The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-18
WAR I'm WEST
VIRGINIA
Striking Coal Miners Attack
State Police in Tug River
Valley

.sss
.Wilaamson, w. Va, May 12.-Gue-
rilAs warfare. With all odds appar-
emily faVoring the forces opposing
the state. was being waged tonight
II the grim mountains Of the strike
toFn Mingo county coal field. Begin
nIng soon after dawn this morning
at the little mining town Of Merri-
mac. four miles up the Tug river from
this city. a fusillade Of shots was
poured from the moutainside success
siEeg INTO Merrinlac, Raw,l, Spr:gs
and sMatewan, ". Va, and McSarr,
KY.
.Au available state police and deputy
shefiffs;. centered in Williamson We're
rushed TO the scene by train and au-
t1gnobile but at q late hour had falleo
so check the shooting.
Harry C. Station. a state prohloltlo!l
agent and merchant at SprIgg, va
killed ard Noah Phillips and q youn&
man named Calvert, employee Of ths
White. Star Coal company commits
sary at Merrimac, have been serious
" wounded. Rumors Of other kill
inga and weddings have been re-
scefed at headquarters OF the state
police here. Tonight about 20 state
police were reported to be working
tl1etH way over the mountains be-
ttwesn: MerriHac and Rawl, seeking to
g lhoys and out flank their hia-
dsasfoes.
ss1isgierce was led by Capt. j. r.
BFaskas,. commander of the state
noziesgIn the Williamson district. a
SoOSs0f deputy sheriffs under Chic:
DeSasE John. S. Hall We're cooperat-
ina With Captain Rrockus and his
TDdayss outbreak, the worst since
The sMatewan battle OF last May in
which 70 persons were killed, lnclud-
issthe: mayor of Matewan, had al
thsSappearance Of pre-arranged at
Tke towns attacked are ak within
sexen miles Of each other and lie IN
Rsuafrow valley on the banks Of the
Tug river. which here separates West
Virginia from Kentucky. The firing
today and tonight came from the
mountains on both sides of the river
ascotd3ng. 20 state police.
Caantain Brockus's force concen-
ftafed in the mountains on the ~ est
Eitginta+ side, while county officials
hsre got In touch with the officials o.
Pkescounty, Kentucky, in an attempt
to obtain cooperation in routing the
Sttaekers from the Kentucky side.
Terror reigned in the towns in the
zone of fire as night fell and it was
learned the authorities had failed te
stsna any Of the attacking force
s Mort of the shooting heretofore ha:
sbssn sdo one. at -Eafgit when ligntet
houses. afforded :aseasy. targets. Vir
sfnalsy@ all lights were extinguishee
aSnsEht and residents kept close un
sdsrsscover,
A;ghe:sput6apking expedition, led b,
Captain BrockuS despite its extreme
lyz1azasdnns enaracter. was declared
. By the authorities to be virtually tn
Z -ansyshope. Of routing or capturing tn
attackers. 81.
s agThe state. police were virtual,
3 hsBIess 1during thesday, as the at
tSckings forces in the mountains wee
& completely screened by foliage an
bculders, while the police for direc
aaYaek would have been obliged t
. cross the open valley and climb tn
ragged. slopes in full view Of tn
I hider markslnen.
Sergt David Peterson Of the stat
police, who led a squad Of men t
SpfIggs this afternoon, tonight told o
tfle1 plight in which several hundret
passengers on noon day train foun'
themselves when they reached th
Battle zone.
sessElalets were peppering down from
theS mountains when the train go
g iyss ,stsaid women and child"ei
sesree aaet3 ard rrie:i in terror wlai:
sfrtaaaly every passenger On tn
Z train fell prone to the floors OF to
ceaeEes for protection. I don't know
whether any shots were aimed q
the, train. None Of the passenger
were injured.
sergeant Peterson who alighted a
Sprgg with his squad said his me'
were subjected to a hail of bullet
before they could gain shelter in ;
nearby cabin.
Williamson, May 13.-Warfare i
the West Virginia-Kentucky Goa
strike region was resumed with vigO