In 1917, Bisbee mine workers, members of the Industrial Workers of the World, or IWW, went on strike. The group was considered a radical labor union.
Citizens of Bisbee got word that the striking miners planned to dynamite the mine shafts, so they armed themselves and rounded up the IWWs, as they called them 鈹 they were also referred to as 鈥淲obblies鈥 鈹 and put them on a train to New Mexico.
This was called a deportation, although they didn鈥檛 leave the country. While the roundup of the strikers was effective, it was not without violence. There were two deaths, a striker and a deputy.
The IWWs were not welcomed in New Mexico with open arms. They were turned away.
The deputized Bisbee citizens believed the IWWs would be held in Columbus, N.M., but the commander of the Army encampment there would not accept them and ordered them all returned to Bisbee. The train headed back but stopped after several miles, the guards deserted and the IWWs were left stranded.
The army set up an emergency tent city and gave food and medication to the union men until they found new homes.
There was an investigation, but no charges came of it.
