Evening star., 1921-09-02
Courier Reports
Continual Roar
Along Line.
CAPTURED TRAIN
USED BY MINERS
Airplanes Discover In
creased Activity
Among Bands.
Yy the Associnted Press

By the Associated PresS.
LOGAN, w. Va, September. 2.-After
a morning of uncertainty in which
reports from Spruce Fork ridge had
told of sporadic fighting since day
break, it was officially announced at
noon that heavy firing" was taking
place at Blair mountain, Mill creek
and Crooked creek.
Col. Eubanks said that one Logan
man had been wounded on Blair
mountain and that five of the oppos-
ing forces had been seen to fall.
Airplanes accommodating over Boone
county. east of the ridge, reported
increased activity among the armed
bands which have assembled there.
while a courier from the front" said
ut was lone continual roar along the
entire line"
These reports, which had the official
sanction Of the civil and military COM
manders here, indicated the heaviest
fighting since the line was establish
ed along Spruce Fork ridge and ef-
forts were made by the Logan county
authorities to stop what they termed
an invasion" of their county.
Line Twenty Miles Long.
They said that new men had been
sent into the line. which now was
about twenty miles in length. and
that these men were fresh and amply
provided with ammunition and provi-
sions.
Reinforcements continued to reach
Logan from the southern part of the
state. the latest arrivals today being
party Of Mingo men, who came by
rail from Williamson.
In addition to their rifles and pis-
tolls, they brought with them auto
matte rifles and machine guns.
The county town Of Logan. while
stirred by the intense military" ac-
tivity. went about the business of
ridge" with calm assurance. Few
comments were heard when it be-
came known that federal troops were
on their way.
Defense Force ReOrgnnized.
The situation along Blair mountain
was shrouded in mystery this MORN
ing, Col. Jackson Arnold. commanding
the state police, and Sheriff Don
Chaf1n Of Logan county and Sheriff
bill" Hatfield of Mcdowell county,
who are directing the deputy sheriffs
and volunteers along Pine Fork
Ridge, refusing dstatlsaaaaefasHeasle1
Unofficially. there were reports that
the forces had been. in a measure, re-
organized and that Col. Arnold had
taken over command OF the eastern
jsection of the line. Observers who
of the past few days were unit in
declaring that this foretold more ag-
gressive action on the part of the
state and county forces in the noun
tains.
Townspeople anxiously awaited an
announcement that federal troops had
been ordered into West Virginia, but
If the authorities had been notified
they did not take the public into their
confidence.
Resume Firing on Ridge.
Firing was resumed along the ridge
at points between Mill creek and
Crooked creek shortly before day
break. but, according to reports here.
seemed to be nothing more serious
outposts. With sunrise it increased
but was confined to that immediate
section.
Over on Blair mountain there was
comparative quiet, official reports said.
There is much speculation here as
to the number OF casualties among
the defensive forces. Officially it has
been announced that three men have
been killed and one is still missing.
Early morning reports from Spruce
Fork ridge told little about the situa-
tion on the Logan county border,
where firing from either side was
spasmodic during the night. Col. w.
F. Eubanks. West Virginia National
Guard, in command Of the Logan
county forces. had no official state
ment to make, he said, and Sheriff
Don Chain was equally reticent.
and brought here last night were
locked in the county Jail. where an
hour before a fatal shooting had oc-
Cured.
While being transferred from one
cell to another Paul Cominsky, ar
1hn 4
with being a suspicious person, at
tackled Jailer w. E. White, where
upon. the officer stated, he shot and
killed him.
, Train Carries Bodies.
MADISON, w. Va, September a
| A Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
, train which the armed forces around
| Blair have been using since regular
! service on Little Coal river branch
this morning bound for Whitesvil1e.
a mining village on the Wyoming
county border. In one car, it was
I stated, were the bodies Of a number
of Whitesville men who had fallen
| in the fighting on Blair mountain.
A physician reported that he had
treated two men who reached Madi-
son during the night from the vi
cinity of Blair. One had a gunshot
wound in the arm and the other said
! he had fallen over q cliff in the noun
tains.
According to reports reaching the
authorities here there was another
| brush on Blair mountain this morn
ing. The firing continued for almost
| an hour. If there were casualties
tthey were not reported.
Persons in possession of informa-
/ tion from what they termed "the
front" refused to talk for publica-
ton, although readily discussing the
| situation there in private.
RANnHnI.Tz OPENS nFFIcE