The Mankato free press., 1921-09-02
PLEAD WITH MINERS
[Continued From Page One.l

Creek, firing, which started yester-
day, continued, but reports of the
other border sections were that
quiet prevailed.
Prediction freely was made be-
tween midnight and daybreak that
twelve o'clock today would find
armed bands still gathered on the
Boone county side of Spruce Fork
Ridge. That hour was designated by
President Harding m Tuesdays pro-
clamation as the time limit for the
dispersion of all persons engaged
in unlawful and insurrectionary pro-
ceedings." the alternative being the
dispatch of federal troops to the af-
fected district and declaration of
martial law in the counties of Kan
awha, Fayette. Boone, Logan and
Mingo. Charleston, the state capital,
is in Kanawha county.
Troubles in Southern Counties
This block OF counties, forming
part of the southern tier have been,
on several occasions, the scene of
industrial differences and armed
marches.
The first indication of a march
fom Kanawha county through Boone
and Logan into Mingo, was the as
sembling of groups Of men from
Paint and Cabin Creeks at Marmet,
town just outside of Charleston,
August 20. For several days there
after. other, bodies joined the groups
sSohlag swelling ga their number to several
Yesterday the marchers started to
advance in at least two places over
Blair mountain and at Crooked
Creek. Reports brought into Logan,
the county seat, were that several
members of the blocking patrols had
been killed and indicated casualties
among those trying to move forward.
Firing Continues All Night
Throughout the night, motor cars
Transporting additional men and mu-
nitions, sped along the Logan Blair
road to Spruce Fork Ridge, and re-
tinued along a three mile line.
Authorities have definitely estab-
lished that three of the Logan coun-
ty forces were killed yesterday.
These men, one a deputy sheriff, and
the others volunteer peace officers,
were shot to death in the Blair
mountain encounter, which occurred
shortly, before firing on Crooked
Creek began.
In addition to John Gore, a Logan
county deputy. previously reported
killed, John Cofago and Jim Munsie
fell in the mountain fight.
Conflicting reports of casualties
among the men trying to march to-
sheriff's office early today. The
number ranged from one to a dozen.
Quiet Is Reported
Logan, w. Va, September Run
ners reaching Logan from outlying
post in the mountains reported at noon
today that quiet prevailed in the Sec
tions where the deputy sheriffs and
volunteers under Sheriff Chain of Lo-
gan County, and Sheriff Hatfield OF
Nc Dowell County, were prepared to
meet an advance of armed bands
from the east Of Spruce Fork ridge.
AS fast as deputy sheriffs and vol
unteers from other parts OF the state ar
rived here, they were hurried to the
ment as to the number of~reinforce-
front, but there was no Official state
ments or the total number of men now
on active duty.
Commanders of the men In the
mountains said it was impossible to
estimate the number of casualties suf-
statement was made as to the men
wounded by the defenders. AS a pre-
cautionary measure, the Logan and Nc
Dowell men kept up hot rifle fire at
times today on the sections of the
range believed to be occupied by the
armed bands.
Feeling at Charleston
Charleston, w. Va, September l.
When state officials reached their Of
fives this morning and glanced at last
nights reports from Logan county,
they expressed the opinion that mar
tial law in Logan and other nearby
counties was inevitable.
Advices received at the executive
|tine of advance and resistance ex-
tends twleve miles along Spruce Fork
ridge from Hewitt's Greek to Blair
mountain. 1t was added that the
governors information was that mil
itary procedure is being followed by
the armed bands and that none was
permitted to pass to the rear with
out "a signed pass. No information
was received as to signatures, how
ever,
Philip Murray, vice president of the
International Organization OF Mine
Workers, has telegraphed President
Harding, expressing the belief that
the men along the Boone Logan bor-
der would diSrerse provided the
government, gave the men a sub
stantial guarantee that their lives and
property would be protected from
armed gunmen."
Stop Train Movement.
st. Adams, w. w.. September l.
All trains on the Coal river branch
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
from st. Albans to Madison, Jeffrey
and other points where armed bands
have BEEN collecting for the past
few days, have been stopped The
last train from here left yesterday
afternoon. Railroad men said that
not even the mail was being moved.
Persons who reached here early
today tried in vain to induce owners
of automobiles to take them to Madi-
son or Jeffrey They said that all
roads between here and those points
were patrolled and that armed men
had been stopping motor cars within
five miles of, st Adams. f i
Some 200 people were assembled at
the railroad station waiting for trans
portation up Coal river. Many of
them had been here since yesterday
afternoon. 1t is thirty eight miles
from st. Adams to Madison and about
forty-five miles to Towns just over
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