The Washington herald., 1921-08-29
Victims Said to Have
Fired on Advancing
Soldiers.
OUTPOST YIELDS
TO ARMED FORCES
Logan County Becomes
New Danger Point
In Coal Region.

CHARLESTON. w. Va. Aug. 2S.-
Citizens of Logan County fear a re-
newal OF warfare between armed
miners and State troopers rein
forced by deputies, following a bat
tie in the mountains Saturday night,
during which five miners are re-
ported to have been killed and one
wounded.
The battle was between a dozen
State troops under Capt ]. r.
Brockus and a miners patrol. 1t
occurred along Beech Creek. north
Of Logan. the county seat.
Brockus and his men, constituting
the advance guard of a force Of 100
State troops and $50 deputized citi-
zens, were proceeding toward
Sharpless to guard the county bor-
der against the projected invasion
Of the miners army from Boone
County.
Miners Outpost Yields.
They encountered outposts of
miners, who were ordered to sur
render and lay down their arms.
The miners complied and eleven
prisoners were taken.
A little farther on, a patrol of
five miners was encountered They
refused to surrender. and, according
to BrockuS, opened fire less than
ten feet away. The State troopers
replied and five miners fell. Four
prisoners escaped and one of these
is thought to have been wounded
Brockus said he thought the five
men who fell were killed. They
were carried from the scene by COM
rades, who swarme1 down into the
valley from the mountains. The
darkness made 1t difficult for
Brockus to learn definitely what
damage was inflicted.
State Troops Fall Back.
There was one casualty among the
State forces. r. ]. Dulin was acci-
dentally shot by one of his own
men.
The State forces Immediately
withdrew, seeing themselves great
ly outnumbered, falling back to
Ethel where the main body had
established headquarters. The
troops and deputies had come into
Logan County from Mingo County
to reinforce the men organized there
10 oppose the advance of the miners
army.
Meantime, word reaching Brockus
at Ethel told of the gathering of
less. less than five miles to the
north. The proximity of the forces
led to the belief that there might
be further serious trouble. Miners
were reported in a revengeful
mood.
Logan Citizens Alarmed.
Citizens of Logan, the county
seat, are prepared to assemble on
- Naly 81
Feeling. is tense.
The disturbance in Logan County
was regarded as local. and not di-
rectly associated with the projected
march Of armed miners into Ming
County. The army has disbanded.
In Logan County. however, there has
been much feeling between the
miners who live there and State
troops and deputies organized under
Sheriff Don Chafin- -
Logan County is now regarded as
the danger point in the coal region.
Officials conceded the possibility OF
serious trouble, but they predicted
there would be no battle on a large
scale, such as threatened during 3ast
week.
Efforts to learn the exact extent
of the casualties in the skirmish
have been unsuccessful. Reports in
Huntington said six men had been
killed, but these could not be veri-
fled.
A hundred State police and 25o
deputies are reported to be in
sharpless, having been sent in as
reinforcement from Mingo County.
following disturbances during the
week.
Three Deputies Captured.
Adjutant General Charnock of the
West Virginia militia left Charles
ton tonight, accompanied by three
officers of the United Mine Work
ers, IN a motor dash for Logan Coun-
ty, hoping to be able to avert a
battle between miners and deputy
sheriffs reinforced by State troops.
Sheriff Don Chafin. of Logan
County had reported by wire to Gov
Morgan that 1000 Logan County Cit
izens had assembled ready to take
the field and fight. Miners had cap
tured three of the sheriffs men at
the town of Clothier on the north
,ern boundary of Logan County, and
the citizens were threatening to go
out and try to liberate the deputies.
But should they do so, II was feared
that the miners would wreak ven
geance on the captives.
The sheriff reported that the CIV
ilians were highly indignant and be-
ing restrained with difficulty.
Pledges Offered Miners.
Charnock and the union officials
went by automobile from st. AL
bans, from where they will travel
fnF hA
special train, provided by William
Wiley. manager of the Boone County
Coal Corporation.
c. ]. Porter, member of the union
executive board, carried a letter
from c. F. Keeney. union president
and other officers of District II,
asking the miners to refrain from
violence, on the assurance that
their section will not be invaded
by Logan County deputies.
Governor Morgan gave me posi-
tive assurance that there will be
no invasion of your section by
deputies or other persons from
Logan County" said the letter.
Asks Aid to Law and Order.
II wish to request that you and
each of you remain at your homes.
assist in the preservation of law
and order, and refrain from con-
duct other than what may be |
necessary to protect yourselves
and families"