Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-24
WAR HAS BEGUN
IN EASTERN OHIO
There Was Almost Constant Firing
Last Night and This Morning
in The Coal Fields.
NO FATALITIES RERORTED
Extensive Preparations Are Being Made
for Tonight, When an Actual Bal
tie Will Probably be Fought.
Associated Pres. Dispatches by special Wires

Ae7ocaied Pres Dispatches hy Special Wires
Smithheld O. May "A. The war in the
Eastern Ohio coal fields is on After
night OF almost constant firing in the hills.
tne rum Run mine was opened this morn
ing tor the hrst time In seven weeks. The
non-umop mincw, l25 strong. marched
down She hill towards the pits under
heavy guard. They were greeted by
tuslllade from the bushes The bullets
wni2zed among the trees and embedded
themselves in the coal cars ON the Cleve-
land d Pittsburg Railroad siding. The
strike-hreakers hurried to cover. The
union men, worried by the unexpected
opening Of the mine. hurried from the
settlement and gathered on the slopes
above the mine Their women folk
who were picking UP coal about the pit
entrances, were ordered away. After
the women had gone. here and there from
among the bushes sounded the crack
OF revolvers. The men behind we're in
visible A correspondent OF the Cleve-
land News, driving into camp. was fred
upon from ambush outside the dead line
OF the settlement The bullets went high.
The fact that the hollow in which the mine
is situated is heavily overgroWn with
underbrush saved the guards and non
union men from harm, as they we're almost
totally concealed. If there is to be an
actual battle, it will scarcely be before
night, when the non-union men leave the
mine. All preparations are being made
/ for active hostilities Two great navy
searchlights have been put in place, one
! at the guard tent and the other at the coal
1 tipple in the hollow They will command
three miles of surrounding territory and
are so arranged that they cover the sweep
Of the Maxim gun
Only a miracle prevented loss Of life
/ in the darkness of last night. Revolver
bullets pelted among the leaves Of the
undergrowth, where the guards were
/ placed, until near daylight A party o
( guards stationed at a cottage where 81
non-nion miners were sleeping discov
cred a group OF men tcrawling through
the high grass toward the dwelling They
| emptied their revolvers and rifles and sig
I nailed for help The men had vanishe,
before the searchers found their trail
The guards declare they we're warned tina
an attempt would be made TO dynamit
the cottages. The four guards we're dis
charged this morning
I'VE gave orders that there should b
no shooting until actual attack is made,
said Superintendent Cox. eve now ar
straining every nerve to preserve peace
Two mysterious strangers have joine
the guard at the company's quarters
/ Unusual conduct on their part has cor
WINGED the company that they are spie
and they are under surveillance. Charge
and counter-charges OF spying are bein
constantly made.
Columbus, O., May 24.-An effort {
bring about settlement Of the minin
controversy in Ohio at a conference b
John H Winder. president of the Sunda
Creek Coal Co., William II. Green, pres
dent Of the Ohio miners, and Rev. Rodei
icS MacLauchen, a Catholic priest {
Belmont county, last night, failed an
the two mines in jefferson county II
sumed operations with non-union me
early today.
Mr.. Winder. who is chairman Of tf
"stand-patn operators of Ohio, Indian
and Illinois. had received no report earl
, today Of any disorder in the mines starte'
| The mines are defended by stock8des,
Maxim gun and a company of armC
( Pinkerton men,