Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-06-29
KILLED LIKE DOGS.
Continued from Front Paue)

IIlC lllCdllCSI OClllldll 1lollS ITO
head in shame. They herded
these men in a bunch, surround
ed them, and then Systematically
began numbering them, using
sticks, rocks, knives and guns.
Their victims were unarmed, de-
fenseless, and they had no chance
to fight back.
This is a free country. The
law guarantees to every man the
right to peacefully work, and yet
these striking union miners usurp
the law into their own hands, and
literally shock the civilized world
with their orgy of murder. Such
acts as this on the part of the I'M
ion miners does not make friends
for the union; rather does it cause
the great rank and file of the
American farming and working
class to think seriously whether
such a union isn't beyond itself
and getting to a point where it
will be a menace to the rest of
our people who do not belong to
such a union.
The massacre of these men in
Illinois who wished to work caus-
es our great farming class to
wonder at such a rule or ruin"
purpose that so clearly prevails
in such a union.
The following account of the
awful affair in Illinois is so vivid
ly written that the PoST-DIS-
PATCH is copying it for our read
ers:
"Herrin, Illinois, June 23.-The
massacre of non-union miners in the
woods near the strip mine of the
Southern Illinois Coal company,
where they were employed, was the
act of a mob which got by the con-
troll of the cooler element which was
attempting to escort the captives to
Herrin, to show them off to the
boys" according to information
learned today.
The leaders, it was said, finally
were compelled to yield to the
clamors of the mob that the prison
ers beat it. The fleeing men there
upon were shot down, beaten to
death, and one was known to have
been hanged.
SCOT What They Deserved.
Although number of the miners
shudder at the slaughter, all say
they got just what they deserved.
las soon as the IA strip employees
surrendered yesterday morning a
cry went up for the lives of the
captives, persons who were wit
nesses say. The cooler element
marched just behind the prisoners,
who were at the head of the process
sion, and the disorderly element
fiocked behind and besides them.
There were cries of beat it,
which grew into chorus, but the
leaders arrived at wooded section
about three miles from here. There
the clamor increased and the mob
pressed around the fear stricken
prisoners, some of whom mumbled
evidently in prayer.
Witnesses say the leaders, feeling
unable longer to resist the crowd 5
claRor, said to the prisoners: Yes,
you'd better beat it.
Then followed the massacre.
How many of the prisoners real
lied that it was TO be flight of
death will never be known.
Between the road and the woods
on the right side there was barbed
wire fence. Most of the prisoners
probably thinking vaguely that il
would be something to have the
fence between them and the mob, be-
gan climbing through the fence
| They had difficulty with their suit
| cases. There were shouts Of: Drop
your suit cases, you won't need
them,' which appealed to the humor
of the jeering mob. Most OF the
prisoners dropped their suit cases
and scrambled through and hurried
49, H., dc