 Acting independently, Bowers then arrested the mayor and town marshal of Altman as well as a number of miners, in an attempt to crush the morale of the strikers, but a short trial acquitted them of any charges

Bowers later secretly met with mine owners, and agreed to receive a large sum of money to equip a force of 125 men to act as deputies.These men would protect a large force of strikebreakers soon to arrive in the area.News of the agreement soon leaked to the outraged miners.