The New York herald., 1922-05-06
TELLS OF BLIZZARD
RALLYING MINERS
Superintendent Says Union
Leader Tried to Save Guns
to Fight Troops.
MEN FORCED TO MARCH
Workers Compelled Army Of
ficer to Board Special Train
in West Virginia.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
CHARLES Town, W. Va, May 5.-A
second characterization OF William Biz
trial here as 'leader" OF the miners
army. based on actual observation dur
Ing the period OF fighting and conver-
sations with him, was made to-day by
Harold NJ Richards. mine superintendent
OF Blair. who quoted Blizzard as say
ing he had not ''slept or eaten for
thirty-six hours" while he was trying to
ss<~s cas guns for some OF the men,
Richards also told OF having heard Biz
zard encourage the miners at the tenn
porary headquarters of the men at
Blair to 'hold out until the Federal
forces arrive and then surrender"
"A. this time and for few days
thereafter the fighting continued.
Richards declared.
An agreement was made between the
fighting forces at Blair and commit
tee OF union miners, Richards testified.
whereby the general store of his COM
pany was to furnish supplies to the
men. the locals standing good for the
hill and subsequently paying IT, Cues
tions brought out the fact that shis
agreement was entered into only after
the miners, all armed, had threatened
to take the supplies by force.
Richards said he regarded the miners
as rebelling against the State of West
Virginia, and his answer to a question
from the defense whether he, by giving
supplies to them, might not be consider
ed as aiding and abetting, was he did
1t to save his company's property.
Army Omcer Mennced.
Two witnesses testified to the serious
situation in which Major Charles
Thompson, u. s. A., was placed on his
official trip OF inspection after the first
march to Blair. The miners drew their
guns and commended the officer to board
his special train without delay. Major
Thompson demurred and explained it
was a Federal train and he was a
Federal officer. but It seemed to make
little difference to the miners. One wit
ness testified that he drew his gun. to be
used in case a belligerent miner took a
shot at tho Major. but his aid was not
needed.
The usual stories of Communicated
automobiles. robbed stores. the use of
arms in compelling men TO join the
marchers. the alleged speech of President
Keeney at Danville, which turned back
the first march, but which is alleged to
have been regarded by the miners as for
public consumption only, were recorded
to-day.
The defense made another effort to
bring out the details of the killing Of
two union miners at Beech Creek on
August 81. DR.. L. F. Millikan. ply
sician In Blair during the period OF the
march. testified he was informed that
the fight occurred when State troopers
under Capt. ]. r. Brockus. with Logan
deputies. visited Beech Creek late at
night to serve papers on miners who
were charged with having disarrned
State officers. The State officers were
fired upon and returned the shot, two
miners being killed and three wounded.
DR.. Millikan said he saw the dead and
dressed injuries Of the others. The
court refused. however. to permit the de-
tails to be recorded beyond the original
testimony.
Demands on Governor.
The purpose of the August meet
ing OF miners at Charleston was ito de-
mand" certain things of the Governor
and 'Tf he does not act we will have TO
do something ourselves" DR.. Millikan
testified he hae been informed by 3
Blair union miner. active in the march
and who attended the meeting
These demands Dr. Millikan testified
affected martial law in Mingo. Miners
thought the battle was the beginning OF
an Industrial revolution, he said.
Arguments will be heard tomorrow
on the question of bond for the eight
murder defendants still remaining in jail.
& The defense asked for a hearing to-
: dav hut the court deferred IL until to-
morrow, intimatlng that both evidence
and arguments would be required to
. persuade the court that ball in these
, serious cases was proper. despite the fact
most of the murder defendants already
are out on bonds.
The State declared It would oppos,
ban because It had not been asked for
these defendants and the defense
promised not to request 1t when the
others were liberated In Logan county