The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-23
RUSHING TROOPS TO SCENE.
Four Additional Companies of Militia
Dispatched to West Virginia Minc
Fails TO Quell Disorder.


Dispatched to West Virginia Mine
Fails to Quell Disorder.
CharlestOwn. w. Va. Nov. 1s-Four
additional companies of State militia
are being rushed tonight into the coal
strike district Of West Virginia to re-
inforce four companies now in the
held. Armed miners are marching
toward Paint Creek to "clean 1t up"
Militiamen now In the field have been
ordered to halt the miners and shoot
to kill II necessary. Miners shot up
two small villages. but there were no
fatalitiea
Conditions throughout the strike
zone. which was placed under martial
law Last Friday. are admittedly criti.
cal. Gov. Glasscock's action in rush.
Ing more State troops to the troubled
district followed the persistently
threatening attitude Of miners.
The military authorities were noti.
ned tonight that 100 armed miners
were marching from Boomer. eight
miles from Paint Greek. to "clesn up
the creek. including the militia"
A company Of militia has been sent
to meet them. Instruction were given
to the militia to stop any armed BODY
Of men. and II there was any hest-
fancy TO shoot.
Strikers today fred many voileys
into tho villages Of Standard and
Waeoma, on Paint Creek. The houses
were deserted. however. and no one
was injured. A company of soldiers
was hurried to the scene and arrived
tonight. The strikers had fed into
tho hills and had little difficulty in
making escape. A conductor on a
special train drawing several cars of
strike breakers received a flesh wound
when vOlley was fired on his train
near Eskdale.
Over a score Of arrests were made
today by the militia authorities in
connection with the holding up OF
passenger trains and using firearms.
Two OF these are considered import
ant. Maj. James l. Pratt and Mai.
Thomas Davis captured j. II. Raines
after an exciting foot race. Raines
is claimed to he one of the leaders In
the train attacks. He is charged with
intimidating workmen and obstructing
a passenger train carrying United
States mail. Clyde Arnold was ar
rested at Putnam and Is alleged to
have been implicated in the assault on
Fred Bobbitt, coal company book
Keeper, recently beaten into insen-
sitility. Both men are under military
guard at Pratt. w. Va.
The proclamation Of martial law
now In effect is the second during the
present miners strike, which began
'ast April. Late In July the entire
militia OF the state was called out to
quell rioting between strikers and pri-
vate mine guards employed by the
operators. The first proclamation Of
martial law was declared September
and existed until October IA, during
which time 1000 firearms and hun
dreds OF thousands of rounds Of am
munition were conhscated. After
martial law was lifted the troops re-
turned home gradually. the last de-
tachment leaving the strike district
only a week ago.
For the past week outbreaks have
been threatened but not until Thurs
day OF last week was there any serious
assault committed.
Then Chesapeake h Ohio pas
senger train was held up. The miners
refused To allow II to proceed until
two carloads OF strikebreakers were
detached. The two cars were sent to
this city from Paint Creek Junction
for the night and the train continued
To its destination
| n company OF militia was ordered
out that night and three others held
I'm readiness. Friday additional as
! saults were made.
Gov. Glasscock then declared mar
tial law for the second time and more
militia took the field.
The frequency OF the attacks since
Saturday brought forth the governors
| order tonight doubling tho State