New-York tribune., 1903-02-26
BATTLE WITH MINERS.
POSSES KILL THREE.
Manu- Others Wounded, THO Fatally
STRIKERS Fire on Deputies.

Charleston, w Va, Feb. 25.-At Stamford
Raleigh County. a battle took place at dawn to-
day between the joint posses of Deputy United
States Marshal Cunningham and Sheriff Cook
on side, and riotng miners on the other, as
a result OF which three miners were killed, two
others mortaly wounded, and a number Of
others both sides more or less seriously hurt
The trouble grew out of the attempt to arrest
thrty-four miners for violation of the blanket
injunction issued last August by Federal Judge
Keller. Deputy Marshal Cunningham went last
Saturday to Aktnsville, a mining town N
Raleigh County, to arrest men charged with
violating the Injunction He was surrounded by
large party of miners armed with rifles who
ordered him to leave the place, an order which
he quickly obeyed Sheriff Cook at this time
attempted to make some arrests under process
issued bv the State court, and treated in a
similar manner
Cunningham returned to this city, and report
ed to the marshal and District Attorney that ne
could do nothing without large force, and then
only at imminent risk of precipitating a bloody
corfict He was instructed to return with men
sufficient to serve the process, and to DO II at
all hazards Before Cunningham went back 10
A+tirsvi1le however. Marshal John K. Thomp-
son and s c. Burdette, attorney for the Cnlted
Mine Workers went to the scene, spending most
o+ Sunday and Monday there. They found
e,,ervthing quiet the rioters having crossed
Nov, River and camped three hundred strong
near the big Q mine on the north side
STATE AND FEDERAL POSSES JOIN.
THOMPSON and Burdette came home yesterday
morning and Cunningham, with strong
nosse went from here to make the ar
rests When Atkinsville was reached the fed-
eraI forces were joined by Sheriff Cook and his
nossa the coal companies near by furnishing
some guards The deputy and sheriff found
themselves in command OF about one hundred
vef~armed and determined men.
From $50 to 200 of the rioters had recrossed
the river meanwhile and were parading up and
down before the various coal works, armed with
rifles They intmdated miners at work, droNe
awav the guards of the mines, and even went so
far as to disarm one guard and force MIN TO
march at the head of their procession EN-
holdened by their success, they attempted 10
burn down a bridge of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad near Piney Gulch and threatened the
destruction of other property. Last night they
went into camp near Stamford City.
About daybreak to-day the officers and their
combined nosses surprised the rioters in their
camp and called on them to surrender The
ren1v was shot This was answered by the
posse. and Immediately a furious battle was
raging When it ceased three of the rioters lay
dead while many others were wounded, two
fatally.
seventv-three arrests made. ten falling
to the share of Deputy Cunningham and sixty
three to Sheriff Cook. All the prisoners were
taken to Beckley. the county seat of Raleigh,
where the United States prisoners had a pre-
limnary hearing before Commissioner Dunn
and were held for appearance here. They will
be brought here an early morning train
GOVERNMENT WANTS ALL PRISONERS.
The federal authorities will try to get the
State to give up its sixty-three prisoners.
that they may be tried in the federal court, but
it is doubtful if this will be done as the State
court will meet on Monday, and it is thought
they probably can be tried more expeditiously
there. The attorney for the mine workers went
to Beckey this afternoon to attend the
of the miners.
The injunction which the miners were charged
with violating was the blanket writ of Judge
Keller in the sut of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Coal Agency Company. The defendants in the
case all the coal companies operating in
the New River field, $50 members of the Mine
Workers of America by name. including Pres-
dent Mitchell and Secretary Wilson, and all
other persons whatsoever VINO aided and ahetted
them. The injunction covered almost every foot
of ground in the coal mining region of New
River.
While all the mines the Kanawha and
New River sections have been worked for some
months the strike has not been officially de-
clared off and its embers have been shoulder
ing in the New River gorge, threatening to
break into flame in the spring. The district in
which to-days battle occurred is in which
the mines have only recently been opened. and
the small towns are filled with the most des-
perate men who ever came into the State.
Advces from the scene of the conflict tonight
are to the effect that all is quiet now, but fears
ar. entertained that trouble viii break
afresh at any moment and the conflict of to-
day is thought 10 be the forerunner of many
more 10 come in the near future.
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