West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-08-18
DlABOLlCAL CRIME Al AUSTEN
ALLEGED TO BE BY STRIKERS,
Eviction Orders We're 60 Have Gone
Into Effect the Coming Wednesday.


AUSTIN, w Va, Aug. 4.-one OF the
most diobolical crimes in the history OF
Preston county was the attempt OF un
known persons at ta;IS this morning &c
Kill Superintendent +. w, Horchler. OF the
Austen Coat and Coke Company. aud his
family hy allowing up their residence al
Austen with dynamite. The charge was
placed on the front porch directly under
the room in which the family were sleeping.
aud but Tor the tact that the tends place d
the charge squareiy between the two stills
the house would have been blown TO
SplinterS
As Il was the explosive tore large hole
through the floor aud dug hole in the
ground several feet below The ceiling
overhead was torn away, the screen door
torn from It's hinges the greater portion OF
the plaster knocked OF in the hall aud all
the glass in the front part of the house
shattered. small window sash was
thrown across the dining room. The family
all escaped injury except the baby. which
was thrown out OF bed by the force of the
explosion and sustained slight bruises
Chairs aud tables were overturned in the
room aud even the bed castors were out
OF place. one OF them being found In
bureau drawer which stood open.
While there Is no direct clew 10 lead 10
the identity OF the person who placed the
dynamite, II IL believed to be the work of
miners who have been on strike since the
tst OF January last. when a slump In the
price OF coal made II necessary for this
company. as well as the four smaller opera.
tors IN tie Raccoon valley to make
reduction In wages, which the men refused
TO accept. Other men were at once EN-.
ploYed and Al the mines are now running
with a sufficient force to I'll their contracts
The striking men were allowed to remain
In the company's houses Tor time in the
hope that they would return TO work. and
last week the company was forced to resort
10 process OF law to get possession OF their
houses which must be vacated next
wednesday This is supposed to have
melted the strikers to rioting aud the fact
that another charge OF dynamite was ex.
ploded lying on the fence six feet from the
door OF AlonIo A. Pell non .union miner.a
Few minutes sitter the attempt to destroy
Mr. Horchler's home. leads TO the con.
elusion that the unionists or their allies
committed the crime
lhreats have been made at various times
by the strikers TO dynamite all who went to
work and for this reason an injunction was
obtained from the United States court some
months ago restraining the strikers from
interfering with the working OF the mines.
Many OF the idle men would resume work
out Tor fear OF these threats of violence.
MT Horchler has always treated his men
with courtesy and respect never with ar.
rogance or tyranny. and so FAR as he or any.
one else knew he hadn't a solitary enemy,
and IL is hard TO conjecture what cruel
hand could thus attempt to take his life.
much less that Of his estimable wife and
innocent little children
Soon alter the explosion MIR. Horchler
telegraphed to Wheeling for blood hounds.
and officers are making every effort to hunt
down the criminals.