The New York herald., 1922-06-23
TIED, THEN SHOT
Wounded Survivors
Say Not One Was Hit
in Battle Before
the Slaughter.
SURRENDER AT DAWN
Imported Workers Gave Up
After Having Raised
White Flag.
SAY THEY WERE DUPED
Failed to Get Warnings of
Raid From Union Men in
Illinois.
SAY THEY WERE DUPED


HERRIN. H., June % ASSOCIATED
Press Half dozen wounded men,
some OF them lying on deathbeds, to-
spondent the first actual eyewitness
accounts of the mine fight last night
and this morning which brought
dozens of casualties when five thou
sand armed striking miners attacked
the Lester strip mine near here, which
was being operated by imported work
ers and guards.
The substance of the statements by
the wounded, who were among the be-
sieged. was that not a mine worker
was injured during the fighting, but
that the numerous killed were shot
down in cold blood after they had sur
rendered themselves and their arms.
There was nothing from the union
miners to contradict these claims.
Several of the men imported to work
the mine absolved the strikers from
blame, saying that the ones responsible
we're those who sent US there under
false promises that there would be no
trouble" and that the miners would not
object"
Some of the wounded interviewed
were In the hospital here. Others were
found IN their homes through eecre,
channels.
Joseph ORourkc of Chicago, com
missary clerk at the mine. gave the most
vivid account of the fight. His story
was related as he tossed in pain from
half a dozen bullet holes through his
body.
Did Not Foresee Trouble.
II was sent down here by the
Bertrand Commissary Company of
Chicago. he said II had no idea what
l was running into. ! don't much blame
the miners for attacking US. for we were
unknowingly being used as dupes to
keep them from their jobs. we we're
given arms when we arrived here, and a
machine gun was set UP at one corner
Of the mine. Guards were with US all
OF the time and most OF the guards were
tough fellows sent by a Chicago de-
tective agency I understand the miners
sent US warnings to leave the town or
we would be run out. We never got
them; perhaps the bosses did.
When we saw the miners approaching
yesterday afternoon. we did not know
what to do. The guards prepared for
fight. Most of us workers wanted to
surrender.
Through the night the bullets rained
In on u.s. We sought shelter as we
could The miners climbed upon the
coal plies and earth embankments and
We were unable to see them
The guards kept on firing. but most
OF us hid. Then the miners blew up our
pumping station. We had no water and
our food supplies were in a freight car
IN the hands OF the miners. Abut sun
rise we put up the white flag. Tho
miners poured in and we surrendered
our arms.
Men Tied Together.
"Up 70 this time not one of us had
been injured that know of. although
understand that several OF the miners
had been shot. The miners spread out
quickly and tied US together In groups
OF three and six. The tied men then
we're rushed off in different directions.
Some OF them tried to run, but they
we're shot down as fast as they moved
zone miner asked who was the ma
chine gun operator. Some one pointed
him out and he was shot In his tracks
and his body laid over the machine
gun They tied five men with me. took
us out on the road and told us 10 rum
We ran and hundreds OF bullets fol-
lowed us We staggered on. but finally
three OF our group fell. pulling the
others with us. tied down. several bull
let holes being in me already.
IL laid there while men came up and
fired more shots into us from three or
four feet Then everything went black.
7 woke up later and begged for water
but there was none. remember being
dragged along the road. but ] don't
know what by Then they brought US
to tho hospital"
O'Rourkes story was confirmed by
3 y. Williams and Ed Green OF Chi
cago. two OF the men tied with him who
are still alive. The other three we're
killed These we're the six found by
the Associated Press correspondent
this morning and whom he tried to
take water to. only to be refused per-
mission to help them.
James f. Morris OF Johnston City.
H., young miner in the attacking
forces. told tho correspondent the
attack had been spontaneous and that
when the men went TO the mine they
did not really stop 10 think OF tho
bloodshed that might follow.
lie was wounded early In the fight
1T was on my way 10 Herrin." he said,
when met a gang OF fellows They
said they we're on their way 10 run
put those scabs at the mine. ] Joined
them. and others kept Joining us until
there must have been 5000. Most OF
Us were armed. and those who we're not
Eontinued on Page Two.