The Mankato free press., 1922-06-23
BATTLE TO FINISH
BLOOD AT HERRIN
CLASH REPORTED AT CAMP
IN ILLINOIS
NUMBER DEAD VARIES
Strikers and Non Union Men In
The Conflict |; Many Known
To Be Wounded.
IAssociated Press Dispa4ch.l

o HcFrtn, Ills, JuHS lhIcc
union coal miners are dead and
three wounded miners are In q
hospital here, one Of them not
expected to live and there are
unverified reports that fifteen
or twenty strike breakers are
lying in ditch, apparently dead,
at the strip mine OF the South
ern Illinois Coal company near
here as the result Of fighting
which began late yesterday and
continued at Intervals through
out the night. Other unverified
reports are that five dead and
number of wounded are being
brought to Herrin and that 9TH
ers have been killed In encount-
ers between rowing bands OF
+rikers and Seeing strike break
r srs.
rTr Forty -four of the strike
breakers, the remnant OF the
nearly one hundred at the mine,
are reported to have surrendered
killed or wounded or had escap-
ed. Six men are said to have
made a dash to escape as they
were being brought to Marion
and these are being pursued.
Herrin, June 22.-Sounds of occaa
sional shots were heard early today
from the direction of the rninin7
camp near here when striking ur
ion miners surrounded the camp
which approximately one hundrs
non union workers are quaFte.
Sounds of explosions, said to i
dynamite blasts, also were aus.4s
nere.
Two union miners are known
be dead and nearly score OF h.s--
wounded this morning as the res.4
Of an open night between strlhi-.,
union miners and non union mea
employed by the Southern Illinois
Coal company at its strip mine.
six miles east of here, which broke
out late yesterday and continued
until darkness influenced its cessa-
ton.
Reports are Conflicting
yUnverified reports were that
more than twelve men were killed
in the pitched fight at the mining
camp, in an explosion between Gar
terville and May, near the scene of
the trouble. and in an attack on a
truck carrying nom union men to
the mine, which occurred near Car
bondale. 1t was impossible to ver-
ify these reports because Of con-
fusion at the camp.
Joe Pitchovie, a union miner of
Herrin died early today after being
seriously wounded in the hight. The
other dead miner is Jordan Hender-
son, also of Herrin who was killed
in the action.
Thousands of striking miners,
many armed, last night and this
morning made their way to the
mining camp, where the union min
ers and sympathizers estimated to
number approximately 1900, sur
rounded the mine under truce
with the non union forces.
No Outside Helped Called
Williamson county officials have
not requested outside assistance In
restoring order in the district, and
Colonel Sam N. Hunter, attache OF
the Illinois adjutant generals Of
fice this morning expressed the be-
lief tnGS the worst Is over" Colon
Ell Hunter is at Marion closely
watching the situation in the min;
ing camp. p
Colonel Hunter declared the
lighting stopped after both sides
agreed to truce following which
arrangements were made. for hold
ing peace conference" today.
which he said, he believed officials
of the union miners would ask the
coal company to close the mine and
send away the men, said to have
been imported from Chicago.
The Southern Illinois coal mine
was the first in Illinois to resume
operations since the strike became
effective April and this fact caused
a tense situation among the striking
union miners. The district is solid
ly unionized.
Fighting Started After Telegram
The fighting started after receipt
OF telegram from John L. Lewis
president of the United Nine
Workers of America, terming the
men working at the mine as 1com-
mon strike breakers" Soon after
truck ten men to work in the mine
was subjected to fire striking min
ers near Carbondale. Three were
while the six who swan
the Big Muddy among a fusillade.
have not yet been accounted for.
Following this skirmish excite
ment was at fever heat among the
miners here, who crowded the
streets and the piilaging Of hard
ware stores for arms and ammuni-
ton began. With their newly ac
quired ordinance, the men constant
Y reinforced from other towns of
the district. started to march upon
the mine
Threw Lines Around Camp
Reaching the surface pit, the
miners threw their lines around
their camp and firing commenced
thousands OF shots were exchang-