Evening star., 1922-12-20
the woods searching for those who
survived.
Tells Of Mine Battle.

Tells Of Mine Battle.
On cross-examination officer testi-
fled he was at present employed in
Kentucky as a mine official by w. j.
Lester, who owned the Herrin strip
mine at the time of the riots. The
witness said there were about twenty
armed guards at the pit and arms and
ammunition had been dealt out and
hre or the mob returned when the
mine was attacked
Ihree other survivors were in court.
and the state has announced they will
testlfy upon completion of the cross
examihation of officer. They are
Joseph O'Rourke. William earns and
Reruard Jones. all of whom were
guards at the time.
The trial will be recessed over the
holidays, from December % to
January 2, the court announced yes
terday.
generals Office at Springfield another
witness, yesterday testified there were
no agreements between the non union
workers at the mine and local officials
of the United Mine Workers for a
truce and a safe conduct for the
besieged workers out of the district.
Officer'S testimony corroborated this.
Noi Sdlu lndt ne Hdu lTleu
10 arrange such truce while acting
in purely personal capacity. having
come down from Springfield, when he
heard of the trouble.
Officer said that Col. Hunter had
talked to him over the telephone and
said that W. J. Lester. the owner. had
authorized the surrender of property.
Just before nightfall, the witness
testified. those in the mine raised a
white flag. but the Sniping from sur
rounding hills continued all night,
and the flag was lowered at daybreak.
when the non-union men took refuge
in some freight cars. Then the fierce
ness of tho attack increased and the
""slesed decided to surrender raising
white flag. he said.
After being assured of their safety
according to the witnesses, the forty
eight nOn-union men were led from
the mine. G. X. Mcdowell. the super
,ntendent. limping painfully along on
his artificial leg. The crowd constant
~ increased, and Officer quoted one
of its leaders. whom he could not
Identify, as shouting. "They're moth
ing but strikebreakers, and we ought
to kill them aIl!
"Howling Like Wolves"
About mile from the mine. the
miles farther. where the remaining
by two men. Other witnesses have
testified that the crippled superin-
tcndent was slain at this spot.
Ihen the crowd marched about two
miles further. where the remaining
lorty-seVen prisoners were lined be-
fore a harbed wire fence near a clump
II woods. Officer said
We're going to give you chance
for your liveS!' he quoted one of the
leaders as shouting, and then the fir
ing began.
Officer said he dropped at the first
discharge and rolled under the fence
fleeing. while the crowd was hunting
down those who had escaped the rain
of lead He described the crowd as
'hoWiing like wolves"
Only those who have guns can
enter the woods" the witness said he
heard one of the mob leaders cry.
1t was at the wire fence that other
witnesses have testified fourteen
bodies were found Four others, ac-
cordlng to the testimony, were found
in Clump of woods Il short distance
away. having been hot down as they
fled. SIX fugitiVeS |ere captured VIII
uesS.s have said driven through the
streets OF Herri.l and shot down at a
cemetery just outside the town. The
distance from the mine through tn.
woods to the cemetery has been given
as approximately six and one-hai:
miles. The time of the start from tn,
mine has been placed at $40 am. and
he shooting at the cemetery at 9 am.
20 lU.3o M.
AirpIane Flew Over Mine.
Officer said that the only man he
recognized was Hugh Willis. state
board member of the United Mine
Workers. He said Willis drove up
10 the crowd before the shooting at
the woods, asked for the leader and
then disappeared from his view.
Under a severe croSs-eXamination
Officer said there were forty-fve
workers in the pit and about twenty
tive guards. all of whom had been
brought from Chicago at the time of
the riots. He said he was at present
employed in Kentucky mine in
which W. J. Lester has an interest
Officer said that Mcdowell had dealt
out arms and ammunition which the
men used in tie mine at the time
Of the first attack, and admitted he
himself had q gun.
He also told of an airplane flying
over the mine and said he heard
explosions beneath it as though. it
We're dropping bombs.
Officer was on the stand most of
the day, his cross-examination TAX
ing W all of the afternoon session
of court, which adjourned at 4:4O
pm. with the witness still on the
stand. His cross examination will
be resumed tOmOrrOv morpipc