Archives West Finding Aid

As manager of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mine, Stanly Alexander Easton was in intimate touch with his staff, foremen and workers. Indeed, he was perhaps the most respected of the mine managers in the entire Coeur d'Alene mining area.

Born April 7, 1873 in Santa Cruz, California, Easton established a connection with the mining industry early in life. He was first employed as an office boy for the firm of Hans C. Behr and W.I. Salkeld, specialists in mechanical area mining engineering. From office boy he advanced to the field and in construction work had his first opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the many activities in mining at that time.

With this experience behind him, he entered the University of California College of Mines from which he graduated in 1894. After leaving college he worked underground at gold properties in Calaveras and Tuolumme counties doing such varied jobs as assaying, mining, and mill and construction work. In 1896 he went to the Northwest, working underground in the mines of western Montana, Rossland, B.C. and the Coeur d'Alene where he was employed as a miner at the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine for the winter of 1896-1897. From there he went to Silver City, Idaho where he was in charge of productive mining work. From 1899-1900 he had charge of the development work at Greenwood, B.C., and afterward at Republic, Washington.

In 1901 he engaged in mine examination work under F.W. Bradley. Bradley was impressed with Easton's ability and character and placed him in charge of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan properties when Albert Burch resigned at the end of 1902.

In addition to his mining interests, Easton was also president of the Boy Scouts, of the Idaho Mining Association, a member of the Idaho State Board of Education, and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho from 1921-1931. In 1950 he received an honorary degree from that university.

After leaving Bunker Hill and Sullivan, Easton returned to California where he died December 17, 1961.

BACKGROUND MATERIAL

Mining in the Coeur d'Alenes

A lockout by mine owners in 1892 led to the destruction of the Frisco Mill at Gem, the killing of five miners by guards and the retaliatory shooting of several "scabs" (non-union miners) by members of the miners' union. Order was restored by state troopers and the power of the union was temporarily broken, but the atmosphere of hate continued for many years and later led to much violence.

The Western Federation of Miners was formed in 1893 and grew rapidly. In April, 1899 the Federation officials demanded the holdout Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mine unionize. The answer of the mine owners was to discharge all union miners. The unionists responded by dynamiting the Bunker Hill and Sullivan concentrator at Wardner, said to be the largest in the world. Governor Steunenberg declared martial law and President McKinley ordered U.S. troops from Montana into the area. The miners were rounded up and herded into hastily constructed barracks surrounded by barbed wire, an area later referred to as the "Bull Pen." Miners were gradually released after denying that they belonged to any subversive organization.

The influence of the Western Federation in Idaho had nearly been destroyed, and its leaders dispersed. New headquarters were established in Denver, and soon Charles H. Moyer, William D. Heywood and George A. Pettibone were officials in this new union.

The Assassination of Frank Steunenberg

Although Steunenberg had been out of office for nearly four years, living a quiet life with his family in Caldwell, the union could not forget his actions during the spring of 1899. As he was returning from his evening walk on December 30, 1905 a bomb was placed near his home . As he opened the garden gate he tripped the wire which exploded the bomb. Although badly maimed by the explosion, he lived for twenty minutes. For some time before the explosion he had been receiving threatening letters in the mail, and must have realized the source, for as he lay dying in his home he told his family that they (meaning the miners) finally got him.

It was not long before Harry Orchard was arrested and taken to Idaho State Penitentiary. Orchard soon confessed to Pinkerton agent James McParland and told him of his meetings with Western Federation of Miners officials Moyer, Heywood and Pettibone, and of their hiring him to murder the former governor. Moyer, Heywood and Pettibone were literally kidnapped in Colorado and placed on a special train which brought them very quickly into Idaho where they were arrested.