The Governor’s War: Seattle’s Militia Mutiny and the Coal Creek Massacre
In the wake of a deadly strike at Newcastle coal mines, Governor Elisha Peery clashes with local sheriff over military command, exposing the fragility of civil authority in Washington Territory.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The circumstances which have drawn out this spirited pronouncement are familiar to everybody in Seattle. Two or three weeks ago there was a riot at the Newcastle coal mine in this county in which several men going peaceably about their business were brutally assaulted, several shot and fined, and one man killed.
Sheriff Cochran, who went promptly to the scene of the trouble, telegraphed for troops, and the brigade commander sent two companies to a point where they could be of service if needed. He gave no order for their use, but directed them to report to the sheriff immediately. This order was made upon the recommendation of the prosecuting attorney and solely for the purpose of protecting life and property.
Upon the arrival of the troops at Newcastle, the sheriff accepted them as a posse comitatus, ordered some men to Coal Creek, and kept them here a couple of hours, retaining one company over twenty-four hours doing guard duty under his direction. He also requested and received the aid of the military in the execution of warrants in his possession.
This shows that the sheriff was satisfied to accept the militia as a posse comitatus. The sheriff has the power, both by common law and by statute, to summon a posse comitatus or power of the county... This clearly includes the militia.
Since Governor Peery has taken upon himself the direct command of the militia it behooves him to stay close at home, ready for business at all hours. He will have to give up junketing over the territory, visits to the East and among other things, his personal attention to his sawmill on the Columbia River. We don't need the militia often, but when we do, we need it then and need it quick.
In connection with this it is notable that a telegram sent yesterday by the manager of the Oregon Improvement Company for protection for life and property was unanswered at last accounts.
This 1897 conflict over who controls the militia—local sheriffs or the state governor—mirrors modern debates about federal versus local authority during civil unrest. The violent suppression of labor strikes in Washington's coal fields foreshadowed the brutal industrial wars that would define the Pacific Northwest's labor history for decades.
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