Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-13
Reign of Terror in MingO Co. Coal Field
Men Are Shooting Into Towns From the Mountains-State Forces Overwhelmed.

Williamson, W. Va, May 12-Guerilla warfare, with all odds apparently favor ing the forces opposing the state, was being waged tonight in the grim noun tains of the strike-torn Mingo County coal field.
 Beginning soon after this morning, at the little mining town of Merrimac four miles up the Tug river from this city. a fusillade of shots was poured from the mountainside successively into Merrimac, Rawl. Sprigga, Matewan, w. Va., and McCarr Ky,
 All available state police and deputy sheriffs centered in Williamson were rushed to the scene by train and automo- bile, but according to reports they had been unable at a late hour to check the shooting.
 l Harry c. Staton. state prohibition of- | ficer and merchant at Sprigg, was killed | by a buletsfrom the mountains, and Noah l Phillips and young man named Calvert, 1 employees of the White Star Coal com pany commissary at Merrimac. have been seriously wounded. Rumors of other kill ings and woundngs have been received at headquarters of the state police here but to late hour had not been confirmed. Tonight little handful of state police 1 about twenty in number, were reported t.. ] be working their way over the mountains
  get above and ouf1ank their hidden foes
 This force was led by Captain J. k Brockus, commander of the state police | in the Williamson district. score oI deputy sheriffs under Chief Deputy Johi :. Hall were cooperating with Captain Brockus and his men
 Todays outbreak. the worst since til, Matewan battle of last May 19, in whicf ten persons were killed. including tn. mayor of Matewan, had all the appear anceS of prearranged attack.
 The towns visited with the hail of lea are all within seven miles of each othe, and lie in narrow valley on the bank, of the Tug river. which here separate e West Virginia from Kentucky The firin, today and tonight came from the noun tains on both sides of the river. accord ing to the state police.
 They concentrated, therefore. in tn mountains on the West Virginia side While county officials here got in toucl with the officials of Pike county, ken lucky. in an attempt to obtain co-opera
 uon Tn routing the attackers from tn Kentucky side.
 Terror reigned in the towns in the zon Of lire as night fell and it was Iearne the authorities had failed to appreben any Of the attacking force The bulk q shooting heretofore has been done a ;, night when lighted houses afforded eas | targets for the hidden rihemen Virtua ly all lights were extinguished tonigl
 and residents kent close under cover. f The outfianking expedition led bv Car 8 tain Brockus, despite it's extremely ba, ardous character. was declared by th | authorities to be virtually the only bor ! oI routing or capturing the attackers The state police were virtually belnie,
 during the day. as the attacking forces = the mountains were completely screepe yfoliage and boulders while the noiif z m order to attempt a direct attack won nave been obliged to cross the open va ley and climb the rugged slopes in fin view of the hidden marksmen. |, Sergeant David Peterson of inc sta - police: who led squad of men to Snrie
 this afternoon, told tonight of the pIirI l. Tn which several hundred passengers on a monday train found themselves wb,
 they reached the battle zone
 r. Bullets were pepnering down from fl l. mountains when the train got in .- sad. 'Women and children scream, e and cried in terror, while vfrtuaIIv eve, ID passenger on the train fen prone to fl
 noors of the coaches for protection.
 oon know whether any shots were aim r were injured"
 Sergeant Peterson. who aHgb+od r. Sprigg with his scuad. said his men we a suD3ected to a hail of bullets before tn IT couiu gam shelter in nearby cabin.