South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-26
ARMED MINERS
ENCAMP NEAR
RACINE, VIVA.
Gov. Morgan Sends Appeal to
Washington for Federal Aid
in Mining Area.
TELEGRAPH WIRES CUT
Workers Dig Trenches TO Pro-
tect Themselves From
Possible Attacks.

CHARLESTON, ". Va. Aug. %.
Reports Of a gun battle Thursday
between Logan county deputy sher-
ins said TO number 500. and a large
body OF armed men az Blair. w. Va.
were received here Thursday night
Efforts 10 confirm these reports
through Sheriff Don Chafen OF Lo-
gan county. who was reached by long
distance telephone. were unsuccess-
ful. When asked by an Associated
Press correspondent whether there
had been fighting at Blair today his
reply was.
Il cannot say anything about a.;
we are not giving out any informa-
ton"
He then hung up the receiver.
Reports from Racine Thursday
night were that the several thousand
marchers who left Marmet shortly
after last midnight avowedly bound
for Mingo county 20 protest martial
law, in force there. were still en-
camped alongside the river near Ra-
cine, several miles from Blair
These reports have given rise 10
the belief here that the Marmet
marchers had no part IN the report
ed Blair engagement Blair is 90
miles southwest Of Racine and in
order for the marchers 70 reach
there they would have had 10 pass
through Madison. Several residents
OF Madison reported Thursday nigh,
by long distance telephone that none
had passed through that town
Thursday.
Prosecuting Atty II. ". p. Mul-
Inns, Of Boone county. who resides
at Madison. reported 10 Charleston
/ by telephone Thursday night that
he had abeen advised by passengers
on a Chesapeake and Ohio passsn-
ger train from Blair that 800 depu-
| ties Of Logan county We're battling
/ a large body OF armed men when the
| train left that place.
Mullins added that the passengers
told him that the inhabitants Of
Blair We're preparing to flee when
the train left.
Blair is mining town close 70
| the Boone county line. II is said
TO be one Of the few mining towns
in the Logan field organized by the
United Mine Workers OF America
c. +. Keeney, district president Of
the miners, said Thursday nicht that
tho district president Of the Blair
local union had reported 20 him ear
" this week that the men there
were prepared for trouble" ana had
dug trenches in the surrounding
| hills TO protect themselves from pos
sible attack"
United Mine Workers officials
/ commenting on the reported battle
said that If there had been an en-
/ gagement il was local and not
| connected with the Marmet situa-
ton nor engaged in by men from
/ the Marmet camp.
| Several hours after Prosecutor
Mulin had reported % Charleston.
Louis Nicholson. Of Logan county
| seat Of Logan county. and about
eight miles from Blair. was ques-
/ toned concerning the reported fight.
/ He replied by telephone -hat DE was
a member Of a parry Of deputies that
/ were reconnoiterirE in the vicinity
/ Of Blair. He declared there had been
no battle and the only report of any
| shooting was that an airp.ane had
/ been fired ar.
Reports Thursday night Hunting
ton were that the chief Of police 40
! that place had ordered guards
/ placed in all hardware store where
arms and ammunition are sold. de
/ took this action. ne said. because a
number Of dealers had notified him
Thursday that calls for arms and
ammunition had been excessive. Re-
ports also were current in Hunting
lin that Chesapeake and Ohio tres
/ ties on the Guyan valley division
4 were being guarded.
/ Guyan valley is the dividing lire
/ between Logan and AIing0 counties.