The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-06-19
TELLS OF FIRING
!! ON STRIKE CAMP
Witness Asserts Armored Train
Was Used by Operators.
MACHINE GUNS ON COACHES
Former Guard Declares Mine Owner
Of w, Virginia Wanted to Return
and Renew Shooting at Tent
City-Woren on Stand.

Charleston, W. Va, June 16.--About
single battle in the coal strike on
the Paint and Cabin Greek districts
centered the days inquiry by the sen.
ate committee investigating the coal
mine strike. Almost all day the com.
mittee heard statements of the attack
on Holly Grove, strikers camp. from
an srmored train which was run up
into the strike district on February 7.
The committee was astounded at the
former mine guard, who was one of
the men In the armored train when
the strikers camp was fired on. Cisco
Estep, miner, was killed. and Mrs.
Annie Hall wounded
Calvin, called by the attorneys for
the miners, told a sensational story of
the attack. After relating that he had
been chief guard" on Cabin Creek
and had left the district because of
the shootings there. he said that Sher-
IN Bonner and Quinn Morton. a mine
operator. had met him IN Charleston
and prevailed on him to join a party
going up Paint Creek in the armored
train.
Rifles Were Dealt Out.
There were ten or twelve men in
the armored car attached to the train.
said Calvin. and when we got just
above Paint Greek Junction all of
them began getting rifles which we're |
in the car. They tried TO give me a |
rife, but | told them had no shooting |
TO do.
The brakeman came through the |
train and turned down the lights. He |
told us not TO raise the windows, but
to shoot right through the windows. |
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 just ahead where the ma
chine guns we're mounted. The stream
kept up as we went through Holly
Grove.
AS we passed ! saw three or four
flashes from the tents"
We're there any shots from the
tents before the shooting began from
the train" asked Attorney Belcher for
the miners.
II just heard the engine whistle blow
and the shooting from the train began.
! am positive the shooting first began
from the baggage car"
The witness said that Quinn Morton.
one of the operators. was on the train
When the train had passed the miners
camp at Holy Grove on its way to
Mucklow, he said, Mr.. Morton came
running back through the car.
What did he say" Attorney Belch-
er asked
He said, Back up the train and we
viii give them another round" the
witness answered. He was talking to
the sheriff, and I'm not sure. but
think the sheriff told him something
about there being women and children
up in those tents and he wouldn't
shoot"
At this statement Senator MARITIME
of New Jersey almost leaped from his
chair
What sort of a man is this Nor
tom" he shouted is he an ordinary
American citizen that he could order
such thing"
The attorneys for the coal operators
we're on their feet in a moment and
for time the committee room was in
confusion. (,
Mr.. Morton will be brought before
your committee" shouted Attorney
To-
talk with him"
God help me then" remarked Sen
ator MARITIME.
Women Tell Of Strike War.
Women and men who showed the
traces OF years Of toll digging coal
from the West Virginia mountains told
the committee their side OF the con-
troversy.
II was the tale of a peaceful com
munity of happy, contented people,
transformed into a thester OF war. and
the members of the senate committee
sat back with startled gIsnces as wit
ness after witness told the story.
Mrs. Annie Hall. who limped into
the committee room. told the commit
tee how she shielded her three little
from the bullets by hiding
them in the chimney corner OF her lit.
tie home at Holly Grove when the ar
mored train made its appearance. She
said she had been shot through the
foot by bullet. Several other men
and women described the situation at
Holly Grave when the armored train
passed through.
Moors PllIsgina Gunbost.