Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-02-13
STRIKING MINERS
IN SERIOUS RIOT.
No Word From Sheriff and Dep
uties Since Appeal for State
Troops.

Charleston. w. Va. Feb. 10.-Gover
lor Glasscock, Adjutant General ID. %.
Elliott and other state officers awaited
with anxiety Saturday information
OF Sheriff Bonner Hill and Is deputies
of kanawha county. who at an early
hour were reported to be facing an
angry mob of striking miners in the
little mountain village. With Sheriff
Hill and his men We're. Captain Levy
and small party of mine guards, and
1T was their belief that they could
maintain their position for an indefin-
lite period. They were armed With
modern rifles and a rapid fire gun.
Sheriff Hill asked the governor early
today for troops, but at the executive
would be taken until the details of last
nights rioting had been received here.
Little Ones Endangered.
Significance is attached to the fact
that two miles from the scene of last
nights skirmish is located one of the
largest camps of striking miners in
the kanawha coal field. Shooting
from the train, attacked on the Chesa-
peake & Ohio railroad during the
night. was In the direction of the
camp, and 1T was feared that IL any
of the women and children had been
hurt the sheriff and his men would be
unable to restrain the angry men as
they outnumbered the posse 10 to one
and are said to be we'll armed
Martial law proclamation under
which troops We're sent into the coal
fields last year is still in force The
legislature Is In session and 1t was ru-
mored here this morning that the gov
ernor would confer with some of the
leaders before answering the call OF
Sheriff Hill for troops
At IL o'clock the sheriff reported to
the military authorities here that he
and his men had been unable to enter
the miners camp and up to that time
had been unable to ascertain whether
the firing last night had resulted In
death or injury to any of the campers
The miners and their sympathizers oc-
cupy strong positions guarding all APP
proaches to the camp. The Chesapeake
& Chic railroad sent number OF
men to the scene to protect it's prop
erty
Governor GlasscoclS has not yet act
ed on the sheriff's request for troops.
Men Under Arms.
The situation took more serious
turn soon after noon, when Governor
Glasscock instructed Adjutant General
Elliott to assemble the three Hunting
ton companies, two Charleston compan-
les and the Fayetteville company of
the First regiment, West Virginia ma
tional guard in their armories. Accord
ing to the order the men are to be held
l.
The legislature will assemble at 3
o'clock this afternoon, when 1t is stated
the governor will send to both houses
special message saying the situation
In the coal country is before them and
asking them to formally declare mar
tial law Should the legislature refuse
to take this action the governors
friends say he will order the companies
now under arms into the disturbed dis
trict. In any event, the soldiers
should be on duty by midnight.
Information this afternoon is that
| the miners have deserted the camps
and gone into the mountains. Sim.
liar news came from Eskadala where &
large camp of miners was established
| several months ago. 1t was also
stated that before the rioting yester
day all the women and children had
been sent from the Muklow camp. The
military authorities express the belief
| that the strikers are gathering in the
mountains for night attack at some
point on Paint creek