South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-23
WOUNDED MINER
RELATES STORY
OF MASSACRES
Chicago Man Describes Expe-
riences i'm Wholesale
Mine Killings.

Continued from page Onel
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warnings To leave town or we would
BIZ run out. We never got them.
perhaps the bosses did. When we
saw the miners approaching Weo-
Hesday afternoon we did not know
what 20 do. The guards prepared
for fight most OF Us workers wanted
TO surrender
Through the night the bullets
rained in on US We sought shelter
as we could. the miners climbed
upon the coal piles and earth en-
bankments and We were unable 10
see them. The guards kept firing
but most OF Us hid. Then the min
ers blew up our pumping station and
We had no water and our food sups
plies were in freight car IN the
hands OF the miners About sun
rise We put up the white flag The
miners poured IN and we surren-
dered our arms.
Up 10 this time not one OF US
had been injured that I know OF al
, though I understand that several OF
/ the miners had been shot. The min
ers spread quickly around and tied
/ Us together in groups Of three and
six. The tied men then were rushed
! i'm different directions. Some Of them
tried to run. but they were sho,
/ down as fast as they moved
Hill Gun Operator.
"One miner asked who was the
machine gun operator Some one
pointed him out and he was shot I'm
his tracks and his body laid over the
machine gun. They tied FIVE men
I with me, took us out on the road
and told Us to run. We ran ana
hundreds OF bullets followed US. we
staggered on but finally three OF our
group fell, pulling the others with
US. tied down, several bullet holes
: being in me already
Il laid there while men came III
and fired more shots into us from
three OF four feet. Then everythin.
went black. l woke up later anC
begged for water but there was no
any. remember being dragge,
along the road but l don't know
what by. They then brougirS US t,
the hospital
O'Rourke's story was confirmed b
$. Z. Williams and Ed Green of Chi
cago, two of the men tied with hin
who are still alive. The other tire
were killed These were the ST
found by the Associated Press cor
respondent Thursday morning an
whom he tried TO take water 10. onl
TO be refused permission TO hel
them.
Tells of Attack
James +. Morris of Johnson City
ILL.,, a young miner in the attackin
forces told the correspondent the at
tack had been spontaneous and tina
when the men went to the mine the
did not really stop TO think of tn
bloodshed that might follow. II
was wounded early in the fight.
Il was on my way TO Herrin." n
said. when 1 met a gang of fellow!
J They said they were on their way I
, run out those 'scabs' at the stri
mine. ! Joined them and other
; kept joining us until there mus
have been 5000. Most Of US wer
armed and those who were not 500
got their guns. When we got I
. the mine, We spread out around 4
We had no real leader. Everyon
was working for himself. II wa
Just one big mob to get the me
who We're running that mino. I ar
not sure who fired the first shot bu
after it was fired there was real wa
Ire fire kept up for hours. I CUES.
and several Of our men were hi
Late in the evening | was shot /
the arm. The wound was not seriou