The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-23
Probability That Casualty List From Massacre of Strike
Breakers Will Near Fifty Is Expressed
SIayers Laugh at the Tragedy.
OTHER WARS ARE
STARTED TODAY
West Virginia Suffers Two Cas-
ualtieS in Mine Disorders.
Illinois Miners Seem Little In
terested in Counting Dead.

CBy the Associated Pressl
Washington. June 23.-President
Harding was represented today as re-
earding the southern Illinois mine
disorders as deplorable.
Washington. June 23.-Declaration
that those responsible for the south
ern Illinois mine disorders should be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law. was made today by Secretary of
Labor Davis in a statement issued
after consultation with President
IIarding.
The secretary said one of the un-
fortunate features of the disorders.
which. he added. the department OF
labor deeply deplored. was that the
death of the score or more workers
accomplished nothing toward settle
ment of the coal strike.
CIarksburg. ~. Va. June 23.-Two
men were killed. a deputy sheriff suf-
fered a broken arm. and a dozen other
persons received minor injuries. when
q mob attacked IN interurban traction
car carrying non-union miners and Of
ficers of the hudson Coal company
guarded by deputy sheriffs from this
city TO the Lewis mine near Reynolds
vile this morning.
The mob stopped the car. pulled off
the trolley and swarmed aboard. Two
90 the attacking party were shot as
they crawled thru windows. The mine
was opened on an open shop basis
Mondar-
Fairmount. ". Va. June 23-A
crowd Of men which the authorities
estimated at 400. marched thru the
principal streets Of Fairmount this
morning across the NIonongahela river
10 the east side OF the city.
County officials watched the situa-
tion on reports that they were headed
for working coal miners near North
Paramount
C3y the Associated PressJ
Herrin.. June 23.-OfficiaI investI-
cation Of the mine war which killed
from - TO IS near here. began today
lu response TO insistent demands from
Gov Len Small. for action by local
authorities. when Coroner MCGOWAN
announced that an inquest would be
held Immediately and States Attorney
DE Louis L. Duty stated that a special
Crand jury would he convened fol-
lowing the Inquest to investigate the
massacre
Authorities Were Negligent.
Col. Hunter. who was sent to Her
rim a week ago TO report to the gov
ernor and Adtutaut General Black on
the situation. told the governor in to-
days message that he al no time
thought the Williamson county au-
thorities could handle the situation
and that they should have asked for
troops before the rioting started
The massacre OF non-union miners
in the woods near the strip mine of
the southern Illinois Coal company,
where they we're employed was the
act of a mob which got beyond con-
troll OF the cooler element. which was
attempting to escort captives to Herrin
10 show them off to the boys" ac-
cording to information cleaned today.
Leaders Forced to Yield
The leaders it was said finally were
compelled to yield to the clamors OF
the mob that the prisoners beat 1t.
The fleeing men thereupOn were shot
down. beaten TO death and one was
known TO have been hanged
Altho number of the miners shud-
der at the slaughter all say they got
just what they deserved
tBy the Associated Press-l
Herrin. June 23-"Gloody" VIII
hanson county, so-called because OF
many acts OF violence in recent times.
most Of them accompanied by numer-
Gus fatalities. today was preparing for
what official action is expected in
connection with the massacre at the
Lester strip mine when between 27
ing union miners had stormed the
sixty or more strikebreakers operating
the mine
An inquest into the deaths was ex-
pected today. Coroner MCGOWAN say
ing that he hoped today TO have time
10 get TO this feature OF the affair.
Grand Jury May Come.
There was no indication that
GRAND Jury would be summoned. altho
this was a possibility. for it was said
that officials doubted if they could
obtain evidence which would be OF
any value.
SO far as the number Of dead was
concerned. there still was little but
speculation
A score were in morgues; newspa-
per men previously had counted
twenty-six bodies in the woods and
roads: one man died IN a hospital
Frank Harrington. state president Of
tho miners announced that his off,
cial reports showed forty-four killed; ;
citizens still brought in reports of
bodies lying around the county but
thru all of it there was no way of fix
4"S a definite number
Several at Ponds Bottom?
There was little question that the
exact number of dead never will be
dozen or so were believed to be at
the bottom of a pond
no one seemed inclined m dra O. fba