The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-23
STORY OF RIOT IS TOLD BY WOUNDED
 MEN IN HOSPITAL
(Gontinued from page one)

three or four feet. Then everything went black. I woke up later and begged for water. but there was not any. l remember being dragged along the road, but I don't know what by. Then they brought us to the hospital"
 tO'Rourke's story was confirmed by $. r. Williams and Ed Green, of Chicago, two of the men tied with him who are still alive. The other three were killed. These were the six found by the Associated Press correspondent this morning and whom he tried astake water to, only to be refused permission to help them.
 James E. Morris, of Johnston City, H., q young miner in the attacking forces, told the correspondent the that when the men went to the mine they did not really stop to think of tha hloodshed that might follow
 Wounded Early
 He was wounded early in the fight ing, T was on my way to Herrin," he said. when l met a gang of fell lows. They said they were on their way to run out those scabs at the Strip mine. l joined them and others kept joining us until there must have been 5,000. Most of us were armed and those that were not, soon got their guns. When we got to the mine we spread out around it. We had no real leaders, every one was working for himself. It was just one big mob out to get the men who were running that mins. l am not sure who fired the first shot. but IA II The fire kept up for hours, guess, and several of our men were hit. Late In the evening l was shot in the arm. The wound was not serious end I walked back to where a group of our men were standing and they sent me here ina car. l wasn't there but I understand most of the Killing was done after the mine surrendered. It was terrible, I know and I'm sure some of those scabs really were in- nocen, men. It's Just the old story of mob getting started"
 Other miners confirmed Morris statements.
 o'Rourke As not expected to live. He is one of the nine men in the hospital, Morris being the only min CT and seven of the imported min CTS are expected to die, physicians said
 The hospital was carefully guard ed, all doors being locked to pre- vent any possible attack on the wounded men. Only persons who could prove they had business in the hospital were admitted
 Earlier in the day the correspon- dent, after 10 Intellectual attempts, finally persuaded a taXicab driver to take him through the scene of the fighting. The strip mine had been fired and freight train on a siding also was burning. while miners footed several cars of food supplies.
 Out in road near the mine, six men tied together and terribly mangled by bullets and clubs lay in scorching sun, while hundreds of men and women laughed at their pleas for water made in the name of God.
 One of the men. his face bloody, and one shoulder shot away apparent : was within a few minutes of death
 Please, boys give me a drink" he moaned.
 A laugh from the hundreds of spectators was the only reply.
 Told to Keep Away
 The correspondent rushed to 8 house for water and when he returned he was faced by a sword, quickly drawn pistols. and told to keep away.
 When the man. begged again for water flor Gods sake" a young woman with a baby in her arms, placed her foot on the mangled body and said:
 'I,n see you in hell before you get any water
 The men apparently had been dragged down a rock rad behind an automobile. Their clothes were torn and pieces of gravel were im- bedded in their mangied flesh.
 The union miners deny they killed any strikebreakers.
 Just Dropped Dead
 The correspondent accosted strik- ing miner and thesfollowing conver- sation followed:
 How many were killedg the cor respondent asked
 No one killed at all."
 Why, the dead are all over," the correspondent countered.
 We didn't kill them, they just dropped dead from fright when we surrounded their camp.,'
 The striker then asked whether the militia was coming here. adding ''If the militia comes down here tf{at will mean just so many more guns for us."