The New York herald., 1921-05-14
DEATH LIST GROWS
in MINGO FIGHTING;
6 TO IS ARE SLAIN
Forty Miners Reported Sur
rounded by Belligerents
in West Virginia
Mountains.
TROOPERS TO RESCUE
Man Is Killed at MateWan
When Attempting to Get
Water for One of Refu-
gee Families.
MANY LEAVING DISTRICT
Coal Operators and Striking
Diggers, Officials Issue Con-
Trajectory Statements
About Trouble. E,
MANY LEAVING DISTRICT

WILLIAMSON, w. Va, May 13.-The
battle zone of the Williamson coal dis
trict was shrouded tonight in dark
ness that was illumined only by rifle
flashes from the Kentucky and West
Virginia mountains, as the second day
of fighting closed with the belligerency
of the mountain rifiemen apparently
undiminished.
Reports received here at State police
headquarters for the district told Of a
general exodus Of women and children
from the embattled mining towns, the
refugees going either to the hills not
infested with rifiemen or leaving the
district.
The few remaining inhabitants hud-
died in lightless houses and tent
colonies. hoping in the darkness to
find safety from the hail Of lead that
has been poured out at intervals all
day long. Some refugee families have
made their way to this city
RAG OF Truce Sent Out.
An emissary of the State forces taking
part in the battle that has ragged for
two days In the Mingo Mountains along
Tug River approached the stronghold
Of leader Of the mountaineers under a
flag of truce late tonight and asked
that the mountain men cease firing into
the villages in this region This infor-
Chief Deputy John Hail. who sent one
Of his men into the hills to confer with
the attacking party.
Hall reported to Sheriff A. c. Pinson
that his enissary. carrying a piece of
white muslin on a stick. reached the
party OF men who were raining bullets
Into a nearby town. The mountaineers
respected the white flag and when the
Deputy made known his mission OF
peace. according to Hall. a leader OF
the forces opposed to the State officers
replied that the hill men would accept a
truce only when the firing from the
Kentucky side OF the river had ceased
Only the most meagre details OF to-
days fighting had reached Williamson
tonight over crippled telephone lines
and from the lips OF arrivals from the
zone OF firing. but from the conflicting
mass OF reports it seemed certain that
yesterdays death toll Of two had been
increased during the day to at least six.
while acceptance OF all the reports
would place the killed at from ten to
fifteen.
Two Dead ON Kentucky Side.
Two men are known to have been
killed at McCarr. KY. at the eastern end
OF the troubled area. while other reports
placed the total there at ive. At Mate
wan one, and possibly two. have been
killed.
Less definite reports from Merrimac.
Rawl and sprigg tell OF killings at these
towns. and other unconfirmed reports
recite killings that have occurred on
the Kentucky side of the Tug River.
opposite Matewan.
Fierce fighting was reported to-day
from all the towns that figured in
yesterdays attack-Rawl Merrimac.
Sprigg, Matewan and McCarT-while
new attacks broke out late to-day at the
little town OF Gates. near Matewan, and
at the New Howard Coal Company
mines nearby score or more OF non
union miners were reported to be
hemmed in by the firing at the Howard
mines and their fate had not been
learned tonight.
Capt ]. r. Brockus, In command of
the State police, who made an at
tempted Thanking expedition into the
mountains yesterday but lost his quarry.
went to Sprigg late to-day on a special
train with fifteen men and again started
on similar man1uvre. No word had
been received from him since he aban-
doned the train at Sprigg and took the
mountain trail under fire.
Deputies Efforts Arc Vain.
A force of deputy sheriffs under John
S. Hall. chief deputy. spent the day in
the neighborhood OF Matewan. but they
were powerless to check the fighting.
Only two of the known dead had been
Identified tonight They are Dan Whit.
said by the state police to be nom
union miner, killed at Matewan while
attempting 60 obtain water for a refugee
family. and a man killed at McCarr
named Smith, whose initials were be-
lieved TO be ID. w.
Contradictory statements were issued
here tonight by representatives Of the
Williamson Coal Operators Association
and the United Mine Workers. parties to
tne Industrial controversy In the region.
David Robb of the miners union de-
clared that the battle was brought about
by attacks on union miners by nom
union men employed in tho field. An
official OF the operators association con-
tradictod every statement made by Mr..
Robb This official declared that the
strike" OF miners lis already broken
Mr. Robb said that about 2.500 men are
Am ~, .slocLotit sfrilrcn In tho al II rict