Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-19
BORDER BATTLE
BOTHERS MINGO
eTATE TROOPERS KEPT BUSY
FIGHTING ARMED MEN WHO
"SHOOT UP" TOWNS.

Violent outbreaks of lawlessness
during April in Mingo county gives
added emphasis to the wisdom Of
West Virginia's legislature in author
tzing an increase in size of the West
Virginia State police. A virtual line
Of battle extends along the Tug river
from point below Matewan to
point above Chatteroy, a distance Of
approximately rs miles,
Thousands of rounds of ammuni-
tions have been fired from the Ken
lucky side into non-union mining COM
munities in West Virginia and from
West Virginia hills into the open shop
mines Of Kentucky. Scores of families
have been driven from their homes
which were riddksd by bullets from
the guns of radicals who are creating
reign Of terror" in an effort to
drive these non-union workers from
the district and thus cripple the oper-
atoms OF the mines.
Seven distinct attacks were made
on non-union towns in both Kentucky
and West Virginia in three weeks
The situation has reached such a seri-
GUS stage that the governors of the
two states are considering united ac-
ton to drive the outlaws from this
district.
outposts Along River.
The West Virginia State police have
strung outposts all along the West
Virginia side of the river and have
reduced the shooting from the West
Virginia hills to minimum but they
are powerless to cope with the hidden
riflemen who fire into the West vir.
ginia communities from the Kentucky
hills Moreover West Virginia has not
sufficient number of state police in
Mingo county at present to properly
/ police this district. While they are
able to drive the rifemen from the
West Virginia hills, they have not
enough men to. prevent the outbreaks
altogether.
Within the last month the West
Virginia towns of .Merrimac, Sprigg
and Album have been "shot up" as
well as Blackberry City, McCarr AMI
Freeburn on the Kentucky side The
attack on Merrimac was the most seri-
Gus. Over 5000 shots were fred into
the town from points in Kentucky and
from ridge iq s Msst Virginia.
Gunner Driven Away.
The shooting continued until the
West Virginia State Police arrived
and drove the gunner from the hills.
The police had hardly finished quiet
ing the firing at Merrimac when the
gunner opened up on Sprigg, a. cou-
pie of miles away. The state police
stationed at Sprigg were at Merrimac
aiding in putting down the trouble
there SO. the radicals had everything
their own way during the absence of
the officers.
Six hundred shots were fred into
Sprigg. Houses were riddled and
women and children forced to flee to
shelter of the mine mouths. The bat
tie at Merrimac started at o'clock
and continued until nine. State troop
ers Teel and Cooley, at Merrimac at
the time, deputized several men and
the fire was returned with such ven
geance that the guns of the attackers
were silenced. Captain j. R. Brockus
and detail of men rushed to Merrimac
from Williamson in automobiles. Five
armed men were captured in the hills
and lodged in jail on charge of shoot.
i1so with intent tn kill
Attack Was Resumed.
When the shots were heard in the
vicinity of Sprigg, the State police
started for that village but were fired
upon by gunner in the Kentucky hills
and were obliged to abandon their au.
tomoblles and continue on foot. About
two hours after their arrival in Sprigg.
firing was again resumed, this time
being entirely confined to the Ken.
lucky side Of the river. The Stats
police returned the fire so effectively
that it soon ceased altogether.
The following day, a motor truck.
upon which officials Of the Red Jacket
Coal company were riding, was fired
upon near Matewan Shotguns were
used, over 40 slugs striking theNruck.
but its occupants escaped uniniured.
The Shots it is said, came from a point
near the tent colony, which is occu.
pied by union miners.