Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-05-21
BIC DEATH LIST
IN MINGO FIGHT
Women Fleeing Towns in Coal
Region as All Day Hail of
Lead Sweeps Houses.
TROOPERS TO THE RESCUE
U. S. Army officer investigates Call
for Troops In Kentucky - West
Virginia Families In Cellars Z.
Without Food and Water.

zone Of the Mingo coal district was
Illuminated by rifle flashes from the
Kentucky and West Virginia noun
tains as another day of fighting closed
with the belligerency of the riflemen
apparently undiminished.
Reports received here at state police
headquarters told Of a general exodus
Of women and children from the min
ing towns under fire, the refugees go
ing either to the hills or leaving the
district altogether.
1t seems certain that the death toll
of two has been increased to at least
six, while acceptance of all the re-
ports would place the killed at from
ten to fifteen. Two men are known
to have been killed at McCarr, KY,
while other reports placed the total
there at five. At Matewan one, and
possibly two, have been killed. Less
definite reports from Merrimac, Rawl
and Sprigg tell of killings, and others
report killings on the Kentucky side
opposite Matewan.
Fierce fighting was reported during
the day from all the towns that figured
In the attack - Rawl, Merrimac,
Sprigg, Matewan and McCarr, while
new attacks broke out at the little
town of Gates, near Matewan, and at
the New Howard Coal Company mines
nearby. A score or more of non-union
miners were reported to be hemmed In
by the fire at the Howard mines, and
their fate Is unknown.
Captain Brockus, in command of the
state police, who made a thanking
expedition into the mountains but lost
his quarry, went to Sprigg on special
train with fifteen men and again
started on similar maneuver.
Only two of the known dead were
identified. They are Dan Whit, said
by the state police to be a non-union
miner, killed at Matewan while at
tempting to obtain water for q ref
ugee family, and man named Smith
whose initials were believed to be ID.
W., and who was killed at McCarr.
According to train passengers arriv-
ing from the troubled area, terror
stricken women and children were re-
ported hiding in cellars and dugouts,
in many cases without food and water.
Conflicting claims as to the RESPONSE
bility for the shooting were made by
officials of the United Mine Workers
and those of the Williamson Coal OPP
orators Association. Both agreed
that the initial shots were fired from
the Kentucky mountains opposite Mer-
rimac. The miners maintained the
battle had been begun by non-unlon
men or other persons connected with
the Operators Association, while op-
orators officials insisted the first shots
had been fired by former Strikers
Deputy Sheriff Hall reported to
Sheriff A. c. Pinson that an emissary
of the state forces, carrying a piece Of
white muslin on stick, reached
party Of men who were shooting into
a nearby town. The mountaineers re-
spected the white flag. When the
deputy made his errand known, the
leader replied that the hill men would
accept true only when the firing
from the Kentucky side of the river
had ceased.
Chillcothe, Ohio.-Orders We're re-
ceived at Camp Sherman from the
corps commander at Indianapolis to
have troops ready to move into West
Virginia. A detachment of the Nine
teenth Infantry will make the trip.
Equipment has been ordered prepared
by the railroads.
Observation-Disclosures on the request
Of the governors of West Virginia and
Kentucky that federal troops be sent
to quell the disturbances on the Mingo
county border Is being withheld by the
War Department, pending the report
of a staff officer sent from Fort Ben
jamin Harrison, Indiana, to investigate
the situation. Should the staff officer
endorse the request, the whole ques-
ton will be referred to President
Harding before action is taken.