Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-02-26
TWO CENTS
HOW IT STARTED.
First Visit of Marshal Cunning
ham to Atkinsville.

Large Mob Heavily Armed Bluffed Him
to Standstill-He Returned to
Charleston for Re-inforcements-
tails of the Start of the Trouble
Which Ended so Bloodily on Wednes-
day.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, Feb. 26.--lt
will hardly be disputed by any one ac-
quainted with the facts when the
statement is made that in his long
official experience as deputy United
States Marshal, Dan w Cunning
ham, OF this city, has run up against
some Of about the toughest PROPOSE
tions any officer has ever had 10 con-
tend with in the service OF Uncle
Sam. He has probably been plotted
against, reviled and threatened with
bodily harm and annihilationofRtene
than some OF the monarchs of0the old
world, but Dan has always gone right
straight ahead, doing his duty as di-
rected and paying no attention TO
threats, curses and excavations.
Thus he has come to be regarded as
one OF the most valuable and efficient
government officers In the service
But Deputy Cunningham is willing
now to admit that there is limit to
which even representative OF the
strong arm OF Uncle Sam may go.
Armed with iGjunetions issued from
Judge B. Il. Keller, of the United
States court, Deputy Marshal Cum
ningham was directed to serve them
upon thirty-three striking miners in
The neighborhood of Atkinsville, Raj
eigh county. Cunningham left for
the scene or the trouble on last Fri
day. and arrived at his destination
some time Saturday morning.
Before his departure from here Dep
uty Cunningham had seen Attorney
s. G. Burdett, and with him agreed
that arrangements might be made at
Atkinsville for the release OF the men
on bond after their apprehension had
been accomplished.
Anticipating no difficulty In execut-
ing the mandates of the court, Depu
ty Cunningham reached Atkinsville
dDQ WClu WI hG&0QQai-
tiers of the miners. He was therefore
very much surprised when he was
confronted by not less than flfty men
armed with Winchester rifles and
shotguns. Notwithstanding this
threatening situation the officer noti-
fed the men of his mission. One of
the men who acted as spokesman for
the party, responded by saying that
they had been notified OF his coming,
and that they were prepared for him.
Then followed most tragic scene.
A number of the ASSENT led men
cooked their guns and leveled them at
the officer, while one OF them began
ringing large bell that was suspend
ed over the front door of the post Of
fee. Immediately following the ring
ing of the bell men began to emerge
from every direction and augment the
crowd already assembled. Most Of
them were armed. In about the time
that it takes to write 1t Deputy Mar
shall Cunningham, accompanied by
John Lang, Bob Crockett, e. w.
Gaujot and Stewart Hunt were In the
midst of a mighty dangerous looking
lot OF men.
This demonstration was made for
the purpose of resisting the effort of
the officer to serve the process of the
court. He was notified that he could
not have the men wanted, and the
emphasis that accompanied the refus-
al was such as to convince the officer
that any attempt to defy the demon
stration of force would only result In
bloodshed.
Marshal Cunningham says that the
mob was made up of men Of all ma
tIonalities, many of them being hang
ers on around the camp of the United
Mine Workers and being fed from the
commissary, dangerous and desper-
ate class.
Deputy Cunningham for perhaps the
first time in his life was deferred
from the performance OF his duty by
this demonstration of force. He with
drew as soon as possible, and returned
to Charleston on Saturday night and
submitted his report to his chief,
Capt John K. Thompson, United
States marshall for the district.
After a consultation, in which s. G.
Burdett, attorney for the United
Mine Workers, was called, it was de-
cided that another visit would be paid
TO Atkinsville, this time by the Unit
ed States marshal himself, and be
was accompanied by his deputy, Mr..
Cunningham, S. G. Burdett and Mr..
e. M. Keatley, the clerk Of the court.
The purpose OF the united states mar
shall is to request the men wanted TO
peaceably to the mandates
Of the court. In this request the
marshal will be Joined by the attorney
for the mine workers, Mr.. Burdett.
II the parties continue to refuse and
defy the authority the marshal will at
once organize force sufficient to exc
cute the law, regardless of the cense-
quences.
The matter is regarded as quite se-
rious by the authorities, and Deputy
believes that there will
be trouble in that section OF a serious
nature before long