The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-01
Defenders of Logan
Lay Down Machine Gun
Barrage on Miners

Barrage on Miners
LOGAN. w. Va, Sept. Machine
gun barrages were laid down on the
miners positions at 4 a. m. today by
the Logan army Of defense.
There was no response except at
| Peach Creek. This led to the hope
that the miners army may have
abandoned the attack for, the present.
Daybreak found close to three thou
sand men in Logan's first line. Re-
endorsements had been rushed for
ward during the night in anticipation
of a concerted attack of miners this
morning.
Scouts had reported 1000 miners
massed in front OF the twenty-five
miles of defense between Mill Creek
and Blair mountain.
Censorship In Effect.
A virtual censorship is in effect on
alks news from official sources. Moth.
ing is given out except by authority
of Sheriff Don Chafin.
While the sheriffs office refused
to confirm the report, IL was learned
from a reliable source that at least
one deputy and two voluE teers were
killed in yesterdays fighting. Those
reported dead are John Gore, deputy
sheriff, and John Cofazo and John
Muncie, volunteers.
1t also was said that three men had
been killed at Mill Creek In the sher-
ifs forces. The number of casual.
ties among the miners Is not known,
but apparently reliable reports place
the number of killed at least as high
on the other side.
Ely Gore, brother of John Gore,
deputy killed in the battle at Blair
mountain yesterday. left early this
"'o"ning with small detachment of
men.
am going to Blair mountain to
avenge my brothers death" he de.
clared.
Miners Have Woman Spy.
An element of romance and mys-
terry was thrown into the Logan
Industrial war this morning when
scouts brought in the. story that a
woman spy had. gone through the
lines early yesterday morning, carry
ing Information to the miners.
The scout declared he had been
surprised to find tracks of a woman's
foot on Blair mountain. He also
found a dainty womans handker-
chief.
The footprints were tracked far
down the mountain toward the camp
of the miners.
Officials believe here that spies are
carrying information of the Logan
preparations and defense systems to
the miners. Such spies, il captured,
will be severely dealt with, the au-
IL critics declared.
Reinforcements Arrive.
Reinforcements arrived in Logan
during the night and early morning
from Charleston and Huntington.
Both cities contributed a quota of
four A. e. F. officers to command
the citizens army of defense.
A train with a detachment OF
deputies from Huntington was re-
ported derailed at Big Creek, Lincoln
county, early today.
During the night there was little
activity on any OF the sectors. A
few shots were fired by deputies on
Blair mountain. There was no an.
swering fire from the miners.
At a. m, $50 Ioganites laid down
a heavy barrage on Blair mountain.
The miners had either left during
the night or chose not to answer the
fire.
An exchange of shots occurred at
Beach Fork duSing the night.
No additional casualties were re.
ported.
The topography OF the Upper
Guyan Valley, wherein lies Logan
county, is not unlike the country
surrounding Verdun. Blair noun
tain. where the first battle occurred
might will be compared to the san.
culinary La Morte Homme," or
dead mans HILL" where at a terri.
Bile cost Of lives the French held the
Boche and where later in the war
the Americans in a brilliant attack
forced the gray-clad Huns back
ward.
5000 Wait to Attack.
Without the natural Notifications
county border, 1000 or 5000 miners
from the New river fields and from
Kanawha county are crouched for
the attack. Several times they have
dashed forward, assaulting the Logan
defenders on the mountain tops
As many times they have fallen
back unable TO meet the fire which
greeted them.
Following the initial assaults the
miners have chosen to resort to
snipers' tactics, lying well protected
behind the big rocks. the cliffs and
the trees of probably the toughest
section of West Virginia.
The defenders OF the Logan border
have employed many devices OF war.
Many drums of tear gas lie back
OF the front, ready to pour out II the
miners attempt a massed attack. The
gas win temporarily put those who
breathe II hors de combat, but is
said not to cause permanent injury.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Sept. 1-Or.
ders have been received at Camp
Sheridan, near here, to have two
troop trains ready to move from-the
camp by noon today.
Although camp officials refuse to