The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-23
GRAND JURY PROBE
fcontlnued from Page one.l

ORGANIZED to seek bodies in the woods
All reports whether from miners or
from strikebreakers or mine operators
agree that the killings, really were a
nassacre-that the victims were shot
down in cold blood after they had put
up the white flag and surrendered
themselves and their arms to the at
lacking forces.
the slaughter as a rightful act of
IN the morgue, women and children,
as they passed thru, commented on
the accuracy of 1.-The shooters who
brought down these victims.
Bonst of the Staying.
Men who openly boast that they
were in the attacking force related
with apparent pride the stories OF
what in war times would be caiied
brutality. The story of the attack on
G. X Mcdowell. strike breakers SUI
perintendent, was related by many
Mcdowell, with only one leg, was
beaten to death with stones before
being riddled with bullets according
to persons who say they were eye
He refused to march with the other
prisoners, who were tied together and
told to run down the road between
lines of attackers who poured buck
shot, rifle and pistol bullets into them
as they fled, saying that he'd just as
soon die where he was He died
where he was said to have made this
statement.
The mine safe was looted and one
man, with some $500 IN bills. stood
in a semi-circle of men around him
and dealt out the bills like cards. ac-
cording to wounded men who were
there.
The correspondent saw men wound
ed almost to death. kicked around in
the scorching sun on dusty roads. He
saw men chased thru fields like rab-
~ T,r-e- rrtI-n nI
fire. once catching him accidentally
between two fires Surrounded by
armed men, he saw a knife plunged
into the throat of a wounded man who
in his dying breath gasped plea:
I'm the name of my mother, in the
name of your mother. in the name OF
our God, give me water" only TO re-
ceive laughs and jibes such as Where
you're going you won't see water" as
reply.
''Sec What Papa Did,"
Mothers carrier babies into the
morgues and up to piles of bodies in
the roads with such remrks as:
Take look at what your papa did.
kid"
He watched a man walk to the bed
side OF a dying man and curse him
and jeer at him as he breathed his
last. Thru it all, altho the fight area
was traversed a dozen times, there
was not word heard of sympathy
for victim. The sentiment seemed
to be that strikebreakers deserved
slaughter and that, these had re-
ceived it.
Few of the dead could be positively
identified. Most of them had been
rifled of all effects.
After lying piled in the morgues
yesterday they were embalmed last
night. Scores watched the process all
thru the night making unprintable
comments about the bodies That to-
day would bring official action of
some kind was unooubted. That this
action would bring little in the way
of results was the prediction of most
every one in touch with the situation.
Are Few "OfficiaI Statements"
The order of Governor Small last
in readiness in Chicago was greeted
on the streets here with sarcastic COM
ment.
official statements were scarce.
Every one talked of the fight and
many freely related their own expert
noes, yet none even knew of it-of-
rcially. The killed simply dropped
dead it was said-officially. 1t was
remarked that there had been 81 kill |
ings here since January l.
Early this morning several news |
paper men were privately informed |
that plans were afoot to burn a num-
Der of mines which in previous years |
had labor troubles. The correspon-
dents were told to go to a certain mine |
at l o'clock this morning and that |
they would see what was termed a |
party"
Many automobiles carrying men
passed in the direction of the mine !
named but there was no fire and no |
trouble.
West Frankfort. Ill. June 23.-One |
Of the strikebreakers who escaped the !
massacre at Herrin was located here |
early today when he entered a pool |
room without hat or coat. A crowd |
gathered but the local police took |
charge of him, spirited him out of |
town for a few miles and told him to |
beat it, Quite a crowd had gath |
cred but the prompt action of the au-
thoritfes prevented a tense situation /
from becoming dangerous.
The police said the man stated his /
name was Thompson and that he was |
from Peoria, III.
NEW Dol WNE NH