Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-26
Berwind Battle Is Described
for Benefit Of Congressional
Investigating Committee
Sitting at Trinidad,
MUCH TESTIMONY OF
STRIKERS CONTRADlCTED
Superintendent Denies 0per-
ators Took Active Part in
Politics and Says He Was
Told to Say NothIng,

tny noRnna JOURNAL SPECIAL lrAstp wiRsi
Trinidad colo. Feb. 25 Stories of
the desperate battles between striking
coal miners and mine guards in the
vicinity OF the Ludlow tont colony
were told the federal strike nvosU-
eating committee late today by
Charles O'Ncil superintendent of the
Bcrwnd and Tabasco mines of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company
Mr. O'Neil described particularly
the fighting around Berwnd on Oct3-
ber 26, 20 and 2S. which he said he
had witnessed at close range. NE dee
clarod that the attack was opened
ON the morning OF October 20. when
strikers began firing into the camp
from the hills He then recounted the
fighting of October 20, the day on
which "a train loaded with deputy
shcrlffs from Trinidad was tunod
back at Ludlow The battle OF Octo-
her 2S, which ended the Bcrwind at
tucks, then was described
A stir was created shortly before
Mr. O'Neirs testimony by the charge
made by b.. =. Costigan, attorney zoo
the United Mine Workers of America,
that "a former witness for tho strikers
had been beaten while under arrest
by the militia Tho Witness James
Fyles. was ordered tu De present at
the night session prepared 10 tell his
story 60 the committee
How the Strikcbrcakcrs We're Hauled.
Following the temporary disposal
of the charge OF assaultlng a union
witness, the committee heard the tes.
timony of T. r., Connolly manager OF
the tourist department of the Atchi-
SON. Topeka and Santa Zee railroad.
Connolly testified that he was on a
train which brought strikcbrcakers to
Trinidad arriving here December 16.
He declared that there were no guards
ON the train and that a rule of the
railroad company forbiddng The lock-
ing of doors was strictly observed. ON
cross-cXumination he said that ten
gallons Of coffee was ordered for tho
strlkebreakers three times daily
The question of Mike Grlmaldj's
self-proclalmcd inability 10 speak
English on TO sign his name was
brought up again in the testimony II
Graham Evans assistant clerk at the
Dclugua mine Evans sworo That ne
saw Crimaldi sign his name 20 the
company registration book ana That ~
talked freely with him In English
Union Man Got SOS for Half Month
j W. Macleod, travelling auditor
Of the Victor-American Fuel com
pany. produced a chart purportlng to
show the earnings Of Anton Glad Is
former miner of Hastings ana Uit-
ness for the strikers Tic testified
that the accounts showed that Glnd s
met income Tor the first fifteen da
N September was sos.
joe Courney camp marshal at
Frederick, was called TO answer tho
charge made on the stand by Frank
Nargo, who testified that he was
locked up when hc attempted 10 ps-
cape from the camp Courtney suii
that ON February . ne found Narp1
helplessly drunk and carried him to
shack. The next day hc said hr nee
tccd that thc front door of thc shul k
had been broken down
The operators then put ou Charles
O'Neil superintendent of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron companys miucs at
EeWiud and Tahaseo. Hc descibcI
the Ludlow battle Of October o and
produced map which purported to
represent The Scene OF tho rghL
O'Neil said he watched the nght
through "a small field glass
Dc-crihc- Bcrwnd Battle.
The mine superintendent then dee
scrhed the battle of Berwind ON o. -
tober 26, in which ne said opprox b.
matcly 1000 shots werc fired On the
following day he said hc appealed for
aid for the small number os guards
40 thc mine This appeal, he testified,
resulted in the dispatch of a party OF
deputies ON % special train. which was
turned back at Ludlow. That night.
he said. siXty-five guards, with
fesh supply of ammunition finally
reached the camp,
ON the following morning. he saiI.
battle was started by shot which
hc declared was fired from the hills
northeast of ihc camp. lie said be
lcft his home 90 take refuge in 20
school house. bat when the assault
ants opened fire on the school house
hc returned Goo thc Borwlnd mine
office ro then described the firing
on the camp
Did your guards return the fire 2'
asked Judge j. c. NOrthcutt
"l can't say"
"You were not with them"
"Nou bet ] wasn't"
The witness then told Of The wound
irs ~ thc tw0 chil1rcn of Frank
wootton by bullet which pierced
their house