The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-17
SHARP FIGHTING AT REPUBLIC MINE THREE WOUNDED Deputies, After Automobile Trip, Clash With Strike
 Sympathizers
TWENTY-FOUR ARRESTS
 FOLLOW ENGAGEMENT
Train of strlkebreakers Scattered at Jefferson-Higdon Consults With Governor Comer-The op.
 orators Statements.

An encounter between squad of spe- cial deputy sheriffs and strike sympa- thizers at Republic late yesterday aft ernoon resulted In the wounding of three of the sympathizers and the arrest of 24 others Two of the injured men were white and the other was a negro. The white men were taken to St. vincent's hospital and the negro to the Hillman, where it was stated at an early hour this morning that he was not expected to live
 A squad of special deputies has been stationed at Republic under the direo- ton of Resident Deputy Phillips. A re- port was received at the sheriff's office at o'clock yesterday afternoon that a number of strike sympathizers had cut off Deputy Phillips from his squad. flying squad was at once dispatched to Republic in two automobiles, but arrived there just after the other squad and 1 sympathizers had mixed.
 From reports the deputies approached the sympathizers and the mix-up followed and when the smoke had cleared away, three of the sympathizers were found to be wounded One of the prisoners stated that negro named Fatty" had alsos been badly wounded and had crawled under a house.
 The wounded negro is named Holland Dennis and was shot almost to pieces, and the hospital physicians hold out no hope for him. One of the white men is shot in the shoulder and the other in the left arm. The condition of the one with the wounded arm is considered ex- tremely serious. Both men are of for egn birth with almost unpronounceable names.
 Anothers squad of ten special deputies was sent to Republic last night on a special train. Everything was reported quiet there at midnight
 Of the "A men arrested at Republic several were white. The names of the white men arrested are Clyde Dodds Willie Dodds, w. M. Tate, Leroy Glass, Will Dodds. Walter Goosby, Casino Dorso. Joe Timborallo. Mike Stroke. Will liam Sullivan and Boiling Hodges. The negroes were John Thomas, George Will lingham. E. D. Ford, Will Whitfield, will Wright. Ned Richardson Jeff Hale, Will Young, Paul Lazarino, Elsa Lewis, Clar- ence Martin, Tamzy McKenzy and Jim Burney.
 Strkebreakers Scattered.
 chartered train carrying a coach filled with strike breakers on their way to the Birmingham Coal and Iron Ra VI at daf mi In hn Blossburg division, was held up at Jefferson yesterday morning about 6 o'clock by a body of several hundred men armed with guns. The strike breakers were dragged from their car and chased down the road General Manager James Bonnyman of the Bir- mingham Coal and Iron company gave this account of the trouble:
 "The chartered train, consisting of an engine and special coach, left Bir- mingham at o'clock. There were on board 54 men and four women who were to be used at our Adamsville mine to break the strike there Seven armed guards were on the train.
 At Jefferson the train slowed down. the engineer, conductor, brakeman get ting off and standing at the side of the track. At the same time 300 armed men appeared from behind 2 hill and commenced firing upon the train. They shot through the win dows and through the ends of the coach. The men lay down on the floor and told the guards that they would stay with them, but it was thought lro Gtafa guards were overpowered. The occu- pants of the coach were dragged through the windows and pushed our with the muzzle of shotguns. One dep uty had rifle placed at his head. 1 After all were out the guards got back on the train and proceeded to Adamsville. The strike breakers were driven down the track with the armed force in pursuit, yelling and shooting in the air. I hope that none were hurt.
 "A volley that sounded like the roar of cannon was fired as the train left. am glad that no resistance was made, for 1t could have done no good
 We opened up our mine Monday and the tonnage has been steadily increas- ing every day"
 Notwithstanding the efforts made to in .imidate strikebreakers brought into the district, the operators say that large group of new men will arrive this week and be put to work. The Sloss- Sheffield | company carried a party of strikebreakers to the Bessie mines yesterday afternoon. Fifteen guards were aboard the train and ao demonstration was made against the newly imported miners.
 Higdon Talks To Conner.
 The total number of special deputies now under commission hovers around the ! zoo mark. Commissions were being issued ell day yesterday and until late last night. a steady flow of requests for additional men coming in from the coal companies.
 Sheriff Higdon consulted with Governor Conner last night in reference to the call ing out of the militia In case of necessity. Sherin Higdon stated that he did not think 1t would be necessary. however. as he thought he had the matter well in hand. conference was also held be- tween Sheriff Higdon and the operators cn this subject.
 Along this line Sheriff Hisdon said "l simply conferred with tho governor in eference to calling out the militia If the