The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-26
Desperate Fight Between Strikers on
One Side and Deputy MarshaIs and
Sheriff's Posse on the other.
MINERS SURPRISED IN CAMP
DECLINED TO SURRENDER AND
FUSILLADE FOLLOWED.
Result of Continued Violation of
Judge kelIer's Injunction Issued
Last August.

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Feb. 25.-At
Stamford City, in Raleigh county, at dawn
this morning a fight 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 a result of which four miners were
killed, one mortally wounded and number
on both sides more or less seriously hurt.
Killed-Dick Taylor, - Dobson, Joe
Heiser and an unknown miner.
Mortally Wounded-Irwin Lawson
win Lawson.
The trouble grew out of the attempt to ar
rest thirty-four miners for violation of the
blanket injunction issued by federal Judge
Keller last August. On last Saturday
Deputy Marshal d. w. Cunningham went
to Atkinsville, mining town i'm Raleigh
county, to arrest men charged with violat-
ing the injunction. He was surrounded by
a large party of miners armed with Win
chester 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 re-
ported to the marshal and district attorney
that he could do nothing without a large
force, and then only at imminent risk of
precipitating a bloody conflict. He was in
structed to return with men sufficient to
serve the process given him, and to do it
at all hazards. Before Cunningham re-
turned to Atkinsville, however, Marshal
John Il. Thompson and 8. G. Burdette at
torney 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quiet, the rioters having withdrawn from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 neighborhood and crossed
New river. going into camp three hundred
strong near the Big Q mine on the north
side. Thompson and Burdette came home
Tuesday morning and Cunningham and a
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 near by fur
nished some guards. and the deputy and
sheriff found themselves in command of
about a hundred well-armed and deter
mined men. The rioters had recrossed the
river on Tuesday and were parading up
and down before the various coal works
from $50 10 200 of them being armed with
at work. drove away the guards of the
mines and even went far as To disarm
one guard and force him 10 march at the
head of their procession. Emboldened by
their success they attempted TO burn down
a bridge of the G. a o. Railroad over
Piney gulch and threatened the destruction
of other property. Last night they went
into camp near Stamford City
This morning about daybreak the officers
and their combined posse surprised the
rioters i'm their camp and called on them
% rh.ar raF,lx
answered by shot and Immediately
fight raging. When it ceased three
of the rioters lay dead and many others
We're found TO be wounded. two of them
fatally. Seventy three arrests were made
ten falling 70 the share of Deputy Cunning
ham and sixty-three TO that of Sheriff
Cook. All the prisoners were taken to
the ten United States prisoners We're Civ
en- a preliminary hearing by Commissioners
Dunn. and held for their appearance at