Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-11-22
STATE POLICE HOLD
LOGAN COUNTY Line
VALIANT SERVICE IN WEEK or
FIGHTING DEMONSTRATES
SPIRIT OF TROOPERS.
OVERSEAS VETERANS FIRM
Enlarged Force VIII Be Strong Factor
In Checking LawIessness That Has
Given State Bad Reputation.


In the recent turbulent events In
the southwestern part Of West Vir-
ginia, which tended again to bring
the state an unpleasant reputation for
lawlessness throughout the country.
the work Of the West Virginia State
Police stood out as an example Of
bravery against odds and Of loyalty to
the state Although the force was not
large enough to Quell this regrettable
outbreak at the start, its members
took prominent part In checking the
movement and inflicted severe losses
upon the armed force which had deied
the authority Of the Governor and
other state authorities.
Volunteers Aid Company 3.
The first company of the state po-
lice to reach Logan county was Com
pany B., stationed In Mingo county
and adjoining territory, which was or
dered there at time when it was not
certain whether or not the armed mob
which had gathered in Kanawha and
Boone counties would attempt to
sweep over the mountains into Logan
county. With Capt. ]. r. Brockus In
command, and with a number Of volun-
teer state police from Mingo county,
this company entered Logan Saturday.
August 81.
Many of the armed bands had
returned to their homes but in
formation came to Logan that a
large force In the Vicinity Of
Blair had not done this but had
kept its formation and was likely to
attempt surprise attack. Therefore,
the state police and volunteers pro-
ceeded, at night, toward Sharples.
Capt. Brockus had warrants for num-
Der Of men Of that district who had
previously ambushed small party OF
state police and disarmed the latter.
Ambush Laid For Troopers.
Partial confirmation OF the reports
which had reached Logan was found
In the presence of patrols of armed
men on the road to Sharples. Two of
these patrols were gathered In and
Capt Brockus led his force to Sharples
without meeting resistance. There a
number Of men opened fire on the
state police. The fire was returned
and three Of the attackers fell, dead
or mortally wounded. Lights went out
in the houses of the camp and rife fire
began suddenly from the windows.
There were also hundreds Of shots
fred from the hillsides at the force.
Finding that an ambush had been
prepared for him, Capt. Brockus with
drew his force to Blair Mountain and
established positions there. These po-
sitions were defended for the next
week, attacks being made upon the
small force OF state police and volun-
teers by many times their number of
rifiemen. The defenders not only held
their positions but made many attacks
themselves and inflicted heavy losses
in killed, wounded and prisoners.
Overseas Service Great Help.
Overseas service or the members
of the state police stood them in good
stead in this brief campaign as they
found the fighting similar in character
to that in the Argonne region of
France. The small losses suffered by
the state police and the volunteers
with them were due not only to the
strength Of the position chosen by
Capt. Brockua. but also to their skill
in utilizing the possibilities for shelter
on the slopes and crest Of Blair Noun
tain.
Col. Jackson Arnold. commander CT
the state police, quickly called In the
members of the other two companies
from their posts throughout the state
and brought them, under Capts. Nor
ton and White, to Logan county. The
state police headquarters was estab-
lished at Ethel, some miles in tn
rear of Blair Mountain and the force
was effectively commanded by Col.
Arnold during the remainder of the
outbreak.
viii Recruit to Full Strength.
1t is proposed to Immediately recruit
the state police up to the full strength
of four companies provided for by law.
This will create force which will not
only be of the utmost service to the
state in ordinary times In combating
crime of all kinds throughout the state
but will also furnish a strong emer-
gency force which can be used at any
time to dispense gathering mobs and
to prevent rioting and armed demon
stration against the law and the
authorities of the state.
The plan drawn up by Col. Arnold
provides that Company A shall police
the northern portion Of the state, this
company to be somewhat larger than
the other three. Company B. will
cover the southwestern portion of the
state between Kenova and Bluefield.
Company C. will have headquarters at
Beckley and be in charge of Raleigh. |
Fayette, Greenbrier. Summer, Monroe |
and part of Kanawha and Mercer
counties. Company D. will patrol Lo- |
gan, Boone, Lincoln. Wyoming and
part of Kanawha counties. A school
for recruits will be conducted at Kama
wha City. Most Of the force will be !
established In small dstachments
throughout the territory Of the dif.
ferent companies.