The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-31


decision of the president to issue it,
Charleston. w. Va, Aug. S1.-Re-
ports received at the office of Gov
crnor E. F. Morgan this afternoon
said fighting is in progress at three
points along the Boone-Logan county
border line and that the fighting is
spreading.
A message to the governor said that
firing on Bald Knob had been audible
all morning in Logan.
A company of former service men
are preparing to entrain at Bluefield
for Logan.
Governor Is Bitter.
Governor Morgan. in a public state
ment this afternoon, declared the Of
fer of John L. Lewis. national presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers, to
cooperate with the governor in hav-
ing the armed miners disperse is
"hypocr,tical"
Never at any time" said the gov-
ernor, did he offer assistance until he
knew federal troops had been re-
quested to suppress the insurrection.
I'm truth, his agents in this district
were Responsible IOF the armed miners
continuing their original march after
they had agreed to disband and return
to their homes. following an address
to them by Mother Jones'"
Miners Arc Routed.
Logan, w. Va, Aug. S1.-Miners
were routed in the first engagement
in Logan county at o'clock this
morning. Sheriff Don Chafin. in an
official statement. declared a force of
miners occupied the town of Blaser
during the night.
This morning the men charged up
Blair mountain from the town. Logan
sheriffs and deputies in their first line
of defense at the top of Blair noun
tain repelled the attack and the
miners retreated to the town.
Sheriff Is Killed.
John Gore. deputy sheriff of Logan
county. was killed when the miners
attacked. Reports of other casual
ties have not been verified.
Col. william E. Eubank. in charge
of state forces. telephoned Governor
Morgan demanding all the reinforce
ments the governor can assemble.
The governor promised to rush
more men to Logan county.
Miners are continuing their ad-
vance into Logan county, despite the
proclamation of President Harding.
advices received here at 1880 o'clock
stated. Reports received indicate that
the miners are moving into Logan
county at Blair. where a battle was
reported this morning and at other
nearby points.
Army officers with copies of the
presidents proclamation, in automo-
biles and on foot, entered the miners
lines today. ,
Planes Distribute Message,
Airplanes today distributed copies of
President Harding's proclamation
rbr,o,,+ ftfa dfstriCt Thousands of
the proclamations were printed here
last night. Friend and foe alike re-
ceived the pamphlets containing the
presidents communication that all
persons engaged in .nsurrectionary ac-
tivities disperse and return to their
homes on or before September /.
At dawn the Spruce fork ridge guard
reported ''all we'll" There was no
fighting during the night and no at
tempt was made to scale the eastern
slope of the hills. How the other fell
lows spent the night between darkness
and daybreak was matter of con-
lecture. Whether their forces had
been added to by other armed bands
was not determined by the Logan
patrols.
Union Camps Cut Off.
Sharples. Blair. Jeffrey and Clothier
where men were reported gathering
for an Invasion of Logan county,
were still cut off from telephone and
the Logan county forces hazarded a
trip down the hill side to find out
what was going On. In Logan the
night was one of activity.
Conferences between state officers
and county authorities were held;
rifles were cleaned and stacked in the
court house corridors and thousand
"defenders" held themselves in readi-
ness to march. Many of them were
former soldiers. Women served cof-
fee and food.
In the meantime dozens of motor
cars surrounded the court house,
drivers at the wheels, awaiting a call
from the watch across the county.
But the call did not come.
Citizens MobiIizing.
Later reports from the southwestern
tier of counties were that citizens and
dictionaries were being formed into
companies and would rush to assist
ance of Logan il it was thought they
were needed Arms and ammunition
came in from Huntington and Charles
ton and reinforcements arrived from
Mcdowell. With them came two doc
tors and three nurses.
sheriff "Bll' Hatfield of the county