The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Two Are MOTta|y Wounded and Number Injured on
 Both Sides.
TROUBLE RESULTED FROM THE KELLAR INJUNCTION
Officers Were Attempting to Serve Papers for Violating the Order of the Court and the Riotine
 Miners Resisted.

Charleston, Kanawha County, w. Va, February 25.-At Stamford City, in Ral- eigh county, at dawn this morning, ter rible battle took place between the joint posses of Deputy United States Marshal Cunningham and Sheriff Cook on one side and rioting miners on the other, as result of which three miners were killed, two others mortally wounded and number of others on both sides more or less seriously hurt.
 The killed:
 Dick Taylor.
 - Dobson.
 Unknown miner
 Mortally wounded:
 John Heiser and Irwin Lawson.
 The trouble grew out of the attempt to arrest thirty-four miners for violation of the blanket injunction by Federal Judge Kellar last August.
 Cause of the Trouble.
 On last Saturday Deputy Marshal D. w. Cunningham went to Atkinsville, mining town in Raleigh county, to arrest men charged with violating the injuno' ton He was surrounded by a large party of miners armed with Winchester rifles, who ordered him to leave the place, an order which he quickly obeyed Sheriff Cook about the same time attempted to make some arrests under process issued by the state court and was treated In like manner.
 Cunningham returned to this city and reported to the marshal and district at torney that he could do nothing without large force, and then only at imminent risk of precipitating a bloody conflict. He was instructed to return With men suf- fcient to serve the process given him and to do it at all hazards. Before Cunning ham returned to AtlSinsville, however. Marshal John K. Thompson and s. c. Burdette, attorney for the United Mine Workers went to the scene, spending most of Sunday and Monday there They found everything quiet, the rioters having withdrawn from the immediate neighbor- hood and crossed New River. going into camp 300 strong near the Big Q" mine on the north side.
 Strong Posse Organized.
 Thompson and Burdette came home Tuesday morning, and Cunningham and strong posse went from here to make the arrests. When Atkinsville was reached the federal forces were Joined by Sheriff Cook and his posse. the coal companies nearby furnishing several guards, and the sheriff and his deputies found them- selves in command of about 100 we'll armed and determined men. The rioters had recrossed the river on Tuesday. and were parading up and down before the various coal works, from 150 to 200 men, armed with Winchesters They intimidat- ed miners at work, drove away guards of the mines and even went so far as to disarm a guard and force him to march at the head of their procession. Embod- ened by their success, they attempted co burn bridge of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad over Piney Gulch, and threatened the destruction of other property. Last night they went into camp near Stanni- ford City.
 This morning about daybreak the off, cers and their combined posse, surprised the rioters In their camp and called on them to surrender. The reply was a shot. This was answered by shot and imme- diately furious battle was raging. When it ceased three of the rioters lay dead and many others were found to be wound ed, two of them fatally.
 Seventy-three Arrests Made.
 Seventy-three arrests were made. ten falling to the share of Deputy Cunning ham and sixty-three to that of Sheriff Cook. All of the prisoners were taken to Beckley, the county seat of Raleigh, where the ten United States prisoners were given a preliminary hearing by Commissioner Dunn and held for their appearance at court here. They will be brought here on an early morning train. The federal authorities will try to get the state to give up the sixty-three so that they may be tried in the federal
 
 be done as the State court meets on Monday. and it is thought, they can prob- ably be tried more expeditiously there s. s. Burdette, attorney for the mine workers of America, went to Beclkley this evening to attend to the case of the miners.
 The injunction which the miners were charged with violating was the blanket writ issued by Judge B. F. KelIar at the suit of the Chesapeake and Ohio Coal Agency company last August The de- fendants in the case were all the coal companies operating in the New River field a hundred and fifty of the United Mine Workers of America by name. in- cluding President Mitchell and Secretary Wilson and all other persons whosoever aided and abctted them. The injunction covered almost every foot of ground in the coal-mining region of New River While all of the mines in the Kanawha and New River sections have been at work for some months. the strike has nor been officially declared off and its em- bers have been smoldering in the New River gorge threatening to break into flame in the spring.
 The locality in which today's tragedy occurred is one in which the mines have but recently been opened up and the small towns are filled with the most des- perate men that have ever come into the state.
 Advices from the scene of the conflict tonight are to the effect that all is quiet now, but fears are entertained that trou- ble will break out afresh at any moment and the conflict of today is thought to be the forerunner of many more to come in the near future.