The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-05-20
TROOPS QUIET
VIRGINIA TOWN
Eviction of Miners From Com
pany Houses Causes Fatal
Battle at MateWan.
MAYOR AMONG IL DEAD

Matewan w. Va, May 20.-The ar
rival OF two companies OF state con-
stabulary from Charleston early thus
morning has apparently had quietiny
Of the battle between the police and
citizens on one side and Baldwin, Felts
detectives on The other. in which twelve
We're killed: three probably fatally; two
others slightly wounded last, night, Al
though only two companies OF the. state
troops have thus far arrived IL is re-
ported that the entire force of consta-
buiary has been ordered here.
Detectives W.. Police.
Last nights shooting. in which
Baldwin, Fehs detectives clashed with
citizens and Matewan police, resulted,
according to authoritiesi Nr-ree action of
the detectives who evi = number
OF miners from Stone tain Coal
company houses yesterI $ rwo Stone
Mountain company mi \, ere closed
recently when it beef - nown that
an effort was being = 10 unionize
them. The miners ella q the detec-
tives we've sent to dI >, families OF
workers who had beef : lssed by the
A shot, said by a 8 les to have
been fired from a CO Y ct by Albert
Felts, a detective, o which ended
the life of Mayor Ci Y FISHERMAN. of
stant Manswan after s'Se'eS Se r e according a@
to authorities, was KfiIee~oy sid Hat
field, chiet of police of Matewan. The
shooting then became general and when
the battle ended seven detectives, the
mayor and four coal miners were dead
Felts, 1t was said. had a warrant for
the arrest OF Chief Hatfield on a charge
that he had taken a. prisoner from de-
tectives some time ago. The mayor
was reading the warrant when he was
killed.
list OF Casualties,
Mayor Cabell Testerrnan.
l.. &. Felts, detective.
II. IL. Feits, detective.
E. A. Powell, detective.
A. j.. Hooker, detective.
j. W. Ferguson. detective.
L. NJ. Brown, detective.
&. h. Cunningham, detective.
James Mullen, miner.
Patrick Kinsley. miner.
William Rohr miner
Isaac Bluer, miner.
The wounded:
Samuel Artie Baldwin.
James Chambers.
The dead were taken to Williamson,
the county seat, twelve miles from here,
and the wounded to hospital at WEIGH,
w. Va.
Mayor First Killed.
Mayor Testerman was the first person
shot. Sheriff Blankenship said. Tester
man had approached A, g. Felts,
leader OF the mine detectives, and asked
him what authority he had for evict
ing miners from their homes, In an
swer Felts fired at the mayor, fatally
wounding him. m Bli
rSid" Hatfield, chief OF police 'oi
AisteMsln. killAH Feits imn1ediately,.nc-
cofding to the sheriff, and a pitched
battle in the streets followed. Sever
detectives and four miner were killed
In the street fighting, The mayors
death several hours after the shooting
brought the death total TO twenve.
When the battle ended the SINNERS
organized and made a systematic
search OF the village for other detec-
tives, but all had made their escape.
"MURpERouS HiRELINos."
Washington, May 2o.-John l..
Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers, here In connection with
coal miners wage negotiations, sent
a telegram to Gov. cornweii, Of
West Virginia, today, commenting
on the disturbance last night at
Matewan and urging thai measures
ITO prevent further Iawless actlvl.
ties" by "murderous hlrelInps Of
the coal operators" be taken.