The mining companies refused Agree_or_refuse_to_act to meet the demands Request of the workers and instead hired Employment Baldwin-Felts agents equipped Supply with high-powered rifles to guard Patrolling the mines and act as strikebreakers .

socialist party activists began Process_start supplying Supply miners with weapons : 6 machine guns , 1,000 high-powered rifles , and 50,000 rounds of ammunition .

Consequently , the Governor proclaimed Statement martial law to be in effect on September 2 , 1912 , seizing Hold 1,872 high-powered rifles , 556 pistols , 6 machine guns , 225,000 rounds of ammunition , and 480 blackjacks - as well as large quantities of daggers , bayonets , and brass knuckles .