The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-11
MINERS KILLED IN BATTLE
West Virginia the Scene o. a San
culinary Conflict.
STRIKERS FIRED ON. DEPUTIES
The Trouble Arose Out OF an Attempt to
Arrest Miners For h Violation Of
Judge Keller's Blanket Injunction
Three Rioters Slain BY Posses. aud
Many Others Wounded. Two Fatally.

Many Others Wounded. Two Fatally.
Charleston W. Va.-At Stamford
City. Raleigh County. q fierce bat.
'tlc took place at dawn between tie
joint posse Of Deputy United States
Marshal Cunningham and Sheriff Cook
on one side and rioting miners on the
other, as a result Of which three mixers
were killed. two others MORALLY
wounded. and a number Of others OH
both sides more or less seriously hurt.
The trouble grew out of the attempt
to arrest thirty-four miners for viola
ton OF the. blanket injunction issued
by Federal Judge Keller last August.
Deputy Marshal ID. w. Cunningham
ven to Atkinsvlllc. q mining town ln
Raleigh County. to arrest men charged
with violating the injunction. He was
surrounded by 4 large party OF miners
armed with Winchester rites, who or
dered him to leave the place. IN order
which he quickly obeyed. Sheriff Cook
ut this time attempted TO make some
arrests under process Issued by the
State Court and was treated In Il like
manner.
Cunningham returned to this city.
and reported to the Marshal and Dis
trict Attorney that he could do nothing
without q large force. and then only ut
imminent risk Of precipitating u bloody
conflict. He WAS instructed to return
with men sufficient to serve the pro-
cess given him. and to do 1t ut all
hazards. Before Cunningham returned
to Atkinsvllle, however. Marshal Junn
X. Thompson and s. e. Burdette. ut.
torney for the United Mine Workers.
went to the scene. spending two days
there. They found everything quiet.
the miners having withdrawn from the
immediate neishborhOod and crossed
New River. going into camp 800 strong
neal the Big Q Mine, on the north
side.
Thompson and Burdette came home.
and Cunningham and a strong posse
went from here to make the arrests.
When AtkinsvIlle was reached the Fed.
eral forces were Joined by Sheriff Cook
and his posse. the coal companies near
by furnishing some guards. The Dep
uty and Sheriff found themselves In
command of about 100 well-armed and
determined men.
The rioters had recrossed the river
and were parnding up and down before
the various coal works from $50 to
200 men armed with Winchester rides.
They inundated miners at work,
drove away the guards Of the mines.
and even went 80 far rs to disarm one
guard and force him to march at the
head Of their procession. Emb0ldened
by their success. they attempted to
burn down a bridge Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad over Piney Gulch
and threatened the destruction Of other
property. At night they went into
camp near Stamford City.
About daybreak the officers and their
combined posses surprised the rioters
In their camp and called on them to
surrender. The reply was q shot. This
vas answered with a shot, and imme-
dIacely a furious battle was raging.
When II ceased three Of the rIoters-lay
dead and many others found to
be wounded. two OF them fatally.
Seventy.three arrests were made. ten
falling to the share Of Deputy Cum
bingham and sixty-three to that Of
Sheriff Cook. All the prisoners were
taken to Beckley. the county seat OF
Raleigh. where the United States pris.
oners were given n preliminary hearing
by Commissioner Dunn and held for
appearance here. They were brought
here by an early morning train.
The Injunction which the miners
were charged with violating was the
blanket writ Of Judge Keller In the
suit Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Coal
Agency Company. The defendants In
the case were all the coal companies
operating In the New River field. $50
members Of the Mine Workers OF
America. by name. including President
Mitchell and Secretary Wilson. and all
other persons whatsoever. who aided
and abetted them. The Injunction Gov.
cred almost every foot of ground In the
coal mining region Of New River.