Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-24
HIGH POWER RIFLES
ONMOUNTA|NG GUARD
ENTRANCES TO MINE
Official Party Hurries to
St. Charles on "Tour
of Inspection"
SHERIFF OF LEE COUNTY
SENDS CALL FOR TROOPS
Radical Miners Prevent Workers
From Returning to Coal
Jobs.
EFFORTS TO RECONCILE FAIL
Rain Of Hot Bullets Belchcs From
Tops OF Hills With
Fcrocity.
SHERIFF OF LEE COUNTY
SENDS CALL FOR TROOPS
EFFORTS TO RECONCILE FAIL
Kain OF Hot Bullets Belchcs From
Tops Of Hills With
Fcrocity.

Governor Westmoreland Davis lert
last night for ST. Charles. Lee County.
Va, to take charge of the five com
panies OF State militia ordered to tho
scene lato Saturday night
long g-distanced message from ST
Charles stated that radical miners have
mounted hiGh-powered guns in the
mountains ut the entrance to the
mines and refuse to permit any OF
the men who desired 10 resume work
to enter the shafts.
Before noon today tho tramp of sol-s
dicrS VIII resound through the mining
camp at st. Charles.
Sending OF troops by the Governor
followed reports that threats have
any miner who attempts to return 10
work.
These are paramount facts today
relative to the trouble at ST. Charles.
to prevent which State mint,a mem
bers slept under arms In Richmond
Charlottesville. Lyuchburg and Peters,
burg Saturday night, The nichnnond
! afteF~2-o'clock and are dus to arrive
in st. Charles some time today.
| Governor Davis left At 9.25 o'clock
last night for tho scene. and 1t Is un-
derstood will assume direct charge Of
the military forces.
HirschberE Accompanies Davis.
State Labor Commissioner John
bavis hi1sshoeIs scs9mnanisd ed tiove.nor
ernor and AIr. Hirschberg would make
tour of inspection OF the mining
region affected by the troubles. They
Will go to st Charles by way OF Blue
field, w. Va, thence to Norton. Va.
and from there to tho scene or the
trouble in automobile and are expected
to arrive at ST. Charles late this after
noon.
ST. Charles is the center of what is
known as the ST. Johns field. which
ineludes in eight ss,1 or more mining ,Go camps
workers. These make up practically
all OF the union miners of the State.
Cali for troops was sent Governor
which ST. Charles la located. lie asked
that the Governor Immediately dis.
patch at least 400 armed troops to the
protect the workers who arc anxious
to return TO the mines.
Assumes Grave Proportions.
A long distance message received
last night from st. Charles and re-
parted the information that during the
past week the situation has assumed
Went o po stSS. ben tSs
sent out by President John Lewis
Later. when court action in Indianap-
call off the strike, many OF the men
were ready to return to their Jobs and
resume coal production.
otherwise and hard feeling is said to
have developcd quickly among the. men
who formerly were fellow workers.
tempted to return to the mines. a shot
from the mountainside disclosed tina,
the radical element had mounted high
the mine shafts and atthe first appear
ance OF a miner bent on returning to
work. hot bullets were sent in MS di-
workers to run to cover.
Situation BECOMES Acute.
The situation became more acute as
time advanced. the guns on the noun
ferocity. Efforts to reconcile the diff.
ferences between the loyal miners and
those who have since become known
rs radicals. proved futile. Finally the
situation got beyond bounds when the
loyal miners were advised that If they
pers,s'ed ed in attempting 70 return NJ; 70
be blown up and wrecked.
Barricaded in Hills.
Reports from the isolated mountain
town are meaGer. but indicated that
eral hundred men. have themselves ef-
fectually barricaded in tho hillside
district and aim to carry out their
attempts to return to work
Troops which left their various
bases Sunday are expected to reach
the scene OF the trouble some time
Monday noon. Those who know the
spirit OF tn" radical element declare
that their arrival will be the signal
for an open clash Of arms. However.
Governor Davis hopes to reach St
Charles in time to prevent open hos
tilities.
Military detachments sent from
Richmond and other Virginia cities
number practically 500 men. They are
armed with high powered guns and
carried along large amount OF am
munition.
1t is understood that Governor Davis
VIII make personal appeal to the
men on behalf Of the State OF Virginia
to give UP their arms and return To
work. That he will succeed was con-
sdered dubious at St. Charles last
night, where feeling has been running
high for several days
Town Is Armed Camp.
The little mountain town has beer,
virtually an armed camp. II is stated
that the shooting from the mountain
side has heen prom!scuous and this
has resulted in creating practically !.
reign OF terror, forcing the mothers
and children of the loyal element of
mr"rs to remain for the most part
indoors.
st. Charles is, located In tho Appa-
lachisn range of mountains. and the
n Z.