Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-06-23
ko Steps Yet Taken to
|Set Up Majesty of Law
/ in Area
SEEMS AFRAID
Whisky Was
/ Fuel to Kindle Blood
1 Lust of Murderers
nv Assoclated Pressl

iHy ARsOciateo Sressb
Herrin, Ills. June 23-Herrin
today remained quiet after the
wild disorders of yesterday in
which at least ~ men were killed
and an unknown number wound
ed when 5000 union miners and
sympathizers attacked approx
nately half hundred imported
steam shovel men and lakorers
working in the Lester strip pit Of
the Southern Illinois Coal Com
pany.
County officials maintained
that since no one remained to
work in the strip pit that of itself
vas a guarantee against further
outbreaks and asserted the 1000
members Of the Illinois national
guard ordered to mobilize in Chi
eago for possible duty here were
Unnecessary.
An inquest into the carnage
wrought by the miners and their sup
prters, when influenced by moon
shine whiskey and angered at the ef-
fbts Of the strip pit workers who had
been termed in a telegram from the
nine workers international chief
common strike breakers" they bore
down at dawn on the huddled group,
sas set for today. However, until
ate last night, no official step to in
sestigate the affair had been taken,
40 grand jury had been summoned,
and no arrests had been made.
Miners in Herrin streets openly
eoasted that they participated in the
ihfliction of deaths by gunfre, hang
ing and dragging through the streets
N a veritable Roman holiday, but
there was no action against them.
Death List Be Increased.
That the death list would be in.
creased today seemed to be the con-
census of opinion. Fifteen bodies
we're weighted about the necks and
cast into a pond, a miner told a cor
iespondent for the Associated Press
and the area over which killings oc'
sarred was estimated at fifteen square
mics of hilly, timbered land.
The statement Of Frank Harrington
PRESIDENT of the Illinois branch of the
unlVed Mine Workers of America, is
wed at Cincinnati, that his informa
Iloa indicated that 44 men had beer
IIlled, as interpreted as meaning thai
lie entire number of besieged STRIKE
'feakers had perished, although Of hl'
own knowledge the Associated Pres:
'orespondent could account for bu'
'eSen more than score of bodies
WI harrington was expected to react
aerrin tonight.
The dead at first were reported. ac
lounted for in pitched battle be
'~een the strikers and sympathlzeri
I'd I the imported pit strippers whe'
'ae local men attacked the barricade'
workers at dawn.
Later, however, open statements
l'Om scores of persons on the street
aefe We're to the effect that the work
ls men surrendered at the first on
taught, and, after having been :iet
a'o groups of three and six, wer'
auelly massacred; told to run a gaun
aet Of rifle fire, only to be shot tt
aealh at distances of a few feet whei
'.ounded, one or two of group woul'
~ and drag the others to tn
s.ound; stabbed and hacked to dealt
s''h knives; beaten with clubs, and a
,ast three of them hanged, while II
'ae Instance of six men, at least, the!
sefe said to have been dragged owe
rough rocky road behind an auto
hobile.
Women Urged the Men On.
ihe women, some carrying infants
ased the men on, 1t was stated, an
/ at least one instance the Associate
'sess Correspondent observed unbe