The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-07-01
THE FEDERATED PRESS RELIABLE NEWS

NINE officials the white flag was raised.
It had been there but second when
several Of the armed men who had
hoisted II reopened fire.
When it was seen that the flag Of
truce was being used as a ruse it was
decided that no quarter would be.
granted. Firing began again and rem
forcements brought ammunition and
several carloads Of food. The screams
Of injured men IN the pits could Be
heard above the roar of,the battle and
a voice. supposedly that Of Superin-
tendent K, C. Mcdowell, shouted to
the men that the first man to attempt
to leave the pit would Be shot.
More reinforcements arrived until at
least 500 automobiles lined the roads.
AT daybreak the sheriff's men formed
in column. Knowing the dangers they
ran at the hands Of the machine guns
and repeating rifles, they worked their
way INTO the stronghold and captured
those who remained alive.
Breast plates were found on the
guards. A total of 90 men is believed
TO have been in the mine when the
battle began. Many, it is believed are
buried underneath the earth which was
loosened by several severe blasts Of
dynamite. Several Of those who were
taken from the pits alive were later
found in the woods near Herrin by
Sheriff Thaxton, States Attorney De-
los Duty and Editor Drobeck, dead OF
dying Of bullet. wounds. The sheriff
ordered the dead taken to Marion and
Herrin. The injured were taken to the
Herrin hospital where it is believed the
SIX who still had chance for-recovery
will remain until they can be sent to
their homes at Chicago.
The office of the United Mine Work
ers here was besieged by telephone
calls asking for information. Only
three members of the miners union
were hit by bullets. John Pitscavitch, |
Herrin, was shot while on the public
road and Is expected to recove- Roy
Hudgens, Maricn, and George Hendey-
son, Jeffrey, were fatally wounded.
Several mem vele found hanging
along the roadside with placards fasten-
ed to them. The pacards had on IN IN
he word scaps. Tie superintendent #
the mine had an artificial leg and on
the leg, either wlitten or burned IN
with poker, was the same inscription.
No property was damaged other than
that at the mine. There was no riot
ing. At the powder plant lake near
4errin, bloody footprints led directly
Down to the water and disappeared
t is believed that one Of the strike
after having been injured
made his way to the waters edge. fell
IL the lake and was drowned.
The coroner and other county off
'ials found a number pretending to be
BADLY hurt. One Of the wounded, Viii
lam Cairns, scab veteran Of many
campaigns in nearly all
he coal fields Of the nation, a, six-foot /
giant, was found to be suffering with
only a flesh wound and needed no as
'istance in getting up the steps Of the
hospital. Following the clearing Of the
nine pits, living quarters, which were
oox-cars, were burned. One of the
forts discovered by the citizens con-
aimed over thousand rounds of rifle
cartridges. This ammunition was de-
stroyed along with tank of poison
gas.
Blood covers the earth for hundreds
Of feet around. Pieces of flesh are
o be seen hanging on fences where
Wounded men made their way through.
Joseph O'Rourke, one of the strike
lying wounded in the Herrin
hospital was enticed down from Chi
ago by the employment agencies with
he understanding that the union min
RS had agreed to their coming and that
here would he no troiIble