Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-04-08
RUINED HOMES
ARE RELICS OF
RADICALS IRE
SCENE OF oESoLATioN At Will.
LIS BRANCH EMPHASIZES NEED
OF STRONGER FORCE TO UP.
HOLD LAWS OF w. VIRGINIA.
STATE POLICE ON GUARD

SIRIE fUl1Ck IN GURHU
West NirGinia's urgent need Of a
stronger force OF State Police is
graphically illustrated in it's inability
to cope with the lawlessness which
prevails i'll Fayette county where the
mining town OF Willis Branch has
literally been shot of the map" by
radicals who, for nearly two years,
have endcavored to settle strike
with clubs. dynamite and rifles.
With both State Police companies
IN MfnGo county where threatening
conditions exist, the lawless element
OF Fayette and Raleigh counties-Wil-
lis Branch 10 near tho Raleigh county
Ine-hos made full use OF the oppor-
eunity to carry on practically unhamp-
ered warfare against . coal company
which 70 trying TO operate an open
shop" mine.
villa Branch, deserted, dynamited
and shs& ssddAs1. it, streets still SPOT
tod with The stain Of human blood is
muto evidence OF the horror which
ho<ers over every mining community
IN . state unable TO protect and up
hold the laws Of both man and God.
1t 10 an example of the ruthless, death
dealing tactics employed by a certain
class OF labor agitators and radical
sympathizers to force a non.uuion
community to recognize a union.
AS the matter stands today. seven
West Virginia State Police and two
special deputies are the only restrain
ing force between several hundred
armed radicals and the complete de-
struction of the town. For months
Willis Branch was the target OF week.
~ attacks. Its citizens, those workers
who risked the blows OF drunken ruff
fans, the bullets Of daylight snipers
and halls OF lead in the night, lived
with their families In shot-torn houses.
sleeping in rooms lined with sheet
iron and sand-bag barricades.
Beneath floors they made dug outs"
for tho women and children to hide
when nring from surrounding hills
commenced. Because the state was
unable to send sufficient State Police
to Willis Branch to restore order, de-
struction Of property has been great.
Houses have been burned and dyna-
mited. Two mine inclines and the
power house were blown up. Attempts
were made to wreck the loading tipple
and burn the company Offices. Ma
chinery in the hoist house and loaded
coal cars on the inclines were wreck
ed. The boarding house was repeated-
~ fired into when the men were eat
ing supper. Children were made the
target OF daylight gunner. Women
with babes in their arms were fired
on in the streets.
Five days before leaving office Gov
ernor J. J. Cornwell and Governor
elect e. F. Morgan inspected the town
and saw the havoc wrought since the
strike was declared in September,
, 1919. Sheriff G.. \. Conley Of Fayettc
county told them the situation was be.
yond his control and that the presence
OF a strong force OK State Police was
! imperative to restore order and check
lawless practices.
The state officials found that G5 out
of the 67 houses in Willis Branch had
been shot up. They saw dug-ouLs in
! which the women and children hid
and the blood stains on the street
where Henry Lafferty, said to have
been radical unionist, was killed
as he crawled upon the company build.
| Ing with kerosine and matches in an
| attempt to fire it. They saw the stone
| breastwOrks on the surrounding hills
behind which gunner lay and fired
! into the town.
They peered through bullet holes
! in buildings which were riddled in an
| attack OH the town at midnight Feb.
! 49, Over 10000 shots were poured
! into the place. Gunf1re continued un-
! til o'clock in the morning Women
and children shivered in dugo all
| night.
The handful Of besejged citizens
! protected themselves as best they
could. 1t was the climax OF long
! period OF lawlessnoss. Women and
children fed Into the hills. Citizens
ran for safety leaving personel belong.
| inBs behind. The remainder left the
next morning Crowds were at the
station to see them leave. They were
cursed and stoned There were no
State Police il Wills Branch at the
! time.
Seven State Police were sent into
the town the following day. This de.
tail was organized by weakening vital
! posts III Mingo county. The TROOPERS
were in charge Of Private Quinn. Since
| fho;r arrival in Willis Dron,b ....--,