The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-03-10
A BLOODY BATTLE
KANAWHA VALLEY MINERS At
Tackled BY STRIKERS.
Military Interference Necessary to
Quell the Bloodshed and
Arson the Results.

The miners troubles in the Kama
wha valley have assumed alarming
proportions. For month or more
there have been strikes and rumors
of riots. but until Thursday it was
supposed that the miners would be
willing to settle their disputes by
peaceahle arbitration.
1t was announced on Tuesday that
the workmen at the Eagle mines
would accept the reduction of 10 per
cent in their wages and Wednesday
morning go to work, which they did.
Over 400 went into the mines, and
this action served to incite bitter
and riotous feeling among the strik
ing miners of the numerous other
mines in the valley
There are now over four thousand
miners in the valley, and that even
ing a great crowd of them made an
attack on the Wyants property, near
Handley, with the evident purpose
of destroying the buildings.
The guards opened terrific fusi-
lade upon the besieging strikers, and
when they retreated one man was
left dead and seven more wounded.
Another attack was made after
nightfall which resulted in the kill
ing of two more strikers, the wound
ing of three and an injury to one of
the guards.
The strikers were again driven
away from the works
The civil authorities notified Gov
ernor MacCorkle that they were un
able to cope with the mob.
He at once ordered to the scene
the first battalion of the Second reg
iment of militia and Company G.
The miners have been on strike in
the Kanawha Valley for some time.
John Wyaut has mine at Eagle,
and his men preferred to work at
the reduced rates rather than be
idle
Nearly 400 of the strikers respond
ed to a call for a mass meeting
Thursday afterdoon All Of them
were very ugly in disposition and
many of them were fighting drunk.
They had discussed the situation for
few minutes, when one of the
drunken men yelled out:
Lets bring Wyant outr'
1t was like a spark thrown into a
barrel of powder. The cry passed
from mouth to mouth. Soon the
mob, for such the assemblage had
become, were rushing toward Eagle
two miles away.
But news of their approach had
preceded them, and Wyant's man
instead of fleeing, armed themselves
with rifles, determined to make a
bold stand. They hid behind huge
embankments and decided to give
their would-be slayers a warm re-
ception.
Yelling and cursing, the frenzied
strikers were soon ON hand. In a
body they made an onslaught,
clambering over the embankment
and crying:
kill the scabs! Lynch Wyantr'
A volley of hundred shots was
their answer. dazed the rum.
crazed strikers, who precipitately
retired, leaving on the ground eleven
of their number, one of whom will
never attack another man again.
But they were repulsed, not beat
en-. They retired, and, spreading
themselves over as much territory
as possible, kept up continuous
fire at the Wyant men.
They also sent eouriers all over
the county, calling to their assis-
lance all the strikers at hand.
After the fight Mine Operator
Wyant appealed to Governor Mac
Corkle for military aid, and the Gov
ernor ordered out companies from
Huntington, Guyandotte, Barbours
vile, Hinton, Anderson, Ahsted and
Charleston. The troops all left at
an early hour next morning. The
strikers are reported to have cut
wires and destroyed Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad property.
The disturbed condition of affairs
continues yet, but it seems to be the
opinion. gained from kilograms from
the mining region including Wyant,
Eagle, Anstead Montgomery and
all towns which furnish news of the
conflict, that quiet will be restored
and the miners allowed to work,
though this has not yet been accom-
plished. The developments of great
er interest have, however, already
TRANSFERRED and conferences and con