The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-15
Vivid Story of Attack on
Cabin Greek Miners by
Ex-Mine Guard
SHOT THROUGH
TRAIN WINDOWS
Story of Peaceful Community Trans
formed Into Theatre of War Told
by Miners to Senate Investi-
eating Committee

Charleston, w. Va, June 14.-About
a single battle in the coal strike on
the Paint and Cabin creek districts
committee investigating the coal mine
strike. Almost all day the committee
heard statements concerning the attack
on Holly Grove, strikers camp, from
an armored train which was run UP
into the strike district on February Z.
The committee was astounded at the
testimony of Lee Calvin, an ex-mine
guard who was one of the men in
the armored train when tho strikers
camp was fred on, Cisco Estep miner,
was killed and Mrs. Annie Hall wound
ed. Calvin, called by the attorneys
for the miners, told a sensa tional story
of the attack. After relating he had
been a chief guard" on Cabin creek
and had left the district because of
the shootings there. he said that Sher-
ln Bonner Hill and Quinn Morton. a
mine operator. had prevailed upon him
to join party going up Paint creek
in the armored train.
armored car attached to the train.'
said Calvin. "and when he got just
above Paint creek junction all of them
began getting rifles ready. They tried
to give me a rifle. but I told them |
had no shooting to do. The brakeman
came through the train and turned
down the lights.
Shoot Through Windows
"He told us not to raise the windows.
but to shoot right through the win
dows. ! was leaning out of an open
window and as we came up to Holly
Grove | saw a stream of fire start out
of the baggage car where the ma
chine guns were mounted. The stream
kept up as we went through Holly
Grove.
"As we passed / saw three or four
flashes of fire from the tents"
| He did not see any shots from the
tents before the shooting began from
the train.
| II just heard the engine whistle blow
| toot, toot, and the shooting from tho
! train began. / am positive the shoot
| ing first began from the baggage car.
| The witness said that quinn Morton
| was on the train When the train had
| passed the miners camp at Holly Grove
| he said Morton came running back
| through the car and shouted:
| Back up the train and we will give
| iff told him something about there be-
| ing women and children UP in those
tents and he wouldn't shoot" said the
witness.
MARITIME Moved
At this statement Senator MARITIME of
New Jersey almost leaped from his chair.
What sort of a man is this man. Paul
Morton-I mean Quinn Morton?' he
shouted.
rs he an ordinary American citizen
that he could order shooting?"
The attorneys for the coal operators
were on their feet In moment and for a
time the room was In confusion.
Mr.. Morton will be brought before
your committee, shouted Attorney Jack
son. "and you will see him and talk
with him."
God help me them remarked Senator
MARITIME.
The attorneys for the operators protest
ed vigorously against Senator Marines
remarks. and after some argument they
were told by the committee that they
would be given an opportunity to cross
examine Calvin and to call witnesses in
rebuttal.
.The senator ought not say that" said
Mr. jackson. II just can't help It," said
Senator MARITIME.
Repeats Statement
Under examination by Mr. Belcher the
witness repeated the statement that
"QIin Morton came through the car hol-
lering Back up the train and we'll give
them another round" He said that when
the train reached Muckrow just above
Holly Grove the men in the armored car
remained there for three days. until AZ
ter the last battle of Mucklow." Calvin
told the committee that he warned the
company bookkeeper named Bobbett who
was killed in the battle not to go up into
the hills that day.
II was there when they brought hin,
back on a stretcher," he said, him and
the others who were shot in the battle"
The witness declared that Chesapeake
and Ohio detectives had "slugged him"
In a Charleston hotel, because he had
quit the coal company.
Pale faced women and men who showed
the traces of years of arduous toll dig
ging coal from the West Virginia noun
tains told the committee their side of the
controversy.
happy. contented people transformed into
a theatre of war and the members of
the Senate committee sat back with
startled glances, as witness after witness
told the story of the strike.
The attorneys for the striking miners
in presenting their case called about
dozen men and women of the hills to
| tell the committee of the attack on the
strikers camp at Holly Grove.
| The attorneys for the mine operators
tCOntinued on PAGE Tvwol