The Steunenberg Assassination and the trial of the century

The History Guy remembers unions, the Steunenberg assassination, and the trial of the century. It is history that deserves to be remembered.
The episode contains period photographs depicting labor unrest. There are no graphic images of violence, but there was violence in the period, including, of course, the assassination of Governor Steunenberg, that some viewers may find disturbing. All events are discussed in context of the history of the period.
The History Guy uses images that are in the Public Domain. As photographs of actual events are often not available, I will sometimes use photographs of similar events or objects for illustration.
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The History Guy: Five Minutes of History is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
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The episode is intended for educational purposes. All events are presented in historical context.
#idaho #thehistoryguy #ushistory

[@C.O._Jones]

Thank you so much for covering these fascinating parts of history that are usually neglected, ignored or underrated.

[@bartgoins1782]

I moved to Caldwell, Idaho in September, and I'm enjoying learning the history of my area. Your videos are very educational. Thank you.

[@vivangreco1710]

Another fantastic video! So well rounded and fair to all involved.

[@markkover8040]

As always, very well done, but I do have a point of accuracy to bring up. Others have already mentioned your pronunciation of Coeur d'Alene so I won't belabor that anymore. My issue is with the location of the mines in North Idaho. They weren't located in or at the CITY of Coeur d'Alene, but in what is referred to as the MINING DISTRICT of Coeur d'Alene, which was named after the Coeur d'Alene River, which is where all the mining took place. The city of Coeur d'Alene is many miles away from the Coeur d'Alene Mining District, better known now days as the Silver Valley. The geography is unbelievably rugged and relatively remote. It's remoteness is reflected by it being the location of the last segment of the Interstate Highway System to be completely, over, and I do mean OVER the community of Wallace Idaho. What made the region so important to the rest of America is the amount of lead, silver and zinc that was mined out of the mountains there. Still, another well done program. Thank you!

[@Hypatia52]

Love your program, but as a native of the Pacific Northwest, we call it Korr deh Lane with Lane rhyming with Pain. It's a picturesque and lovely area, rimmed with resorts, cabins and grand houses.

[@jameshorn270]

I suspect that if we went back, we would find a "trial of the century" in nearly every decade.

[@abacab87]

Yea, I thought OJ was supposed to be the trial of the century.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

Agree . In the late-1920,'s, the "Trial of the Century" was the Lindberg Baby Kidnapping and Murder. There's also the Scopes so called "Monkey Trial,: w Clarence Darrow and WJ Bryan, lawyers. Sacco and Venzetti was another "Trial of the Century." In the early 1900's i think, (could be dffrnt) there was the trial w beautiful E Nesbit and a famous architect... Of course, OJ in 1995, who i got totally sick of...

[@mojoman2001]

You cracked it. Now, focus your intellectual powers on the inscrutable issue of whether or not a circus really is "the greatest show on Earth".

[@jimarcher5255]

Houston used to have great society murders and trials in the sixties. Now we just have ghetto drivebys.

[@charlieswearingen500]

You may be right, but still, it was one of the trials of the century with names like "Big Bill" Haywood, Charlie Siringo, Clarence Darrow, and William Borah. It was a three-month legal slugfest that ended with only Harry Orchard behind bars and "Big Bill" Haywood in Russia...

[@Me2Lancer]

I appreciate your balanced treatment of this contentious topic.

[@scottthompson7637]

One of the best speakers on the internet.

[@box-botkids3267]

Love your channel! But you talk so fast I have difficulty understanding you. Keep up the good work. It's you and those like you that make KZbin live up to its potential.

[@griffmillerii1885]

I was immediately reminded of Doyle’s “The Valley of Fear”.

[@GhostRider-sc9vu]

You had this interesting story about Unions and mining unions had a rambunctious history. There is another one in the "Black Patch War" of 1903 to 1911 in Western Kentucky that ended the Tabacco monopolies and allowed all baccy farmers to make a living from there farms. Might make a good tale for you to tell.

[@luckytatum6114]

How about a video on the Ludlow Massacre? The history of the American labor movement has not been forgotten, it has never been taught.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

yes, i wondered if he would mention the 1914 Ludlow Mine Massacre. --Where US troops shot down Colorado miners. I did a report on it in APP history in high school.

[@patrickbush9526]

Could you do a video on strange coincidences of the Civil War

[@ericblair8821]

always interesting, well presented, cool tie

[@johnpappone8610]

This History Guy is really good

[@wayupnorth9420]

Our family has been in the north Idaho mining district (Murray, Mullan, Wallace) since the 1800’s. We started a lot of mines there. One of the Golden Chest’s drifts is named after my great grandpa which is buried in Murray. The miners were not getting a fair wage therefore revolted. I recommend reading “the assassination of governor Stunenberg”

[@TimeTraveler1899]

Terribly underpaid. Also unnecessarily high risk working conditions that could have been made less so even at that time.

[@Danstaafl]

"He opened the side gate to his yard... and it exploded." Ha! I complain about stuff blowing up in my face all the time. But not really.. These video's are fun and informative to watch. Thank you for the effort. Top notch production.

[@TimeTraveler1899]

It was not a pretty scene.

[@kennethtrayer5565]

From this story until the Wisconsin teachers in 2012, and people wonder why I do not like unions at all.

[@madzen112]

Big Bill Haywood seems like quite a character!

[@theidahotraveler]

Thank you

[@craigkdillon]

I am sure there are many stories that require more time, or more episodes. Please tell some of those, too.

[@582tird]

Reminds me of Bloody Williamson County Mine War.

[@mercator79]

In the Spokane / C d'A area, we typically pronounce it Core deelayne not deeleene.

[@briankofke]

Fascinating.

[@donaldlucas8688]

You should be on the History Channel doing this. You are as good or better than the people doing now.

[@SuperBigPetey]

The Stuenenberg Mansion is still standing on one of the main streets of Caldwell and is privately owned. Silver City, ID is about 70 mi. (+/-) south from Caldwell, and at one time there were so many tunnels in the mountain, miners would accidentally blast into a competing tunnel and gunfights would erupt underground! At its height almost 7,000 people lived in Silver City. Appx 40 buildings of the ghost town still exist, and are lived in although access is seasonal because of heavy snow and a treacherous road. The Idaho gold rush is still going on, and placer claims are usually not very expensive, but can be profitable.

[@C.J.Traylor]

I just read Charlie Serrino’s book on this. I just finished it yesterday! Such a great book. Such an amazing bunch of towels he has. If you want a good book, look up ‘A Cowboy Detective’ An amazing collection of stories from a guy who went from being a great Callahan to probably the west’s greatest detective

[@ff441980fredcrowe]

You should do an episode on the assassination of NYC mayor William Gaynor

[@jacqueslemieux1802]

The mine strike and the activities did NOT occur in Coeur d’Alene ( Core de Lane)! It all happened in Wallace and Kellogg, Idaho, both of which are in Show shone county. I generally enjoy your videos but with all the mistaken details in this one, I have to wonder what is incorrect in the others.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Sorry, but it is literally called “The Coeur d’Alene Labor Strike.” Wallace and Kellogg are part of the Coeur d’Alene mining region, along the Coeur d’Alene river.

[@takaliomega8235]

​@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I agree. I'm a Coeur d'Alene native. Kellogg and Wallace are small towns in the 5 counties that make up "North Idaho" ... CdA is the central city in what's known as the Silver Valley.

[@hughfell2969]

It was not the Alaskan Klondike the miners flocked to - it was the Yukon Klondike. A good read would be Pierre Burtons Klondike.

[@squint04]

Have you read Charles Siringo's book? It's quite a read

[@TimeTraveler1899]

A Good read.

[@upperdarby4455]

Yes I wonder if you know the story of the Night Nurse rebellion in Philadelphia PA

[@iraqgsmtech8895]

You should bring Alessandro Moreschi to light.

[@nicholasreid1836]

Rather rushed but an intelligent summary of a complex situation.

[@maxb4074]

Interfering with the mail is still a Federal crime today.

[@mikerhodes3563]

In those days labor was exploited -the mineral rushes left people stranded there and were subjected the power brokers of the east-left out was the millions of dollars of wealth extracted at those mines

[@leondillon8723]

These militia units may have called themselves National Guard, but there was no US National Guard until President Theodore Roosevelt signed The National Guard Act in 1903 AD.

[@markstone9992]

Love your program, how please slow down on you speaking

[@deedee4531]

How are you not on 1 million sub's

[@johnpritchard5410]

I know all the old Wobbly songs....

[@kevinsysyn4487]

Hiroo Onoda

[@WilhelmDrake]

The vast majority of the violence was against labour not by labour.

[@kenburkham5483]

'Murica, just a dream some of us had.

[@dawnraejackson6930]

I'm an Idaho native, local to Canyon County, where this event took place and was completely unaware that these things occurred... thank you History Guy.

[@ajcaiola1038]

There is a pop up in the lobby of the Caldwell Police Department. Not as involved as this, but I imagine that it was probably the highest profile thing the police department has ever been involved in.

[@ajg617]

Just visited the old Idaho State Penitentiary - Harry Orchard is on the infamy wall. Interesting tour if you ever get to Boise. Our tour guide, Jack, was excellent. Have to see the grave of Dennis the cat.

[@shelbynamels973]

The history of the labor movement is completely ignored in the US, even tho it included some of the most violent confrontations, making today's demonstrators look like pikers. Check out the Haymarket massacre, Joe Hill, the bombing of the LA Times in the early 1900s, Bloody Thursday in the port of LA, just off the top of my head. I am sure there are others.

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

As an Idahoan, I'm familiar with this story but not the (not so) minor details. Thanks again for the complete story, Mr. G! 👍

[@quietdignityandgrace]

Killed a man 5 years after the fact? Now that's a grudge.

[@wkdravenna]

That's how the union works.

[@tomantush4867]

Which is why it's unlikely it was a union action. No strategic advantage.

[@candymcclure2476]

I love your program and I've learned a lot at age 74!

[@francesrude3007]

Me also, and I am 77. lol.I started putting dates next to comments such as today, is 3-24-2020. You never know in some time in the future these will come up in Archival history.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Its amazing how much history is not taught in history class . I might have studied harder if I were exposed to more interesting facts instead of a collection of dates .

[@fr0g309]

Old people

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

That’s good you are still willing to learn at 74. I’m 31 and hope I share your disposition when I’m 74. Keep up the good work sir.

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

those vids I know they are so wholesome. Isn’t it sweet?

[@marleegould542]

I've never heard of these events, and I'm from Coeur d'Alene! I never heard of the assassination, or the train hijacking or any of these events until today. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@wyattcleveland2994]

This is my favorite KZbin channel

[@adrenaline.addicts]

@The History Guy Not to pick you apart and I'm not trying to be rude but your pronunciation of *Coeur d'Alene* is a bit off. It actually sounds like *Cord-uh-Lane*. Another one that most people who don't live here struggle with is *Boise*. People tend to pronounce it *Boyzee*. The proper pronunciation sounds like *Boy-SEE*. Anyhow, I just wanted to tell you how much I truly enjoy and appreciate your videos. I've loved history as long as I can remember. If you manage to read this, could you maybe do some more videos about Idaho history? I think that would be great! Keep up the awesome work and great content. I am so glad to have stumbled across your channel!!!

[@eddyaruda486]

Another fascinating video. I really enjoy the compelling manner in which you present snippets of history that indeed have been forgotten. Thank you for what you do.

[@chauvettes]

The book BIG TROUBLE IN A SMALL TOWN is a great recounting of these times and the assassination.

[@TimeTraveler1899]

Yes it is. Not perfect but well research and documented by Anthony Lukas. Serves as my research Bible on this subject.

[@PtolemyJones]

You should consider doing a piece of the Puerto Rican nationalists who attempted to assassinate Truman in '50 and opened fire in Congress in '54. Fascinating, and forgotten by most...

[@scottgoodman4776]

And Jimmy Carter, the communists friend, let one out before he died.

[@finddeniro]

1954 deal interrupted my parents honeymoon in Washington dc...No kidding...

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

@@finddeniro honeymoon in DC?? Things must must have been different then lol

[@mohammedcohen]

Read Stephen Hunter's "American Gunfight"...

[@winnifredforbes8712]

PtolemyJones Say what?

[@allenatkins2263]

The Ludlow massacre. Deserves to be remembered.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Good idea. Have visited the massacre site a few times.

[@lynnmitzy1643]

Now let's hear 5 minutes of why The History Guy deserves to be remembered😎📚

[@unknowntraveller8633]

Excellent as usual, have you done a history of the Pinkertons?. They seem to have done a few rather unsavory things in the past.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Unknown Traveller I have not. I don’t currently have plans to do so, but that may change. And yes, they did a lot of things that might be seen as shady.

[@markwhite1780]

Unknown Traveller Pinkerton agents were murdering bastards and their criminal acts were widespread. Pawns of the rich at the expense of the poor. Termination with extreme prejudice was warranted by all who value freedom from oppression. Today unions have been broken. Wages have been suppressed. The rich profit on the backs of the hungry poor who often die young. True Wobblies (IWW) were commies. As were many unions that did not last..better dead than red. But fair labor practices need to prevail.

[@jlwaddey9579]

That is an excellent request! I have looked for something on the Pinkertons too, and found little. It's a great idea, History Guy

[@vima8680]

...as is still happening today.

[@randymagnum143]

Yep, usually against unsavory foes.

[@waltCW3ret]

Another sad event in American history is the The Great Bisbee Deportation of 1917 which featured many key players related to this story It had its roots in the labor disputes at that time in Bisbee, Arizona between miner labor unions, the mine owner Phelps Dodge Corporation, the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers (IUMMSW) and its president, Charles Moyer, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and local government under the political and financial influence of the mine bosses and spearheaded by the then Sheriff of Cochise County, AZ who carried out the arrests and deportation. It is a fascinating footnote in the history of the history of the American southwest which I propose as the topic of one of thise video, an event which also deserves to be remembered.

[@ajg617]

Another story I would like to hear as my father worked for Phelps Dodge for decades in the mid-1900s. That was of course after this event.

[@guyh.4553]

Great video History Guy! We Idahoan's learned about this in our Idaho History class. But I'm not sure if they teach important things like that anymore

[@bryanswenson1452]

This guy is the best history teacher on the planet.

[@shoshonnaissachar5927]

I love your channel, because I love history!!

[@daddyquatro]

Recently read the Sherlock Holmes novel "The Valley of Fear" which is loosely based on this time in history.

[@Zman888]

Not even close en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Maguires

[@mikekemp9877]

@@Zman888 doyle met macparlane the infiltrator on the liner to london.he believed his version of events as actions like that were completely outside his very establishment experience.so the valley of fear is very pro the mine owners and pinkertons version of the story.and macparlanes account was full of lies and exaggerations and not to be trusted. doyle was an outsider and just wanted an exciting story in black and white terms he didnt know about the miners side of the story.damon runyon of guys and dolls fame wrote several early stories about the colorado situation and the use of troops and is firmly on the miners side as a reporter covering the strikes etc he knew the truth and how the miners had been treated.valley of fear is a good read but doyles story should be seen as fiction as his interest in what happened was limited to finding a hero and a villain and no more than that.watch the movie based on the case the molly maguires or the even better depiction of how a magnanimous mine company treated its workers matewan to see the real horror of life in a company town where even the clothes you buy are provided by the company store at three times the price elsewhere.

[@JimFortune]

I have to wonder how many times you get a "Trial of the Century"in each century.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

LOL a dozen or more?

[@NecromancyForKids]

As many as it takes before there are no bigger trials. Sometimes they're all "trials of the century" until the last.

[@Darrell1019]

Thank you so much Prof., I'd not known this, at all!

[@theonlyantony]

Great film. Superbly presented and packed with fact vitamins!

[@williamwoody7607]

Fabulous episode-nice work. Next-maybe the Wobblys,The Molly McGuires,the Mau Maus, or a summary of John Sayles movie Matewan?

[@paulcharlwood702]

Yes, loved Matewan when I saw it in a little arthouse cinema in Belfast N. Ireland. Goodness, that was back in the 80s!

[@Mistralok]

Well done as always. If you want to tell the story that brought about the greatest changes in safe working conditions here in the US, it would be that of The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. A bit of a horror story, true, but those ladies should be remembered. ​

[@dianeswift]

Incredible, as are all of your videos that I have viewed to date.

[@tomw.4255]

Great information for the judge whom was originally appointed to the case. He has a bio at RootsWeb Pioneer's of South Benton County, under Edwin L. Bryan and he talks about the case from a 1938 WPA Historical Records Survey.

[@chriswalker8361]

Just one thing history guy.... would it be possible to lower the audio level at the end of the clips when you jump to the "credits portion" for lack of a better term. It tends to jump up a bit from the rest of it..Thanks! and keep up the great work!

[@BajaInsider]

You have a great product here. Simple presentation, concise information, and entertaining personal presentation. I can burn through half a dozen or more of your videos each time I cross paths with KZbin, I've learned, that's a stout compliment. Thx

[@Purplexity-ww8nb]

Pronounced "Kore de lane" ... you're welcome. THG - "Labor has soured on violent tactics" Jimmy Hoffa - "Hold my beer, brother"

[@istvansipos9940]

"No alcohol for miners" all those riots started after a bar owner had put this sign on the door. He, of course, meant "minOrs" and he realized his mistake but it was too little too late

[@jacqueslemieux1802]

Sorry, no basis in fact for that statement.

[@lordpatience5772]

I live in east tennessee and in a town that used to be called coal creek...now its Rocky top. But we also had a mine war thing that went down. You should check that out and do a video on that. Thanks for your channel too by the way history is great.

[@jameszion1982]

A particularly good account. Please do more on the IWW and also the murder of Frank Little in Butte. See if you can find out if it is true that the Maltese Falcon was based in Butte due to its author being a Pinkerton.

[@michaelwashington1585]

Here's a suggestion, was the Mafia in Montana esp. in butte Montana during the copper mining days. Lots of rumors about that but were they really involved?

[@SuperDrewH]

I love your channel, so glad I found it! Keep up the great work!

[@pierQRzt180]

I really like your channel but not every video (at least not yet). I find the playlist awesome to get to the most interesting video series immediately.

[@maniyan_wanagi]

My Grandfather was involved in the 1938 Maytag Riot in Newton, Iowa. He told me about most of his involvement, I discovered the rest - a brand new Colt 1903 .32 ACP pistol, in it's original box, with a box of ammunition minus 7 cartridges, hidden deep in his attic. The receipt was dated a month before the riot.

[@markwhite1780]

Melquiades Estrada excellent piece Worth mucho dinero!

[@markwhite1780]

Is it a Colt Model 1911. .45 caliber Acp? 7 cartridges is the amount of a full clip. If so the pistol is worth $1500-$2000 depending upon condition. Provenance makes it worth more. Still made today as it is an effective PDA.

[@maniyan_wanagi]

Nope. Model 1903 - .32ACP

[@markwhite1780]

Melquiades Estrada wow! Even more rare and cool.

[@kevinconrad6156]

With that receipt it is worth a lot more.

[@Grumpyagain]

I enjoy your history stories but I have to take some issue with this one, the mines and workers were not from CDA, Idaho but from the Mullan, Wallace, Kellogg, Burke, Wardner locations. Coeur d' Alene Mining District is a name given to an area that incorporates these towns and starts at Pinehurst, Idaho and goes to Mullan, Idaho along what was US10 now I-90. As a kid in the 50's this was still somewhat of a sore point with the local old timers and Pinkertons were hated with a passion.

[@JABARDELLI]

Grumpyagain You are exactly right. Coeur d’Alene, as a city, has no identifiable association with the Coeur d’Alene Mining District and the tumult, shouting, striking, and rioting, which ensued, therein, culminating in the assassination of ex-governor Frank Steunenberg, save the fact that troops were called in from Fort Sherman, which was located in Coeur D’Alene, to attempt to restore order throughout the mining towns of Wallace, Kellogg, and Burke prior to Steunenberg’s death in 1905.

[@rondavis459]

there is no alaskan klondike, it is yukon klondike, canada

[@larrywheeler8040]

You should research the mine wars in West Virginia between coal operators and the miners to bring in the miners union.

[@crashstitches79]

The fact that he was killed by a dynamite-based bomb kinda shows that it was mining-based action.

[@C.J.Traylor]

Sir, I think that this story also warrants you to do a video on Charlie Serango himself.

[@sharadowasdr]

On this theme, how about a video on the Ludlow massacre ?

[@peterblood50]

9 people didn't like it. Most be descendants of the mine owners. =) Love your videos.

[@kennyg1358]

Damn communists are pernicious.

[@AnEnemy100]

Newton’s third law.

[@pryonation]

hooooly crap this is the best most informative video on youtube ! !

[@christosvoskresye]

At least John Wilkes Booth knew who he was shooting at. Just about anyone could have opened that gate and set off the dynamite.

[@TimeTraveler1899]

Could have been any or all the children. Very nearly included the eldest son who would usually be walking at his father's side but was a ways back having been delayed in town.

[@ForceSmart]

Union corruption...what's old is new. And how predictable is it that the union boss became a fugitive from justice in the USSR lol? Another great video, THG. Thanks!

[@lowpricedpaint]

Great video, amazing how minerals have impacted humanity so much. It goes back much further in time than these days in history. Everyone has been chasing some kind of treasure, forever. The most interesting to me, are the churches, and how they accumulated their wealth, through deception, and evil, behind the shroud of holyness.

[@stevel8980]

Write a book of short history essays based on your videos. I’d buy it.

[@sameyers2670]

Seconded

[@dwaynedungey546]

Here here.

[@joshdrexler8773]

More labor history, please!

[@JDPri77]

I knew Harry Orchard's great nephew. He mentioned that Harry lived pretty well in prison and was taken care of by miner groups, his own business ventures ( run by him and his family while he was in prison), and the prison guards. Whether he was hired to do the hit or not, the miners message was sent.

[@kurtdunbar912]

The Lattimer Massacre deserves to be remembered.

[@KevinJohnson-rs9yi]

Not bad but your pronunciation of Idaho names needs a little work.

[@takaliomega8235]

See my comment

[@Archaeopteryx128]

My grandfather, who grew up in Cour D'Alaine Idaho, always pronounced it Cor-d-lane.

[@Archaeopteryx128]

Perhaps we are distant relatives. I know that there are the descendants of an uncle of my grandfather still living in that part of Idaho. In any case, thanks for the response.

[@markwhite1780]

Archaeopteryx128 true pronunciation. That beautiful town is expensive to buy a home. I'd love to live there. Post, Idaho; a few miles west is more affordable and a growing town just across the border from Washington state and Spokane.

[@Grumpyagain]

Raised in Wallace and went to NIC when it was still a Jr College, you are almost correct on the name it is pronounced as Core-duh-lane may be saying the same thing but the middle is def. a duh. now lets try Pend Oreille :>)

[@cavecookie1]

Pen-dory-ill...right? BTW...I lived in western Montana for many years.@@Grumpyagain

[@svtirefire]

@Mark White Post Falls, not Post.

[@UsherLinder]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@laakman]

As usual, excellent story about my native state. If you do stories like this, you can ask for people to get pictures of statues of the subjects. There's a great statue of Gov Stunenberg in front of the Idaho Capitol building. There's also a hand carved statue of George Washington inside the Capitol building with a fascinating history behind it.

[@Seventeen_Syllables]

The IWW - they called them "the wobblies" didn't they?

[@TimeTraveler1899]

Yes!

[@normanboyes4983]

Excellent, it deserves to be remembered.👍

[@djhoisington1350]

I live not far for Idaho well very close I live in Washington well northern Washington 10 min drive from northern Idaho and a hour or so drive from Canada I did not know this thank you very much for this little history lesson