Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1922-07-17

seven.
Triple Complete Ruin.
No additional outbreaks have been
reported and it is said that the
strikers have scattered The big
mine tipple is a crumpled mass of
ruins.
Deputies heavily armed are scour
ing the woods in the vicinity of the
fighting, searching for additional
bodies One deputy sheriff told the
writer that he saw seven dead bod
les in one place about $50 this
morning. Five more arrests have
been made at 1130. Deputy Sheriff
Tom Duvall was appointed sheriff
to succeed his father and assumed
control of the county forces at
i once.
Foreigner Brings News.
Avela, Pa, July 17.-An unidenti-
| fed foreigner struggling into Avel
la long after daybreak today told
lurid story of the bloody battle at
| Cliftonville. just over the Pennsyl-
vania state line He said firing be-
gan at $50 O'Clock this morning.
The entire countryside seemed to
| Dt bIliltu anu IhSCh III VIZ
wooded sections and from Clumps
of berry bushes and high woods, he
said Shippers picked off those in
the open with deadly accuracy
The attacking force. variously as
timated at from 200 to 500 came
from Avella, scene of minor clashes
last weeq and which was today vir-
tually placed under senr-martial
law by the Washington county sher-
! if.
Gathering in the vicinity of this
village, last night, the hand OF sew
eral hundred striking miners march
ed and were hauled by automobiles
to Virginia City on the state line,
! Here they were met by other strik-
ers.
TippIe Dynamited.
At 2.15 o'clock this morning, a
terrific charge of dynamite was eX-
ploded in the tent colony Of the
striking miners across Cross creek
from the tipple of the Richland Coal
Company. In a few minutes rock
cts were set off at Virginia City.
The rockets were seen for a long
distance and police believe that was
/ the signal that everything was
ready for the attack. Just before
five o'clock the striking miners be
gan leaving Virginia City. At five
o'clock when the fifty men employ
ed in the mine at Cliftonville were
ready to enter the mine crowd of
miners were seen on the brow OF
the hill overlooking the valley in
which the mine is located.
Deputy Sheriff Irwin Macingo,
went up the road to meet the miners
and he was shot through the head.
! A few minutes later the hillside was
ablaze with rifle and pistol fire.
Mob Begins Attack.
! The mob began swarming over the
/ hill and down the valley, shooting
as they descended the hill The
horde rushed pell nell toward the
tipple. Mine guards and deputies
fired volley after volley at the on
rushing mob but the invaders were
superior in force and they came
from two directions catching the
defenders between a cross fire.
The mine tipple was soaked in oil,
match applied During this time
steady exchange of rifle fire was
in progress between the attackers
and the besieged Outnumberd 40
to !, the guards were soon driven
back, fighting sort of a rear guard
action as they slowly retreated to
the tipple. 1t was then that he was
shot and oiled. Beside him lay a
| dead miner. The sheriff had been
! stripped Of guns and ammunition.
The last efforts Of the striqers
was the attempt to rescue their dead
and dying But the deputies were
now masters of the situation and
they qept up a hot fire against all
the miners who attempted to gel
their casuals.
Bound to Happen,
Washington, July lit is TO be
regretted that violence has broken
out in the strike" said John L,
Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers, today, when informed by
the International News Service, Of
the bloody fighting near Clifton
Vile, w. Va.
However" said Lewis, such
things will happen when strike
breakers attempt to take the places
of men who are striking for the very
food they must have"
1t is said a band Of striking min
ers marched from Ayella, Washing
ton county, Pa, to the scene of the
trouble.
George B. Caldwell, Of WeHsburg,
was appointed temporary sheriff by
District Attorney W. S. wilkins.
Governor L, F. Morgan ordered
Sheriff Grouse, Of Ohio county. to
take charge of the situation at Cliff
tonville and he left at once with
30 deputies.
Continued on Page 81
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