The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-26
POSSE FIGHT WITH RIe.fRS
 -.so Desperate Acounter in
 We. Virginia. THREE MEN ARE KILLED Trouble Arose Over Violation
 of Injunction. Deputy United States Marshal and Sheriff Combine Forces in Order
 to Effect the Arrest of Strikers.
THREE MEN ARE KILLED

Charleston. Kanawha County, w. Va, Feb, 3.-At Stamford City, in Raleigh County, at dawn this morning, terrible battle took place between the joint pos ses of Deputy United States Marshal Gun ningham and sheriff Cook on one side and rioting miners on the other. as a result of which three miners were killed, two others nfortany wounded and a num- Der of others on both sides more or less seriously hurt.
 The killed: Dick Taylor. - Dobson, unknown miner.
 Mortauy wounded: John Heiser, Irwin Lawson.
 The trouble grew out of the attempt to arrest thirty-four miners for violation of the blanket injunction issued by Fed eral Judge Keller last August.
 Last Saturday Deputy Marshal D. w. Cunningham went to Atkinsville, a min ing town in Raleigh County, to arrest men charged with violating the injunc- tion. He was surrounded by large party of miners armed with winchester rifles who ordered him to leave the place. an order which he quickly obeyed. Sher- fir Cook about the same time attempted to make some arrests under process is- sued by the State Court and was treated in like manner.
 Ordered to Make Arrests.
 Cunningham returned to this city and reported to the Marshall 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 suffi- cient to serve the process given him and to do 1t at all hazard. Before Cunning ham returned to Afkinsvfile, 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 They found everything quiet, the riot CTS having withdrawn from the imme- diate neighborhood and crossed New Riv- CT, going into camp three hundred strong near the Big c mine on the north side. Thompson and Burdette came home Tues day morning and Cunningham and a strong posse went from here to make the arrests. When AtkinsvIlIe was reached the federal forces were joined by Sheriff Cook and his posse, the coal companies near by furnished some guards and the Sheriff and his deputies found themselves in command of about a hundred we'll armed and determined men.
 The rioters had recrossed the river Tuesday and were parading up and down before the various coal works. a hun dred and fifty to two hundred men armed with Winchester rifles, They intimidated miners at work, drove away the 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. Elm boldened by their success they attempted to burn down bridge of the c. and 0. railroad over Piney Gulch and threat ened the destruction of other property Last night they went into camp near Stamford City.
 Surprised the Rioters.
 This morning about daybreak the of hcers and their combined posse surprised the rioters in their camp and called on them to surrender. The reply was shot. This was answered by a shot and imme- diately furious battle was raging
 When 1t ceased three of the rioters lay dead and many others were found to be wounded, two of them fatally. Seventy three arrests were made ten falling to the share of Deputy Cunningham and sixty-three to that of Sheriff Cook All the prisoners were taken to Beckley, the County seat of Raleigh, where the ten United States prisoners were given a pre- ltminary 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 Court. but 1t is doubtful whether 1t will be done as the State court will meet Mon day and 1t is thought they can probably be tried more expeditiously there. s. s.