The Washington herald., 1921-08-30
BAT tie CLOUD.
HOVERS OVER
LOGAN COUNTY
Armed Men Guard Noun
tain Defiles to Re-
pei Invasion.
MINERS CAMPED IN
COAL RIVER FIELD
Citizens Sleep Beside
Rifles, Ready for Sig
nal of Alarm. (

LOGAN. W. Va. Aug. 2s.-Peacs
hangs by a thread in Logan
County.
Up and down the Guyandotts
River Valley and at the mines
along the mountain-sides, men wait
grimly for a threatened invasion
from over the mountain"
The mountain is a long, broad
ridge. On the other side Of il is
the Coal River field; there hundreds
OF miners have congregated with
the ayowed intention Of coming
into Logan and Mingo counties.
The ridge Is a natural barrier, sep
arating the union and nonunion
areas; the rough defIles that would
afford passage are constantly
guarded by State troops and depu-
ties.
Armed Men ThfOnE Streets.
Everywhere they ask. viii they
come over?"
No one knows. Logan County
folk simply wait. as they have for
ten days past IF they come. we're
ready" they say. They can't come
over the mountain"
This little town. hedged in among
the mountains, wears the aspect OF
a besieged city. Armed men throng
the streets. Scores are held in con-
slant readiness at the courthouse.
Autos are prepared 70 rush to dan
ger points when a siren whistle
sounds.
Each armed man here wears a
white brassard. That Is so he can
be told from the enemy IL there is
battle. The lobby OF the hotel has
/ been turned into an improvised
mess hall. When patriots" come in
from the mountains they are sup
piled with hot food BY the women
of the town.
Hatrack Resembles Arsenal
The hatrack outside the dining
room door looks like an arsenal.
Guns arc checked there
The Logan County deputies are
reinforced by men from surround
! ing counties. Sheriff Bill HATFIELD,
Of Mcdowell County. and Sheriff
! Lou Pinson. Of Mingo, brought in
sizeable forces TO help deputies un-
| der Sheriff Don Chafin. Part OF
Hatfield's men went home late to-
day to do guard duty at welch.
! There were rumOrs that miners
were collecting in Wyoming County
to invade Mcdowell County.
Every Logan County man sleeps
with his rifle by his bed.
The other night, when a warning
was sounded. 500 men were placed
on top Of the ridge in little more
than an hour. Others were rushed
in automobiles and on SPECIAL train
TO outlying positions. An invasion
could be easily repclled. Logan citi-
zens insist, but they add that It
would be a bloody battle.
Operators Score Unions.
Meantime, mires in the valley
continue in operation. This week,
operators boast, will be a record for
loading. They are proud Of the fact
that the mines never close, that la
Dor troubles haven't caused an it,
terruption in seventeen years. They
say the trouble across the ridge is
the real answer to arguments for
unionization. Miners. ii is claimed,
comprise a large percentage OF de-
tense forces here.
w. r. Thurmond. president Of the
Coal Operators Association, char
acterized the existing situation az
an insurrection.
All these schemes have beer
planned and the strategy Of them
worked out not by the individual
locals and community themselves
but as we honestly believe ny
district and national officers Of ths
UEited Mine Workers" he said
This is not simply a union move
ment; il is an insurrection. II is a
revolution and must be treated and
dealt with as such. II is a strike
at the government; IL is a blow
against organized society and every
lawful and legal means must he
/ used to brinL the perpetrators Of
this enormous crime to Justice.
THE mine workers" ThUrmond
said "double-cros the government
when they promised TO disbstld
This was only a ruse to deceive"