South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-23

70 his telegram asking for infoT-
ing upon prompt action for the
reported to have killed 20 moro
the sheriff that troops are being
o the states attorney Of William
ded an immediate reply to pre-
.vious messages and insisted that
the persons guilty of the muir
ders be brought to justice
He told the state attorney to
telegraph him at once whether
the circuit court Of the county is
now in session and if not what
steps have been taken to con-
vene a grand jury investigating
the crimes committed and re-
turn indictments.
The death toll in the disaster
Wednesday night and Thurs
day. when 5000 striking union
miners attacked the Lester Strip
mine, being operated under
guard of imported workers. may
run past the 40 mark. it was said
Thursday night by those in touch
with the situation. although thus
far only II positively are known
to be dead.
In the Herrin hospital are eight
wounded men, only one miner, and
six of them are believed 20 be fatal
" injured There were nine but
one died.
A miner told the Associated Press
correspondent that he mad seen 10
bodies thrown into a pond with
rocks around their necks Thursday
About 20 imported workers are
missing.
Checking the death list has prov
ed almost impossible. The victims
all OF but three OF them imported
workers so far as is known, were
found scattered over an area within
several miles Of the mine. Some
were lynched, some were burned
when the mine was fired, others
were beaten 20 death and the major
ity fell before the scores OF bullets
poured into them.
Noticeable Unrest
Bloody Williamson" county. So
called because OF several riots.
Thursday night was outwsrdly calm
but there was a noticeable under
current which kept everybody on
edge and wonderina II further
trouble might be expected. The cor
respondent talked with scores OF
miners Thursday and about half Of
them were certain that there would
be no further disorder n there was
no attemrt to reopen mines while
the other half said they were afraid
some OF the men might not be held
back Omcially, the situation was
reported by county officials 20 be
quiet.
The scenes OF death Thursday
were as gruesome as any in real
war
Bodies with many limbs shot away.
lay along roadway sides or were
strung from trees. men wounded and
dying were stretched out on roads
and in fields with none OF the hund
reds OF passersby able TO lend a
helping hand. Attempts 20 assist
the wounded IN the early part OF
the day Brought rebuf from the
spectators in some cases by drawn
pistols
Later the feeling quieted down and
az least some OF the wounded were
taken 70 hospitals.
VIII Not Reopen
II Is understood that there viii be
no attempt 10 reopen any Of the
mines until the strike is settled.
When te attackers went DOVER the
top into the beseiged mine Thurs
day morning there were some fifty
or sixty workers and guards there.
What has become OF those not IN the
known dead and wounded list cannot
be said. Some OF them were seen
Thursday In fields running as fast
as they could with mine sympathiz-
ers pursuing with guns. How many
escaped could not be told. 9. K Nc
Dowen. superintendent OF the i'm
ported workers at the mine was
among the the dead. II was said
that ne was the first selected 20 be
shot after the mine vas captured
and that ne was given no chance 70
escape.
Hundreds OF men. women and lit
tie children. Some as young a. four
years. surged the morgue Thursday
20 view the bodies, which lay side
by side on the floor with no attempt
10 straighten them out Most OF
them bore no Identification marks
AL were mengled.
Oficials OF Williamson county
Thursday expressed deep regret over
the affair. as did many miners. buf
several OF the latter told the writer
that while Il was regrsttabta. mo
other course could have been taksn-"
Sheriff Melvin Thaxton THURSDAY
night told the Associated Presr that
re did not ask for troops % qusn
the rioting here because he did net
see any reed o. a." Col samuel