Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-03-04
MIXERS KILLED IN CATTLE
West Virginia the Scene Of 4 Gan
culinary Conh.cs.
STRIKERS FIRED ON DEPUTIES

The Trouble Arose Out OF m Attcm,,t ,o
Arrest Miners For the Violation of
Judge KelIer's Blanket Injunctiop-
Three Rioters Slain nv Posses. nul
Many Others Wounded, Two Fatally.
Charleston. w Va.-At Stamford
City, Raleigh County. fierce bot.
Tie took place at dawn between The
Joint posse of Deputy United States
Marshal Cunningham and Sheriff Cock
on one side and riotlng miners OH the
other, as result Of which three miners
were Killed. two others mortallv
wounded, and number Of others on
both sides more OF less seriously hurt
The trouble grew out of the attempt
to arrest thirty-four miners for viola
ton OF the blanket Injunction issued
Dy Federal JudGH Keller last August.
Deputy Marshal ID. w. Cunningham
went TO AtkinSville. Il mining town in
Raleigh County. to arrest men charged
with violating the Injunction He was
surrounded by large party of miners
armed with Winchester rifles. who or
dered him to leave the place. an order
which he quickly ohcycd Sheriff Cook
ut this time attempted 10 make some
arrests under process issued by the
state Court and was treated in n like
manner.
cunningham returned to this city.
ana reported 10 the Marshal and Dis
trlct Attorney that he could do nothing
without large force. and then ONLY nj
imminent risk of prccipitatinG nl0odv
conflict. He was instructed 10 return
with men sufficient 10 serve the pro-
cess given him, ami To do il mt all
hazards. H";arc Cunningham returned
10 AtkinSville, however. Marshal John
Is. Thompson ana =. G. Burdettc. at-
torney for the United Mine Workers
went TO the scene, spending two davs
there. They found everything uuie,
the miners having withdrawn from thc
immediate ncighborhood and crossed
New River. going into camp 900 stron.
near the Big q Mine. on the north
side.
Thompson and Burdctte came home
ana Cunningham and strong posse
went from here to make the arrests.
When AtkinSvillc was reached the Fed
eral forces Were joined Ivy sheriff Cook
ana MS posse. the coal companies near
ny furnishing some guards. The Dep
MY and Sheriff found themselves i'm
command of about 100 Well-armed and
determined men.
The rioters had rccroSSed the river
ana were Darading up and down before
the various coal works from 100 to
200 men AIMED with Winchester rifles.
Ihey intimidatcd miners mt work.
grove away the guards Of the mines.
ana even went SO far us to diSarm one
guard and force him to march Mt the
mead OF their procession. Emboldcncd
ny ther success. they attempted 10
burn down bridge of the CheSaDenkc
and Ohio Railroad over Pincy Gulch
ana threatened the destruction of other
property. At night they went into
camp near Stamford City.
Apout daybrcak the officers and +bcir
combined posses surprised the rioters
lh 'heir camn and called on them to
surrender. The reply was n shot. This
was answered with shot and immc-
diatciy Il furious battle was raging.
w hen IT ceased three OF the rioters Law
DEAD and many others were found IN
be wounded. TWO o. them fatally.
ScNenty-tlrcc arrests were made ten
railing 10 the share OF Deputy can
ningham and siXty-thrcc to that or
SheriH Cook. All the prisoners were
taken to Beckiey. the county seat of
haleigh. where the United States priS-
ohers were given preliminary hearing
ny Commissioner Dunr and hold for
appearance here. They were brought
mere by an early morning train
The injunction which the miners
were charged with violating was the
blanket writ OF I;ugc Keller i'm the
SUIT OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Coal
Agency Company. TIE defendants I'm
the case were all the coal companies
operating in the New River field. 100
members OF the Mine Workers of
america. by name. including President
Mitchell and Secretary Wilson. and all
other persons Whatsoever. who aided
and abettcd them. The injunction COW
ered almost every foot OF ground in the
coal mining region of New River.