Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-20
z DIE IN PISTOL
BATTLEFOUGHT| IN
SOFT COAL FIELD
Baldwin Felts Detectives
Pin Fatal Clash With Mat
evan Citizens.
|W0 MEMBERS OF FELTS
FAMILY ARE AMONG DEAD
Whole Of West Virginia's Con-
stabulary Called to Scene
of Trouble.
|AYOR WAS FIRST TO FALL
IroubIc Arose Over Effort TO Eyict
Striking Miners From Com
pany's Houses.
|W0 MEMBERS OF FELTS
FAMILY ARE AMONG DEAD
FAYoR WAS FIRST TO FALL
|roublc Arose Over Effort TO Eyict
Striking Miners From Com
pany's Houses.
tBy Associated Press

tBy Associated PreSsl
MATEWAN. w. VA. May 10
welve men were killed and three
fdly wounded in n battle here late
day between the police and clt!-
ms on one side and Bald Fclts
:tcctivcs on the other. a revised
f't or dead. as given OUT by the po-
&c at midnight. follows:
Mayor Cabcll Testernan.
l.. c. Fclts.
Albert Fclts,
l.. a. Powell.
a. j. Hooker.
j. w. Ferguson.
l.. NJ. Brown.
c. B. Cunninghaan-nil detectives.
James Mullen,
Patrick kinsley.
William Rohr,
Isaac Blucr-miners.
The wounded:
Samuel Artic,
baldwin,
James Chambers.
Dead Taken to Williamson.
The dead were taken to William
n, the county seat, twelve miles
pm here. and the wounded TO a
Pspital a. Wclch. w Va.
Intense excitement followed. the
ooting. but the village became
let later in the night when the
VS. came from Charleston that the
tire State cons;abulary had been
dercd here. and thar Two com
nies OF troops would arrive about
ybrcak.
Conflicting stories as to the cause
the shooting were told. The po-
declared that n party of Bald
n -Felts detectives arrived here
ON Williamson 5his morning TO
let from company houses the fam
cs OF miners who had ibcen dis
ssed from the company employ.
Eight families. the police declare
ID been turned out when Mayor
sherman approached Albert Felts
|c leader of the detectives, and
lnted to know by what authority
cir action was taken. and by what
thority they had arrested one OF
o miners.
Say FeIts Shot Mayor.
While they were talking. accord.
e 10 the police. Felts shot the
ayor. firing from his coatpocket
most instantly Feits himself was
He'd. the police say. by sid" Had
Id. chief OF police OF Matewan. I'm
- ndiately the shooting became gen
al. numbers OF persons who had
thered at the railroad station "a
e the detectives leave Matewan
ming in the fray.
Detectives Are Pursued.
The crowd closed in about tho de-
|ctives who. the police say. turned
d ran. Some of them broke for
@ open country, while others, reach
3 tho Tug River. attempted 10
i'm to safety. Here. it is reported
rec OF them were shot and sank
the stream.
The bodies of the dead were pick
- up and taken TO the Norfolk and
kcstern Railroad station. prepare
ry to moving them to Williamson
here is located the nearest under
king establishment.
Some excitement occurred at mid
sht when the rumor spread through
Q town that large party OF
Id -Felts men were on the way
pm points in Southern West Vir-
MIA and would arrive here in the
Drning.
Tor a time 1t was thought that
sanized parties of miners would
.et them. but the news that Colo
Jackson Arnold, commander of
State police, with constabulary,
build arrive about the same time,
ieted the situation somewhat.
Great Excitement Prevails.
Almost all OF the entire 500 or
inhabitants of the little mining
Q hour. discussing the tragic event
the afternoon.
Most OF the men were employed by
stone Mountain Coal Company,
iose mines form the principal in
stry of the community. Several
eks ago 1t became known that ef-
IT'S were being made to unionize
mines, and two OF them were
bsed. Later. the miners declare,
mo OF their numbers were dis
ssed, and the Baldwin-Felts de-
Ftiyes were sent here today to dis
ssess those who lived in company
uses. Feeling had been running
sh.
Thomas FeIts Going to Scene.
ROANOKE, VA. May 1911. c.
liot. president OF the Stone Noun
n Coal Company. at Matewan, to.
snt declared the mines Of his COM
ny and other mines In the William
b, w. Va, district. havo been closed
the past two weeks because Of a
Ike. Operators Of tho Pocahontas
Ids on the Norfolk and Western
ktlroad. he added. will meet in Blue
ID, w. Va, tomorrow morning nj
o'clock to consider methods with
Itch to break the strike.
4 band OF 800 minors has formed
Continued on Second PasA.s