Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
Possibly 50 Men Meet VIC
lent Death in Battle Be-
tween Warning Miners in
Illinois District

y
of non-union miners in the woods
near the Strip mine of the Southern
Illinois Coal company, where they
were employed, was he act OF q
mob which got beyond the control of
the cooler elements, which was at
tempting to escort the captives to
Herrin to "show them off to the
boys" according to information
gained today.
The leaders, it was said, finally
were compelled to yield to the clam
ors of the mob that the prisoners
beat it," The fleeing men there
upon were shot down, beaten to
death and one was known to have
been hanged.
Although a number of the miners
shuddered at the slaughter, all say
they got just what they deserved"
AS soon as the A Strip employees
surrendered yesterday morning, .
cry went up for the lives of the cap
tives, persons, who say they were
witnesses, state. The cooler eie-
ment, however, advised that the
prisoners be marched into town.
paraded before the townspeople and
sent out Of town.
The cooler element marched just
behind the prisoners, who were at
the head of the procession, and the
disorderly element flocked behind
and beside them.
There were cries of ''beat it,"
which grew into a chorus, but the
leaders Withstood the demand until
they arrived at a wooded section
about miles from here. Theresthe
clamor increased and the mob press
ed around the fear-stricken prison.
ers, some of whom mumbled, appar-
emily in prayer. A.
Massacred as They Ran
Witnesses say the leaders were
unable to resist the crowds clamor,
and said to the prisoners:
yes. you'd better beat it."
Then followed the massacre.
How many of the prisoners real
lied that it was to be a flight OF
death can not be known.
Between the road and the woods
on the right side, there was a barbed
wire fence. Most of the prisoners,
probably thinking vaguely that 1t
would be something to have the
fence between them and the mob,
began climbing through the fence.
cases. There were shouts Of:
drop your suitcases, you won't
need them" which appealed to the
humor of the jeering mob. Most Of
the prisoners dropped their suftcsses
and scrambled through and scur1ied
into the woods.
The shooting was under way and
the killing was on throughout the
woods. Men were running and
lodging and crowds were following
and shooting at them. When une
fell, the crowd closed in and fired a
volley into the PROSTATE form. The
threats of two were cut.
AS the men were shot down.
crowds gathered and watched them
breath their last, jeering and scott
ing.
Ore Of the wounded men to whom
the correspondent talked in the
woods, said he was steam shovel
worker.
The men who crowded about him
said:
"You ought to know better than
to try to take the bread from
union mans mouth"
Investigation Begins
Bloody" Williams, so-ealled be-
cause of many acts of violence in re-
cent times, most of them accom-
panied by numerous fatalities, today.
was preparing foY what official ac.S
ton is expected in connection with
the massacre.
Official investigation of the war
began today in response to insstent
demands from Governor Len Small
for action by local authorities, when
Coroner MCGOWAN announced that
an inquest would be held immediate-
ly and States Attorney De Louis L.
Duty, stated that a special gra
jury would be convened follow
the inquest, to investigate the H. j.
sacre.
The states attorney expressed
doubt that any definite results
would be obtained through an in.l
vestigation, saying that ic was Writ
lally impossible to obtain evidence.
SO fer as the number of dead was
there was little but specu-
alton. A score were in morgues:
newspaper men previously had
counted &c bodies in the woods and
loads; one man died in a hospital.
Frank harrington, state president of
he miners, announced that his Off
'ial reports showed "A killed; citi-
ems still brought in reports OF
bodies lying around the country.
'ut, through all of it there was no
way of fixing definite number.
Called Massacre
In the wounded list there were six
cen in the Herrin hospital, three
exported in the Carbonate hospital
md a number of others-lnion
- n mil In1 L.
n their homes. Probably the exact
number Of dead never will be known
dozen or SO were believed to be at
ne bottom Of pond. no one seem.
% inclined to drag the pond. NO
earching parties have been organ.
zed to seek bodies in the woods.
All reports, whether from miners
r from strike-breakers or mine oper.
tors. agree that the killings really
we're massacre-that the victims
we're shot down in cold blood after
hey had put up the white flag and
themselves and their
rms to the attacking forces. Many
ersons in the county uphold tka
laughter as rightful act Of judg-
lent. Citizens gathering on street
orners last night and today laugh.
d and iOked over the affair and
roudly boosted that "some of these
avs people will realize that il
oesn't pay to try to breai7 = strike
I Williamson county"
in the morgue, women and chK.
rem, as they passed through, com.
rented on the accuracy of the shoot.
RS who brought down these vic
ms
Men who openly boast that they
ere IN the attacking force, related
'ltf apparent pride, the stories of