The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-09-02

Charleston. W. Va. Sept 2.-Logan
county deputies on Crooked Creek
were driven down the hillside last eve
ming in a skrmish with an armed
force from the other side of Spruce
Fork Ridge, Capt |. G. Hollingsworth
reported at O'Clock. The Captain
said he had just returned to Logan
from that district An emergency
force held here subject to call immed-
lately was despatched eastward.
Desultory firing along Crooked
Creek and in the Blair mountain dis
trict during the afternoon was report
ed. The adyices were that none OF
the Logan county forces was hit. 1t
was not determined whether the other
side suffered casualties. These dis
tricts We're the scene OF engagements,
one OF which resulted in the known
death OF three men. At other points
along the Logan Boone county border
quiet prevailed
Armed men making their way to the
concentration camps around Blair.
Clothier and Jeffery were passing
through Madison all day. county Off
cials estimating Cie number of rein.
forcements at no less than 500. One
train, controlled by miners, went from
Whitesville to Clothier. II consisted
Of an engine and four fiat cars, the
cars carrying men and machine guns.
Sheriff Says Many Were Killed.
Sheriff Hill said he had heard that
numbers of miners had been killed in
the fighting along Spruce Fork Ridge
but he was unable TO estimate the
number. When asked to estimate the
number of armed men in tle villages
at the foot Of the ridge, he said;
, There can be no less than 5000 or
10000 OF them"
On receipt of reports that firing
was still going on at Crooked Creek
and Bar Mountain, additional depu'
ties and citizens assisting them, set
out In that direction Others were
ordered to remain at Logan in readi-
ness to proceed eastward II 1t was
found that help was needed.
No word came from the gathering
place OF armed bands of men assembl
ed in the Blair-Jeffery district, who
exchanged fire with Logan deputies,
volunteers and State troopers patrol.
ing Spruce Fork Ridge. 1t was I'M
possible to learn what effect Presi'
dent Harding's proclamation had on
them. Whether they suffered casual
ties is not known here, although ru-
mors were that some had been hit
Major c. +. Thompson, U. S. A. was
reported to have gone to Clothier,
near Jeffery and Blair to talk things
over with the forces there.
Wien State officials reached their
Offices and glanced at reports from
Logan county they expressed the opin
ion that martial law in Logan and Off
er nearby counties was inevitable.
Should II be declared, Kanawha coun-
". in which Charleston, the capital,
IS located would be included 1t was
in this county that the first march
had its inception fortnight ago,
Advices received at the executive
offices, officials said, indicated that
tie temper of the men endeavoring to
march to Mingo is such as to pre-
cmde any hope that they would dis.
perse In compliance with President
Hardings command. Instead, it was
pointed out by several States officers,
available reports hinted at further
preparations being made to continue
the march.
Adyices received at the executive OF
| fee and made public were that the
line OF advance and resistance extends
I twelve miles along Spruce Fork Ridge
from Hewitt Creek to Blair Noun
tain. It was added that the Cover.
nor's information was that military
procedure is being followed by the
armed bands an dthat none was per
mitted to pass to the rear without a
signed pass. No information was re.
ceiyed as to signatures, however.
WEATHER FORECAST