Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-05-26
BORDER BATTLE
B0THERS MINGO
sTATE TROOPERS KEPT BUSY
FIGHTING ARMED MEN WHO
.SHoOT UP~ ToWNa

violent outbreaks OF lawlessneBs
during April In Mingo county gives
added emphasis to the wisdom of
West Virginia's Legislature In author
izing an increase in size of the West
Virginia State police. A virtual line
OF battle extends along the Tug river
from a point below Matewan to
point above Chatteroy, a distance of
approximately 25 miles.
thousands OF rounds of ammuni-
tions have been fired from the Ken
lucky side into non-union mining COM
munities in West Virginia and from
West Virginia hills into the open shop
mines of Kentucky. Scores of families
have been driven from their homes
which were riddled by bullets from
the guns OF radicals who are creating
a reign OF terror" in an effort to
drive these non-union workers from
the district and thus cripple the oper-
atoms of the mines.
| Seven distinct attacks were made
| on non-union towns in both Kentucky
and West Virginia In three weeks.
| The situation has reached such a seri-
| Gus stage that the governors of the
| two states are considering united &C
ton to drive the outlaws from this
| district.
outposts Along River.
The West Virginia State police have
strung outposts all along the West
| Virginia side Of the river and have
reduced the shooting from the West
| Virginia hills to a minimum but thew
are powerless to cope with the hidden
riflemen who fire into the West Vir-
| ginia communities from the Kentucky
hills. Moreover West Virginia has not
a sufficient number Of state police in
Mingo county at present to properly
police this district. While they are
able to drive the rifemen from the
West Virginia hills. they have not
enough men to prevent the outbreaks
| altogether.
Within the last month the West
Virginia towns OF Merrimac, Sprire
and Album have been shot I'D" as
we'll as Blackberry City, McCarr ami
Freeburn on the Kentucky side. The
attack on Merrimac was the most seri
GUS. Over 5000 shots were fired into
the town from points in Kentucky and
from ridge in West Virginia.
Gunmen Driven Away.
The shooting continued until the
West Virginia State Police arrived
and drove the gunner from the hills
The police had hardly finished quiet
| ing the firing at Merrimac when the
gunner opened up on Sprigg, a cou-
pie or miles away. The state police
stationed at Sprigg were at Merrimac
aiding in putting down the trouble
there SO the radicals had everything
their own way during the absence of
| the officers.
Six hundred shots were fired into
Sprigg. Houses were riddled and
women and children forced to flee n
shelter OF the mine mouths. The hat.
Tie at Merrimac started at 6 O'CLOCK
and continued until nine. State troo,
ers Teel and Cooley, at Merrimac At
the time. deputized several men and
the fire was returned with such ven.
geance that the guns OF the attackera
were silenced. Captain J. r. Rrockuo
and detail of men rushed to Merrim,c
from Williamson in automobiles. Five
armed men were captured in the hills
and lodged in Jail on charge of shoe.
ing with intent to kill.
Attack Was Resumed.
When the shots were heard in ,ho
vicinity OF Sprigg. the State noIico
started for that village but were fred
upon by gunner in the Kentucky biuo
and were obliged to abandon their an
tomobiles and continue on foot Ahou,
two hours after their arrival in Snrioa
airing was again resumed. this TIM
being entirely confined to the Ken.
lucky side OF the river. The Stat
police returned the fire so effectiveIv
that II soon ceased altogether.
The following day, a motor truck
upon which officials of the Red Jacko,
Coal company were riding. was fred
upon near Matewan. Shotguns were
used. over 40 slugs striking the truck
but its occupants escaped uniniured
The shots, II Is said, came from a poin,
near the tent colony, which is occu.
pied by union miners.