The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-08-21
five unknown ITALIAN BANDITS
KILL AND ROB mine OFFICIALS,
Continued from pag. on..)

relative of Sheriff Hatfield, had been
killed, but later reports showed that
Hatfield fell feigning injury to get the
bandits to expose themselves to fire
of the posse, or encourage them to flee.
The firing became general and hun
dreds OF shots were fired. Two hours
later an attempt was made to rush the
bandits from their almost impregna-
BILE position but the attempt failed and
Detective Burrell was shot and in
stantly killed by the bandits.
Detective A. NJ. Wade was des-
patched to War Eagle, five miles away,
to secure achievements and as soon
as the word came that the men were
located, hundreds OF men shouldered
their rifles and hurried to the scene.
The latest and last information con-
corning the Glen Alum tragedy is the
following from Williamson:
Williamson, w. Va, Aug. 17.-Al-
though hundreds have viewed the bod
les of the Ave bandits killed by Sher-
iff Hatfield's posse in the mountains
back OF War Eagle. little information
has. been CLEANED today that would
lead to their Identity.
Glen Alum officials are positive that
two OF them have been seen there a
number Of times, but they were not
employees.
1t is believed that these two were
members OF a BLACK Hand" society
and that they went to Elkhorn and Sc
cured assistance of three more MEM
bers of the same organization.
The theory is today advanced that
one from Glen Alum and one from Elk
horn killed Amick, johnson and Shell
ton. while the others awaited their
coming TO War Eagle mountain, II be-
with Italians in the War Eagle camp.
This plan was frustrated because
the alarm was given so quickly that
a big posse was out along War Eagle
creek compelling the bandits to turn
toward Spring Fork of Ben Creek. All
those. who followed the trail to Ben
Creek, and up to War Eagle mountain
say that there were but two.
A recount of the money this after
noon leaves but thirty dollars miss
ing. Much Of it was blood soaked. All
but few of the bills had been issued
by the Fifth Third National Bank of
Cincinnati, and were new.
The total list of known dead as a
result of the battles Friday, Saturday
end Sunday is:
Company Officials.
DR.. w. d. Amick company physic-
ian.
+. ID. Johnson, electrician.
Joseph Sheilor, paymaster.
Members Of Posse.
william Burwell Baldwin, Felts
John Belcher, Magistrate of Mellow
ell county.
Landon Tiller, of Mcdowell county.
The Bandit Gang.
Five unknown men, believed to be
as yet unidentified.
The Wounded.
The list of wounded is as follows:
Ed Mounts, deputy sheriff.
Jacob Groves, deputy sheriff.
When an assault in force was or
lered at ten o'clock Sunday morning
~ Sheriff Hatfield, but one bandit Of
Iered opposition. AS he rose from be-
hind log to fire on the officers he
was riddled with bullets.
Approaching. the posse found the
bodies of four other bandits cold and
,tiff in death. They had been dead
since some time Saturday afternoon,
probably being killed during the Sec
md battle.
The bandit who survived until Sun
lay morning must have passed ter
'ible night. With his comrades slain
lie dared not close his eyes in sleep
md through the long vigil he must
ave known that his hours were num-
,ered. He had been without food or
water for twenty four hours.
It was not until all were dead that
he posse learned that the bandits |
we're Italians and not native Ameri
ans. Three men who had been sus
'ected from the first had been posi-
lively identified by neighbors.
The five Italian bandits were in |
erred in the potter's field near the |
williamson cemetery. They were
laced in collins and given decent bur-
Al.