Evening journal., 1922-06-23
KILLERS IN
Mining WAR
DEFY STATE
Threaten to Disarm Illinois
Soldiers If They Enter
Death Zone
FEAR MORE DEAD
ON LAKE BOTTOM


mediate reply to this communica-
ton"
No steps toward getting a grand
jury have been taken.
The mines. where the prisoners
later massacred. and were captured
after a battle. were a picture OF ruin
today. Twisted steel and shattered
timber Uttered the pit. Search for
bodies was being made where the
captives were beaten. hanged,
dragged to death or shot while tied
in groups OF three to six.
Fearing trouble from the strik-
ers who still retain the arms used in
yesterdays killings. officials ordered
mine operators to make no further
attempt 10 run their properties with
nonunioD labor.
The corpse of C. A. Mcdowell,
mine superintendent, who was the
first slain. was secretly removed TO
a morgue in a neighboring city for
fear strike sympathizers might
seize II.
Seventeen bodies were in a tenn
porary morgue here early today.
Four were partially identified. They
were:
Emil John, Of Chicago.
Antonis Mulkavitch. Gary, Pa.
James Sanghom, ex-soldier, Chi
oago.
George Ward, ex-soldier. Chicago.
In addition TO Mcdowell. other
identified dead were:
George Sanders. Chicago.
George Henderson. Marion.
Joseph Pitcarick. Herrin.
Fred Bernard. one Of the work
ers in the mine who escaped injury
from the hands Of the mob through
the password OF a fraternal order,
described events.
He was unconscious for some time
from the beating which he re-
ceived, however. and could not tell
all OF the facts.
Bernard said he was hired by
Chicago labor agency to work as a
cook for a steam shovers union
gang.
II was engaged by the Bertrand
Employment Agency Of Chicago
Bernard said. I think most Of the
men who we're working in the mine
were hired by the same company.
"I reported for work on Tuesday.
I now understand that we were
warned to quit the mine by union
leaders but none Of the warnings
ever reached the men. do not
know whether the bosses received
these warnings or not.
Many OF the other men had come
TO work under the same representa-
tons which were made to me.
THE first crowd OF miners started
TO march on the works late Wednes-
day afternoon.
THE guards think there were
about thirty, were heavily armed and
equipped with machine gun. They
wanted the kitchen crew to take up
arms, but we refused. We hid IN
gondolas on the tracks inside the
barricade OF slack.
Bullets struck all around us dur
ing the afternoon and night.
I'VE crouched down. l don't
think any one aside the barricade
was hurt in Wednesdays firing al
though several miners were report
ed killed ana injured.
The first heavy attack early
Thursday morning came at sunrise.
"As the attackers came bowling
toward the barricade the guards
fought them Off.
After the strikers had been
driven back once they apparently
obtained reinforcement and about
10 a. m, another attack started.
Some one raised a white flag and
the crowd Of men and women came
yelling over the barricade.
I'VE were frisked for arms, then
lined up and tied together in groups
OF six.
Many Of the attackers were
drunk. They forced us to start
marching toward Herrin. As we
walked they struck US with their
fists and revolvers. Mcdowell, the
superintendent Of the mine headed
the line. He was lame and they took
delight in torturing him."
CINCINNATI. o.. June % Omit
ed Press) Frank Harrington. pres
cdent Of the Illinois Miners FEEDER
alton, left here early today for the
Williamson county. Illinois, trouble
zone.
I.o-rf-u.., f,dfracf1v blamed