The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-14
HILL BATTLE
STILL RACES;
5 ARE DEAD
Disturbances in Williamson
Coal District Spread to Nc
Carr-200 Miners Keep up
Firing There.
U. S. TROOPS READY
fBy Associated Press)

tBy Associated Prcss)
WILLIAMSON. W. Va. May IA
Firing has become general over vir-
tually the entire battlefront of seven
miles in the Williamson coal district.
it was reported today, the third day OF
the gun fight
Starting at Lynn, W. Va. two miles
farther east than the end of yester-
days firing line, the shooting spread
down Tug river to McCarr. KY, and
Sprigg and Merrimac. in West Nir
ginia, in succession.
Deputy sheriffs at Merrimac ano
Sprigg reported the attackers on the
/ Kentucky side of the river were ex-
hibiting greater boldness than on the
preceding days of the fight.
Shoot at 100 Yards
Instead of lurking in the heavily
wooded mountains they had conc, the
deputies said, to the bank Of the river
and were shooting across into the
towns at a range of not more than
100 yards. Deputy Sheriff Clark at
Merrimac described the fire of such
intensities that the attackers were
shooting the tops off the houses"
No information as to casualties in
today's fighting was obtainable. Ac-
cording to an unconfirmed report re-
| ceived at the Williamson Coal Oper-
ators' association, Matewan also is
i under heavy fire.
Terrific firing from both the Ken
lucky and West Virginia sides of the
Tug river. along the section which has
been in a virtual state Of war for the
last 4S hours, was resumed early to-
day, according to reports from Pike
county officers in the trouble zone.
From the West Virginia side came
word that a number of men whose
/ names had not been learned were
killed.
200 Men Firing.
McCarr. according to the authorities.
point on the fighting front 1t is esti-
! mountain there, and steady firing is
reported in progress.
! Reports from Rawi, Merrimac, and
other points on the western enc Of
the fronts indicate there has been no
| firing there since late yesterday after
noon. The total death list for the two
| days fighting still was in doubt this
morning At least five men are knows
TO have been killed. but unconfirmed
reports Of other killings continue to
| filter into Williamson.
Both Sides Shift Blame.
| Propaganda is being circulated by
, both sides. each blaming the others
| for disorders. Acrimonious statements
| and charges are launched by support
ers of both factions. Threats and
rumors of threats are discussed in
virtually every gathering. Men who
! have followed the situation profess &c
regard it as the most serious that has
arisen since the trouble began, not
| excepting The Matewan shooting last
! May 10, in which ten were slain.
| The operators are firm in their deter
mination to keep the field open at any
cost. The United Mine Workers are
equally determined in their insistance
that the struggle must go on until their
union is recognized. The questions OF
wages and working conditions also
enter into disagreement. but these ad-
mittedly are minor considerations.
Issues Statement.
David Robb, International financial
agent of the United Mine Workers,
district. made public today the first
statement he has issued since the III
| dustrial warfare f1ared up again
THE lockout strike in this field can
never be settled by thugs and gun
men," declared Mr.. Robb. asserting
| that the battle which started Thurs
day had been brought about by attacks
! on union miners by non-union men
| now employed in the fields.
"A high percentage of the men now
| out are Americans. natives OF this
district and they do not propose to
be driven from their homes. Any one
who knows the mountaineer tempera-
ment knows that they won't be intim-
| idated and that they will not allow
! their women and children to be made
into targets have been besieged
with requests from union men for
money with which to buy arms and
ammunition. These requests / have,
| Of course. refused, and | have coun-
| selled the men to moderation but ]
know that many of them will go right
ahead firing back when their homes
or the tent colonies to which they have
been reduced by eviction proceedings
of the operators, are fired upon"
| WASHINGTON. May IA Major
General Read. commandant OF the
, fifth corps area, was instructed today
! by Secretary Weeks to send federal
/ troops into Mingo county, w. Va, II
! the general deemed the presence OF
troops there necessary to quell the
| border disturbance.
The number of troops to go was left
to the discretion of General Read, but
Secretary Weeks order was that all
| the soldiers necessary to restore order
be moved. General Read advised the
department yesterday that he was
holding a force in readiness pending
| instructions from Washington and ad-
vices from a staff officer sent into
Mingo county to investigate the sit
uation.
The question of sending troops to
quell the disturbance, it was said yes
! to-day at the war dena rtraaat had