The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-10
Miners IN
RIOT
SEVEN INJURED IN
M0UNDSvILLE CLASH
Striking Miners Attack Non
Union Workmen on Leaving
Mine.
Sheriff Alley and Posse Rescue
Men From Angry
Strikers.

When the $50 strike breakers left
the shaft OF the Mound City coal mine
at Moundsville last evening they
were charged by 400 striking miners.
VINO, armed with clubs. seriously in
jured several of the men. A riot call
was turned in. and Sheriff Alley with
posse rushed to the scene and for
a time desperate battle took place.
tSres,sninS nees a1aw'ns iS sS, their vOlyers and
that resisted. the posse drove the
strikers from the scene and escorted
the non-union men to their homes.
The injured:
Joe PuItiskl, head cut open.
Louis 8ierce, face and head cut
officer Davis, cut In side and faea
Supt. Brown, teeth knocked out.
unknow foreigner, seriously In
Iured. r-"S
Following the refusal of J. c. Mo
kinley. OF this city. who is president
OF the mine, to grant recognition "a
the union recently organized by the
Ohio officials OF the United Mine
workers, the miners struck. Yester-
day morning the strikers threw up
a picket around the mine and at
tempted to prevent non-union miners
from entering the shaft However.
$50 non-union men went to work and
the mine resumed operation. The re-
port OF the mine working as a nom
union plant sperad, and the union
miners from the Fort Pitt mine
across the river in Belmont county
came TO Moundsville during the ar
ternoon and a consultation was held.
II was agreed to prevent men from
entering the shaft in the future.
Officers on Patrol.
Realizing that trouble would occur.
Chief of Police Games had officers
patrol the property during the day.
Louis Bierce, one OF the leaders of
the strikers. was arrested on a war.
rant issued by Superintendent Brown.
and he lSeaded gnllty TO assaulting
the superintendent Ills friends at
tempted to resist the officers. but
Bierce went quietly to the office OF
Squire Riggs and paid the fine.
Prior to the riot John Bierce. father
OF the strike leader. addressed the
strikers and he urged them to stand
for their rights. The men were much
worked up by his address. and when
the whistle blew they all rushed TO
the shaft, where the riot broke out.
Wives OF the miners rushed to the as
sistance OF their husbands with drawn
butcher knives. and were IL not for
the timely arrival OF the armed posse
bloodshed would have resulted.
Rescued by Posse.
Several OF the mine officials and
the strikebreakers were locked in the
ONCE OF the company's store several
hours. fearing to venture forth. They
were rescued by the posse. II was
reported that Bierce held the posse at
bay with a shotgun, but this report
could not be confirmed last evening.
The injured men were cared for By
Drs Morgan and Covert. who were
on the scene shortly after the trouble
occurred.
After twilight had settled over the
city last night the mob again gathered
az the mine but the sheriff and HIS
posse was on the scene and prevented
an outbreak. Fifty repeating rifles
were secured from the penitentiary
and every precaution taken by the OF.
hcers TO guard against n clash be-
tween the miners II necessary a
company OF militia will be asked for.
Today the oficials OF the company
Will ask Judge Aston G. Dayton for
an Injunction to restrain the Ohio
nine omciais from organizing the
miners. This action was taken by the
Hitchman Coal company during the
recent trouble az the Benwood and
Glendale mines
Reports we're circulated last even.
Ing 10 the effect that the strikers in
tended blowing up the mine One man
is said 90 have attempted 20 buy a
keg OF powder but was refused. IL
was also reported that the company
intends importing miners. If they
take this position further trouble IL
feared. The strikers ares Imported BY
the Moundsville Trades and Labor As
sembly. which has $50 members.
This mine supplies the Fostoria
Glass company with coal and n the
mine u closed down Il may result IN
this big glass industry suspending for
a short period