The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-11-29
SHOOTING
At fORDSVILLE
Negro Coal Miner Causes
Excitement
Trouble Has its Origin in Walk
out Of Miners Employed at
Gaines Mine

Fordsville, KY. November 2j.-Thsre
was a shooting scrape on Main stnset
this afternoon which is regarded ~
many as only the beginning of Sc
rious trouble, as result Of the strike
at the Gaines coal mines.
Weber Richardson, oo,orsd, one ,of the
striking minars, ami j. j. I,oberts,
a grocer. had trouble over an account
which Robertson owes Cor groceries.
The negro became enrasd, and Town
Marshal Busden arrested him. The
negro gave bond for his appearance for
trial before Police Judge Henderson
Monday morning.
The negro then left the office OF the
judge. hut Lad not some a gpeat dis
lance before he met Oscar White.
boss az the Gaines MINIS. The negro
used p,ofdne a,nd abusive language
toward Whittier. The latter hurried
home. got his pistol ami retained.
He met the recro on Main issreet AMI
opened five con him. Whittier fired
trree <hc's. but the negro was baatiug
hasty retreat, ami as he did not
stop running till he hal completely
disappeared, it is not known WHISTLER
or fot any of the bullets took effect.
+. J. Smith. where he was later asr-
rested by Marshal Burden. lie was
taken before Judge Henderson AMI
executed bona in the sum of 500 for
his appearance for trial on Monday.
The n.arshal has been unable to fin
Robertson. against WHOM a warrant
for attempting to provoke an assault
has been issued. tfe asa
1t Is a miracle tina. NOBODY WA,
wounded. as the street wigs thronged
with psc2le at the time.
Since the strike. Mr.. sam NJ. Gaines,
owner of the mine. has bean haultag
coal from one of the mines at Aetna
VILE. The striking miners went 10
Aetnaville and endeavored to get the
miners at that place not to furnish
Gaines with coal. One lof the. miners
granaei the request while the other
and 1t is from this mine.
which employs non union labor that
Mr.. Gaines secures coal with wiiinh to
supply his Fordsville customers. a 4
Union labor is employed in the Gaines
mine. and nolble arose over the pull
ing of the cars from the ,roans TO the
main track, the nlinnes insisting that
Gaines should pnovide extra labor for
this work and Galnss insisting that this
work SHOULD be performed by the minefs
at thstr expense.
District Chairman W,allOer. sof Gen.
trail City. came here and investigated
the cause OF the strike. and I've ,!e-
cided In favor OF the miners, telling
them to stand pat
ThrGe are 20 men employed in the
mine. and they are all out. declaring
they will never return till the owner
OF the mine conasdes their demand,
which Mr.. Gaines says he will never
do.
The fact that Mr.. Gaines is able to
secrce coal at Aetnavihe, theGeby an
abing him 10 partially fill his con-
tracts. has put the striiNers IN an ugly
mood. and It is feared that serious
trouble will come before the differ
ences are settled. The III feeling To-
ward WihiLter, the mine boss. is be-
cause I've is assisting Mr.. Gaines In Sc
curing the Aatnavills coal.
II tine differences are not amirably
adjusted soon, SO that the miners caa
return to work. there Is going ito he a
coal famine here. the sa,esult of which