The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-18
OFFICERS DEFENDED COAL Mine;
AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS.
SPECIAL DEPUTY SHERIFF TELLS
HOW SHERIFF OUVAl ANU
SMALL FORCE FOUGHT
AGAINST BIG MOB.
Says Attackers Shot and Beat sherln
and Continued to Shoot Him After
He Was Down.

tremendous ONuS, III lulSlIISCuSeA ~
porter who visited the scene OF the
battle was told yesterday afternoon by
Martin Joint. who was on duty AT
Ciiftonyille yesterday afternoon In the
capacity of a special deputy sheriff.
QuerIed as to whether he and his
associates were regular deputy sher-
IFS, Mr.. Joint answered the reporter:
NO: and these fellows YOU see
here with me are chiefly employees OF
the mine who were sworn In as spe-
cial deputy sherifrs for twenty-four
hours when Sheriff Duval and the or
"details at the mine here were Informed
that the mine was TO be attacked.
Orders to Await Attack.
Sheriff Duval and a few deputies.
including his son. Tom Duval. Irwin
Mozingo and Roscoe Hough. were
here good part OF the night. We were
sworn in to act as special deputies. as
told you. for period OF twenty-tour
hours.
1T was learned that the invaders
we're coming in from Avella. Pa.
along the valley road that runs close
to the Wabash railroad. Six or seven
nt US went TO the check house. near
lhr top OF the incline which leads from
the mouth OF the mine down the hill
{. the tipple.
About davbreak." Joint said. the
stack began. In the b. eaking day
.icht We could see scores OF men who
lad assembled the hill back Of the
mine. the majority OF whom seemed
70 be punched around the pole you
see standing yonder on top OF the
kil'-mdicating a light wire or tele-
phcnc nolc CT a line that skirts the
trow o. rhe hill to the northwest Of
-" miue.
I'VE we're told" Joint said. not to
frc until VIC were hred upon. We
che,ed th" order. and the Invaders be-
ar the shooting. Two Of the six or
seven non in the check house left Tor
some reason. The rest Of US stood to
our posts ana returned the fire.
Only Six Rifles.
They we're too many Of u.s." Joint
continued. AMI We were short Of
fighting equipment. There WASH:
i.ore tran six good rides altogether
az our side They drove us out Of the
cacck house and we came down to the
uppie At the bottom Of the hill. under
ever Ct the roof Of the incline.
Arriving at the foot OF the incline,
No took positions as best we could.
trcd tor some time from the little
l'dn!e shack YOU see yonder by the
i.pple BIT il was too hot for me
;,ere.: snipers were firing from every
direction Men with guns were sta
led in cvfry hilltop in the rim, OF
! cup 80 hills which surrounds the
NJ.
= stifted my position to the little
.nur,c;o T. :!i'iu: which stands yonder
a,-tG. Pc. he tipple. and fred a
y -su,s from there
There vas a bawl-up. we got or
..'s fg.m ihc company to stop~shoot-
...---t@ar IHarbe they would quit and
$50. II 1T there is where the mis-.
p 4 VS. uala. 70: think that In
: " ,e,:.rat block house and others Of
,.c n.cu il Ds,ter positions than they
, i occupied could nave got the
lo,r bunch grouped around the top
G IT, pine.
1t was Soou clear that the attack
,.,s not 20 be given MP. and | cut
i.s'se o-tiu saw one Iian start over
award ne top Of the dpple. | snot
rim. and saw him stasEer into the
..rliAe she'd. am confident he never
r7!ne OUT and that he burned up In
t. = tipple.
How the Sheriff Was Killed.
l."d by man waving an American
l.ts. the mob marched against the top
q L. tiuple. \ fla was hoisted over
M shed and il was set on fire We
tlnamited part If the incline to
save the lower nd of II and the tipple
ij,elf
We s2w that We couldn't save the
ri;.Cr in II" way the defense was be-
:nS made Sheriff Duval and three Or
!nEI deputies came over by the supply
:l"ye and started up the hill to en-
circle tire attackers. The sheriff Gu
there h. was killed.
Poor old fellow. They shot him,
beat him and shot him again while he
AS down The powder burns on his
f2"e SHOW. that h. was shot at close
range after 10 was down and out"
Joint declared that he Is certain. to
his own satisfaction. that a number OF
the attackers were killed and carried
away BY unwounded members OF their
own party.
In this assertion he was supported
b. George Williams. a negro special
deputy sheriff. WHO declared that he
himself shot and killed one and
wounded another on tho slope back OF
the Clifton Supply company store.
The nero sail that he dragged this
man short distance up the hill. and
that others Of the attacking party
then picked up the body and carried
il away over tn hill
To spectator il was easily seen
that the defense Of the C,iftonvtlle
mine was poorly organized and that.
II stories Of che special deputies and
residents Of the placa are to be be-
lieved. the defenders Of the village al.
lowed the invaders to gain points OF
vantage Oh the rim CT the cup OF hills
in which the town lies. from where
they had big advantage over the de-
tenders down in the valley.