The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-07
SALKELD TRIAD
TO0PENMONDAY
Separate Hearings for Min,
ers Accused Of Massacre
May Be Demanded.

wELLsBURG, Oct. THE
possibility Of a change OF venue
In the cases of the 216 union min
ers indicted here for participation
in the armed march on the Salkeld
mine OF the Richland Coal Co. at
Cliftonvllle, July II, Is causing
speculation among both citizens
and officials. Never In the history
OF the Panhandle has an indus
trial dispute caused so much dis
cussion as this armed march.
Harangued at the Penobscot
ball grounds, a few miles from
Cliftonyille, force of miners
said to have numbered 500, and
led by renegade American, took
to the woods and hills shortly
after dusk, Sunday, July 16. I'm
der cover Of darkness they march
ed across the Pennsylvania state
line and hid in the woods above
the mine. At signal from the
rug hut" colony across the river
from the operation, the invaders
swooped down the hillside, Shrek
ing like wild men and shooting as
they ran. Each was armed with
either a high powered rifle, auto
matte shot gun or pistol, and the
twenty-one defenders OF the place,
led by Sheriff Hardin H. Duval,
were powerless. Their guns were
outranged, and they had to take
to cover.
The American leader of tls
party, storming the tipple, fiaun!-
ed Old Glory before the men, but
after taking the building, de-
secrated the flag by burning It.,
when the yelling maniacs fred the
tipple.
Thirsting for blood and intoxl-
Gated with their easy victory, a
part OF the force rushed down
the hill side toward the homes Of
the minors who worked In the
open shop operation. They car
ried torches and oil soaked cotton
waste. Behind the windows stark
faces Of terrified women and chill
dren were seen. Sheriff Duval
gave his life in successfully avert
ing the horrible plan and died
with both guns barking, killing
two OF his assassins. After muir
dering the sheriff, the enraged
miners trampled his face In the
ground and fred buckshot into 1t
until 1t was an unrecognizable
mass Of human flesh.
Reports of possible trouble at
the mine had been heard for sew.
eral days prior to the march, &C.
cording TO J. E. Edwards, super
intendent Of the mine. He had
applied for extra guards, but he
said county authorities refused to
allow them to carry more danger
Gus weapons than shot guns.
When he saw trouble could not be
averted he attempted to call the
West Virginia State Police, but
said the operator at Avella, Pa
who controls the only line out OF
Cliftonville, refused him a line.
Later when he had a second at
tempt he found the wire was cut
and the mine was entirely out Of
touch with the world.
There wasn't a chance Of even
getting a doctor for the wound
ed" said Edwards. when Irwin
Mozingo, the gallant deputy
sheriff who fought alone in the
power house against at least 100
OF the wild men, was dragged
down the hill wounded, we had to
send him to Wellsburg, nine miles
away. His face was horribly
mutilated his jaw partly shot
away, and he was otherwise hurt.
However he managed to hit many
of the assassins and accounted
for at least two OF the seven un-
ion miners who died in the in
vasion."
Capt. Walter W. White, COM
mander Of Company A, West VIr-
ginia State Police, and a dozen
troopers arrived on the scene be-
fore the marchers had reached
their homes after the battle. He
and his men co-operated with the
Pennsylvania State Constabulary
In combing the woods for skulkIng
murderers. Many and varied rea-
sons were given by the scores Of
men found hiding out, but Can
tain IVhIfa oIoj,o, e. ka,,o -