Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
DEATH AND TERRORISM
MARK MINERS BATTLE
Continued from Page y

fore being riddled with bullets, &C.
cording to persons who say they
were eye-WitneSSes.
Dying Men Kicked
He refused to march with the 9TH
er prisoners who were tied together,
and told to run down the road be-
tween the lines Of attackers, who
poured buckshot, rifle and pistol
bullets into them as they fled, say
ing that he'd just as soon die vr,%0
he. was. He died where he was said
to have made this statement.
The mine safe was looted, and
one man, with some $1,000 in bills,
stood with a semi-circle of men
around him, and dealt out the bills
like cards, according to wounded men
who were there.
The correspondent saw men
wounded almost to death, kicked
around in the scorching sun in dusty
roads. He saw men chased through
feds like rabbits by shouting per
sons who opened fire, once catching
him accidentally between two fires.
Surrounded by armed men, he saw
knife plunged into the throat of
wounded man who in his dying
breath gasped a plea: "In the name
Of my mother in the name Of your
mother, in the name of our God, give
me water" only to receive laughs
and jibes such as: "Where you're
SONG you won't see water" as
reply.
morgues and up to piles of bodies
in the roads with such remarks as:
Take a look at what your papa did,
kid" .% -.
He watched a man walk to the
bedside of a dying man and curse
him and jeer at him as he breathed
his last. Through it all, although
the fight area was traversed a dozen
times, there was not a word heard
OF sympathy for a victim The sem
tinlent seemed to be that strike
breakers deserved slaughter, and
that these had received it.
Militia Threatened
Few of the dead could be posi-
lively identified. Most of them had
been rifled Of all effects. After ~
ing piled in the morgues yesterday,
they were enlbalmed last night.
Scores watched the processes all
through the night, making imprint
able remarks about the bodies.
actlcn of some kind was undoubted.
That this action would bring little
in the way Of results was the pre-.
diction of most every one in touch
with the situation.
The order of Governor Small last
night to hold 1 900 men of the militia
in readiness in Chicago, was greeted
on the street here with sarcastic
comment. A member of the police
force told the correspondent that if
troops were sent here he'd take the
night police force and clean them
out. Inquiry developed that he was
the night police force himself.
The request of the governor for
an official report brought more
sarcasm, the gist of which seemed
to be that there was nothing to re-
port officially.
Official statements were scarce.
Every one talked of the fight and
many freely related their own ex-
periences, yet none even knew of
it-officially. The killed Simply
dropped dead" it was explained,
when official statements were asked.
No one was murdered, it was SAID
officially. 1t was remarked that
there had been twenty-seVen killings
mere SluCe january L.
Early this morning several news.
paper men were privately informed
thai plans were afoot to burn 81 num-
Der of mines which in previous years
hat labor troubles. The correspond
ents were told to go to a certain mine
at l o'clock this morning and they
would see what was termed a
"party." Many automobiles carry.
ing men passed in. the direction Of
the mine named, But there was no
fire and no trouble.
All that remains Of the Lester
mine is a heap of ashes, for it was
set on fire shortly after the attack
erS captured it. Mr.. Lester the
owner, was reported to have come
here from Chicago, but no one has
been able to find him.
Fairly today Sheriff Tha <tun told
newspaper men That the situation
was we'll in hand, and there was no
danger. That vas the only official
statement in the e&rly hours of the
day.
Union Is Outlawed
Although the men have been on
strike for nearly three months few
disorders in connection with the
walkout were reported from the dis
trict union until reports reached the
members of the plan of the Southern
Illinois Coal company to open a
strip six miles east of. here. This is
the mine where the" killings took
place.
There is ma telephone or telegraph |
communications to the mining zone
from either HerrlK or Marion. The
mine is located close 20 a place call.
ed Trendshaw Crossing, midway be.
tween this city and Marioa-
When plans for the opening Of the |
surface pit materialized and men,
who claimed they were members Of !
the steamshovel mems union, were
imported from Chicago, miners gath. |
cred in groups excitedly discussing !
the situation. The opening of the |