Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-09
w. Va. Opens Trial
Mine Fighters

Wcllsburg. w. Va, Oct. S.-A small
army of prisoners will be led into
Brooke county circuit court tomor-
row to stand trial for the conse-
quenccs Of the fighting at the Clifton
coal mine, near Cliftonville-a namlt
in the mountains-before daybieak
on the seventeenth of July.
This encounter, the most serious
outbreak during the coal strike,
claimed seven lives and number
of the prisoners will be tried for
murder. 1t is expected, however,
that the state will elect to try some
of the mon for treason as 1T d!d IN
It's prosecution of union leaders
charged with fomentins the armed
march on Logan county more than
a year ago.
1t is possible that the prisoners
will he tried in groups, as it is be-
licved some of them will ask tor
change of venue when the case is
called. The prosecution has declined
to make public its plans. Practically
ners from Pennsylvania. just across
the state line, and more than so of
the 100 odd surrendered voluntarily.
The fight started with the sud-
denncss of crack Of thunder.
There had been preliminary rum
blings around Cliftonville for sew
eral days prior to the fatal night.
Non union men working in the nine
claimed they had received threats
that striking union miners on the
PENNSYLVANIA side were coming to
get them
Sheriff H. H. Duvall was at his
home here when he received a tele-
phone call a few minutes after mid
night on July II. They're raising
hell at Cliftonvillc," was the terse
message.
\ Hurried investigation disclosed that
a series of dynamite explosions was
terrorizing the non union men. Sig
nal rockets were flashing from the
mountains. Mine guards told the
sheriff they believed the mob in the
mountains was trying to draw them
from the property preliminary to an
attack in force.
Duvall quickly mustered force of
special deputies and started for
Clftonville in automobiles. The road
was rough and the speed was terrific.
But they got there just in time.
AS the automobile detachment ap-
preached the mine, blue flare IL
Illuminated the mountainside. 1t was
the signal for an attack. Rifles
spoke from the dark background and
there were answering flashes from
the defenders on the other side of
creek. The invaders advanced and
were driven back. Again they
charged and were rcpulsed.
Then Duvall and his force got into
action. Save the tipple." the sheriff
shouted, as he led his force up hill.
At the summit number Of the
attacking miners was concealed.
Duvall and his deputies plunged into
the ambush.
One of the bloodiest mine fights
in state history followed. Five
bullets pierced the sheriff. When his
body was found later. the riddled
corpses of three union miners were
lying short distance away.
The temporary victory stirred the
attackers to more desperate efforts.
They swept on. One of them. waving
an American flag, climbed to the top
OF the tipple. Quickly it was in
flames. The man on the top seemed
to be directing portion of the forces
The flaming tipple collapsed almost
without warning and the man on top
was thrown to his death in the roar
ing debris.
Meanwhile, West Virginia state
troopers reached the scene. Penn
sylvania constabulary were at the
state line. The attackers fed, and
the fighting ceased as suddenly as
1T had started.
known casualties were seven. Six