The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-22
RIo,q,,s in Heat Of Fight.

lnSthe smeantlme tue posse nhu STAT
tered, Sheriff Conaawy. Deputy Buck.
ley and Policeman Kerns dashing
across the top of the concrete dam In
Dunkard's Mil run to the company
store. where they took refuge behind
barricadedl doors.
Deputy Sheriff BENJAMIN Wilson.
Deputy Joseph Hocke. Deputy w. q.
Thomas, Deputy Charles Satterfleld,
Interpreter Giumicich and other OFF,
GERS going in different directions, all
reaching Fairmont after thrilling adj
ventures and narrow escapes from the
Deputy Alva Moore and Constable
Finley reached the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad station and were taken
BY train to Fairmont and placed in
Cook hospital.
For q few moments the position of
the OFFICERS IN the company store was
critical for an angry throng Of strik-
ers, some OF whom carried revolyers
'sand MI Iof whom were armed with pick
handles and clubs, ragged about the
Fuilding, shouting threats and a con.
sGarted rush on the store was immi-
MarE The clerks IN the store, how
Hge6 produced O number Of rifles and
d plentiful supply Of ammunition and
NfEattad for the attack.
Called Up FaIrront.
hetiR Conaway, in spite Of his
wounds, called central on the tele.
phn1HJt1 an effort to get the county
court house and summon aid. It was
II mnmHpt ct intense suspense while
tiny waited for the operator to an.
HWsx re- 1.-THE wires had been cut by
te strikers The little band Of brave
fIsnS IN the store would have been at
$he merge 800 angry strikers.
The pretty little telephone operator
s@as at her post despite the excite
meut and after q little delay. tele-
phone communicate was established
with the court house and Sheriff Con
AWAY ordered assistance. This was
about q o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Prosecuting Attorney Tusca Morris.
Deputy Sheriff Musgrave and other
officers IN Fairmont hastily summon
ed q posse of rs men, eight OF them
being EARNED with rifles and shot guns
and the sremainder with revolvers. A
special Baltimore Baltimore and Ohio
railroad train was chartered and a
record run made to Pennington with
the relief squad.
Sheriff Conway and the other men
insthey company store in the meantime
waited anxiously for help, keeping in
constant communication with the
court house.
Relief Train Arrives.
BY the time the relief train had
reached a. siding near the store no
miners were in sight, and most of the
relief deputies remained on the train.
only a small detachment going to the
store to bring down the injured.
By this time all the officers in the
first squad had been accounted for ex-
cept Constable Riggs, who had been
last seen In the! buggy behind the run.
away horse. After short but anx.
ious search Riggs was found at the
home Of Mrs. 3Elvira Robey, aged 81,
and her daughter, Florence, who had
admitted the wounded constable after
he had been thrown from the buggy
and staggered to their door.
Take Injured to Hospital.
The women had dressed Riggs
wounds as best they could, but he was
so covered with blood and dirt as
result Of the fight that they did not
even suspect that he was an officer,
but took him for one OF the strikers.
Riggs was carried to the special train
by Deputy cambridge. Constable Sat
terrified and Deputy Harr and Others.
After o fast run to Fairmont all the
injured were taken to Cook hospital,
most OF them later being removed to
their homes!
The trouble between the miners and
the coal company started when the
management of the company raised
the price of mining coal four cents a
car. at the same time refusing to fur.
nish free powder, which Is said to
have been used In a wasteful man
ner by the miners because it cost
them nothing.
The company announced that a.
charge Of 81 woud be made for 15
sticks Of explosive and caps to ignite
II. TO onset this expense to the min.
ers the four cent raise on each car of
coal mined was given. Il Is claimed
by the JamisonJ company that 10
sticks Of explosive viii easily knock
down Is cars Of coal and often BY
careful use Of powder more coal can
be Ioosened.
The new plan OF supplying powder
put into effect by the Jamison com.
pany is the same as is in use by most
Of the other mines IN West Virginia,
and was designed not for the purpose
Of cutting wages but to better operat
ing conditions The company alleges