The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-19
Soldiers PitgI Their Tents, ScOur the SleGf Mountains,
 H''tiI N Trouble DEPUTY lESTON SHOOTS
 HIMSELF IN LIFT LEG Ten ltali5s Arrested at Bessie Mines chareel With Intimidation-Is the
 Lull That Precedes the MN Storm?
By JAMES 3. KEELING.

By JAMES B. kEELlNG.
 Blossburg, July s.-(special.) )-Up tc a late hour tonight but a few minor hap penints had marred the placidity of the strike situation in this vicinity, These instances were the accidental discharge of Deputy Sheriff w H. Weston's shot gun which wounded him badly in the left leg and the arresting of 10 Italians at Bessie mines on warrants charging them with intimidation, A few other ar 1ests were made on the charges of tres passing and shooting at trains
 The arrival of the miltiamen here at z:9O o'clock tlis morning, and their easy capture of the Il negroes who attempted to ambush them on the road between Adamsville and Blossburg, seemed to have a quieting effect on those bent on violence
 With the Il negroes were also captured Il guns, which were broken, stock ani barrel, by the deputies and militiamen. These negroes were then taken on to plossburg, where they were placed in railroad coach with several guards over them. At noon today a special train was started to Birmingham with the prison CTS aboard under a heavy guard. The run was made to Birmingham without incident, and the prisoners lodged in the county jail.
 Had the moon been shining less bright ly. these il negroes might have succeed- ed in their ambush. The soldiers anu deputies had unloaded from the train at Adamsville and started down the road toward Blossburg. They were passing small building, when one of the men es- nied some one benlnd the house. Quickly 2 squad ran around the house, while oth- CTS went around in an opposite direc- tor and ran full tilt into the group of Yegroes coming toward them. The ne- eroes attempted to throw their arms away. but a search revealed a weapon for every negro.
 Blossburg is about two miles beyond 1efferson, the scene. of the battle i'll which Deputy Gardner was wounded yes terday. The railroad track between the two stations runs in valley, the noun tains on each side gradually gaining h height toward Jefferson.
 In order to prevent a repetition or xas+erdav's affair, the militiamen and identities were deployed in a line nearly half a mile long, this line stretching from the valley each way up over the crest of the mountain and down the onnosite side. The entire line moved forward as one man Ia distance or about 25 feet separating each1 several hundred yards ahead of the train. A souad of men also moved through the tunnel at Jefferson, in order to prevent m attack from this source.
 The mountain running up from the station of Jefferson is extremely steep, being almost sheer in a number of places It is covered with thick for est and underbrush, while thick car pet of pine twigs makes climbing very difficult, the pine needles polishing the soles of the soldiers and deputies shoes to a smoothness, which forced several of them to drop to their all- fours in order to make the climb.
 When that part of the mountain just above Jefferson station was reached, the hiding places of the men who had fired upon the train were discovered. Rocks had been rolled against trees and bushes, on which the marksman could brace himself, while in number of instances the imprint of a mans body was discernible That at least 1000 shots were fired during the melee was also shown by the number of empty shotgun, Winchester rifle and pistol shells, the ground being literal ly covered all along the side of the mountain.
 After the train had reached this point 1t was sent on to Birmingham in charge of several deputies, while the soldiers and other deputies climbed the hills back to the camps. During the trip three negroes were arrested in connection with Fridays shooting, persons identifying them as having participated in it. These negroes were brought to Birmingham over the Frisco late in the afternoon and placed in the county jail.
 When the soldiers reached the camp this morning they stalxed the dog tents and lay down at about 8 o'clock for a nap. With the dawning of daybreak they were awakened, and skirmishing parties were kept busy all morning searching the mountains surrounding the Blossburg camp.
 The military camp is located within a few hundred yards of the mine entrance, about 100 soldiers of Companies B, G, and K and Battery D comprising the force, and Major Ledbetter being in charge. Portions of the first three com panies were the ones which arrived early in the morning, while Battery D and d few other members of these three com panies left Birmingham at 5 o'clock this morning on a special train, and arrived here shortly afterward.
 The Calling gun of the battery was brought along, Yz'Rich, with the automatic Colts gun of the coal company makes a formidable defense The camp is situated