Although the mine owners and union had reached an agreement ending the strike, the deputies remained in Cripple Creek.
Governor Waite ordered the force of deputies disbanded, but the sheriff told Tarsney he was no longer able to control the private army he had created.
On June 5, the deputies moved into the local town of Altman, cutting telegraph and telephone wires and imprisoning a number of reporters.
Aware that the paramilitary force might get out of hand, Waite had already dispatched the state militia, under the command of General E.J.
The Colorado state troops arrived in the Cripple Creek region early on the morning of June 6, but more violence had already broken out.
After consulting with Tarsney, Gen. Brooks threatened to declare martial law and keep his troops in the region for another 30 days.