New-York tribune., 1922-06-22
Wounding Of 3 Detec.
tives by Strikers From
Ambush Leads TO 4-Hour
Clash Near IIerrin, Ill.
Union Men Loot
Stores for Guns
Majority of Casualties
Among Guards in Pit;
Operators Ask for Truce


men were killed. two others are
dying and moro than a score wero
wounded this afternoon when an
army Of miners, estimated 10 number
more than 5000, stormed the stocks
ade of the Southern Illinois Coal
Companys mine, six miles from this
city, according 10 reports reaching
here tonight.
The majority Of the dead are mins
guards, Il is said. The battle lasted
more than four hours. AZ o'clock
this evening a white flag was hois'ed
from the inside Of the stockade, with
a request for a conference.
Miners officials demanded tho sur
render Of the mine, and eegsation Of
operations, It is declared, 70 which
the operators are said 70 have ae-
ceded.
The mine, since the declaration ~
the strike some weeks ago, has been
operating with non-union labor. The
workers were guarded By operatives
from private detective agencies, among
them being the Hargreayes Secret
Service, Of Chicago.
Open Fire From Ambush
Shortly before o'clock large truck
with ten OF the Hargreayes operatives
was travelling along a road nine miles
north Of Carbonate, M. Strikers, am
bushed in a clump Of trees, opened ira
on the truck and three Of the opera
tives were wounded. The truck fed TO
Carbondale, where the men were placed
in the hospital.
As word Of the attack reached Herl
rim. West Frankfort and other mining =
communities, knots Of men quickly
gathered on the streets. lmpromptl
speakers jumped on wagons and
porehes and addressed the growing
crowds.
These loon gradually dispersed 20
their homes, 20 return a few moments
later with rifles and reyolyers. a.
Herrin a crowd numbering two hun
dred invaded the hardware stores ~
the Bray-North Company, the Herrin
Supply Company and the Turner Hard
ware Company and demanded arms and
ammunition. These were refused. Tho
miners then held up the proprietors
and clerks, bound and gagged them and
rihed the stores OF everything in tho
nature Of weapons and explosives. IL
is estimated than more than $1,000
worth Of supplies were taken.
Strikers March on Stockade
Motor truck loads OF strikers rushed
over the muddy roads 10 Marian, West
Frankfort and other towns 20 purchase
more ammunition and arms, then re-
turned az top speed % their various
communities, where the weapons were
distributed.
At 3 o'clock the crowds, as II from a
concerted signal, moved toward tho
Southern Illinois Coal Company's mine.
There A stockade had been erected By
the mine guards. Men armed VITA
rifles were posted az every conyenient
point. The mine is what Is known as
a surface or strip" mine-tho workers
being in plain view from the surround
ing hill sides.
The FIRST strikers % arrive st the
scene posted themselves on the top ot
the hills or climbed trees % enable
them 70 look over the stockade. Nine
guards promptly opened fire and TIE
strikers returned Il. The first desul-
tory shots grew into a roar as rein
forcements came TO the aid Of botn
sides.
At Hcrrin and Johnson City, six
miles away, the noise Of battle could DO
distinguished. More than a hundred
non-union workers barricaded them
selves in the mine pit.
Fourteen Bodies in Pit Alone
There they were fred upon cease
lessly by groups OF strikers posted on
tho hills above. IL was here that tho
greater Part OF the casualties occurred,
10 Is said, the massed bodies Of tho
non-rnion men and mine guards maxi
ing & perfect target for the snipers
above them. A Missouri Pacific train
crew, which cscaped from the scene OF
battle. said that fourteen or fifteen
bodies'were lying in this pie alone.
AS the number Of strikers increased
the mine guards and workers apparent
ly realized the hopelcssness OF contin-
ued resistance. The strikers began 20
mobilize FOR a direct attack on tho
stockade, with the evident purposes ot
forcing their way through. Rather
than cause unnecessary casualties
which such \ course would ensue the
mine officials ran up a white flag. As
soon as il was noticed by the strikers
liring died down and finally ceased.
officials Of the mine and the strikers
met half way between the stoekado and
the miners lines. There the demand
for surrender and immediate eessa-
tlon Of operations was mace, II is said.
A conference was agreed upon, whiea
was 70 be called tonight.
officials Begin Inquiry
Il "a said that the mine will not re-
open tomorrow morning. Sheriff Mei-
Vile Thaxton. OF Marion, and Colonel
Samuel j. Hunter, Of Springfield, ar
rived al the scene Of the hghtine
shortly after o'clock tonight vita
more than a dozen deputies. lie be-
gan an immediate investigation as 20
the cause o. the ARRAY.
The Southern Illinois Company's
mine began operating last week when
q large number Of men were imported
from the Chicago district. 10 was ths
first mine in Illinois 20 begin the pro-
duetion Of coal since the miners stT.kf
became effective, April 1.
Three Wounded Going 10 Work
CARBONDALE H.. June 2i.-Thrca
men Of a party Of ten, said 70 have
been en- route 70 Herrin 20 work In thl
strin mine OF the Southern Illirosl