Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-05
". VIRGINIA KENTUCKY
BORDER BA ATTLEGROUNO
Indians Followed by Moonshin-
ers. Feudists and Finally by
War of Miners.

Williamson, w. Va, jan. 5.-Slnce
the early days when first settlers from
Virginia fought their way to the western
country against bands Of hostile Indians
Mingo county, West Virginia, and Pike
county, Kentucky, Just across ITS border,
have been almost continuous batuegrounks
Mingo county's latest struggle is be-
tween the coal operators and the miners
but after a series of outbreaks which at
tracted countrywide attention, federal
troops are maintaining order.
After the early settlers had disposed of
the Indians, the moODshIneTs took the
field and for years fought and some times
vanquished the hated revenue agents, pro-
tected rs they often were against attack
in the high hills and deep valleys that
cover this section. Then came the fa-
nous Hattield-McCoy feud of the early
SOS and COS. which resulted in the prac-
teal wlping out Of the Mccoy family, and
which caused two State governors 20 take
a hand in It's suppression. For some years
after the feud the moonshiners again took
the field, and although prohibition is now n
law of the land, the maxim Of ticker has
never been gwen up entirely IN these hills
Still another chapter of blood was writ
tel In Mingo when efforts were made this
wear TO organize the coal miners. An un-
happy climax came about in Matewan, "
Va, on May 10, 1920, when in fight in
the streets ten men were killed, seven of
whom were guards Of private detective
agency sent into the district TO eject
union miners from company homes.
Since the Matezvan fight Min go has been
the scene OF oeeer disorders aDd rriiroad
mining properties have been des-
troyed by explosives. Internittent
warfare between operations guards and
miners and sympathlzers followed IN such
proportions that recently Governor Corn
well, OF West Virginia called on the Fed
eral government for troops. When a
provisional battalion was sent 30 Afinco,
martial law was declared here and several
other towns a9d villages.
Ia the meantime, miners elected from
company houses organized tent colonies,
and hundreds Of families are living II
canvas homes in Mingo This sstgsuon
raised Question Of sanitation.
In the clashes IN Mingo the name:
Hstheld and Mccoy have figured promi.
neutly In the Matewan fight Chief of Po-
Ice Hatfield took part and later was
indicted for murder His trial is pending
In the week following Mccoy on q lonely
tA-OAA4N11AA AOo0 was A9AAf H0NAtNN@ ~ -
unidentified assailant.
These fights have caused old settlers K
! bark back 20 the day when the Hatfield
clan, following the killing of one of then
brethren, under the leadership Of Dew
Anse" Hatfield swore what was known q:
the 'eBlack Oath" The story is tolc
j that twenty members Of the clan, kneel
4 ing around a camp fire IN the hills Of Min
go county, pledged themselves 20 th'
| absolute destruction Of the Mccoy fam
/ ilv. As a result men, women, and children
/ OF the enemy clan found no mercy, anC
| the feud became known far and wide a.
one of the bloodiest in the history oi
| the mountains
! Strange TO say three of the detective
! guards who were killed in the Matewar
| fight this year were descendants of state
| guards and officers who were sent into
Afingo in the early co.'s 20 put down the
feud
With the Federal troops In the section
the county, for the fIst time in many
years apparently is IN q fair way TO obtain
rleaee and calm