet, although, a meeting of the unemployed was looked for at 9 o'clock.

On July 29, 1893, the city had been quiet all day, and the indications were that the feared outbreak among the unemployed would not occur No signs of agitation had broken out, although Superintendent Devel, of the Union Pacific railroad, had petitioned the city, county and state officials to afford his road protection against the crowds desirous of going east, who generally took charge of any freight train sent out. The company was willing to carry a moderate amount of persons, but objects to hauling trainloads of them. No action had been taken by the authorities.

The usual number, about 1,000 persons, were fed at Camp Relief. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 unemployed left on the different roads that day. It was reported that several hundred unemployed were on their way from Leadville and Colorado Springs to Denver. The fact that Denver was running soup houses was attracting the idle from all directions, and many professional tramps were taking advantage of the circumstances. On this account it was reported in 1893 the free eating houses may be soon abandoned.

Unwelcome Arrivals

Kansas City, July 29 (1893) -- Three hundred of Colorado's unemployed workmen have already arrived in Kansas City and the night before the police received information that another swarm would bear down upon the city that morning.

Four hundred men had been bundled into freight cars at Denver, and were being sent out over the Union Pacific railroad. They were expected to arrive in Kansas City at 6 o'clock that morning and would be dumped off at a point where the Union Pacific crosses the state line.

It was evident the exodus had just begun. The laws of both Missouri and Kansas made it a misdemeanor for any railroad to dump paupers within the state. There had never before been occasion to enforce this law i either of the states, but it was proposed to do so in 1893.

The first delegation from Colorado arrived Sunday, and many had come since. All of them were seedy and unable to buy a square meal. A large number of them called at the office of the Central Coal and Coke Company the day before asking to be given work in the coal fields. A group formed in the doorway after being refused employment because they were not coal diggers. They were discussing what they might do next. After a few minutes discussion many decided to go to Dakota. They were plainly workingmen and not tramps. Their hands were hardened by toil, and they wore the clothing of Colorado miners and teamsters.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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