Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12
MILL BARN FIRED
IN STRIKE TOWN
AutoIoad Of Men Shooting
Guns Escapes Pursuit
at EIizabethton.

ELIzABETHTON, Tenn, May 1i.-A
barn within 100 yards Of the main
Bemberg plant which is just resuming
operations with non-union labor after
a several weeks shutdown on account
of labor troubles was destroyed tonight
by fire which officers said undoubtedly
was of incendiary origin. q.
Capt. r. T. Johnston Of National
Guard unit on strike duty within 100
yards Of the fire, made the statement
in regard to incendiarism. He said
the odor Of gasoline about the place
was "unmistakable."
An automobile loaded with men who
fired guns as they drove past his men
raced away from the place but few
moments before it broke into names,
Capt. johnson said. Pursuit OF the
speeding machine was unsuccessful.
Reported Mill Property.
The barn was reported to be the
property of the mill. 1t was filled with
lumber.
An impregnable Gordon Immediately
was thrown about all territory Wltnn
2 miles Of the burning barn. Not even
military press passes were honored, an
civilians regardless OF their connexions
being held outside.
Mill and union officials could not be
reached Immediately for statements.
Additional property destruction and a
note threatening the lives of two work
ers were developments today. A barn
belonging to John Arrowood at valley
Forge, a settlement near here, was
burned this morning. National Guards
men found the following note TIED 70
a ccrnstalk near the ruins:
IF John Arrowood and Nat Slmerly
enter the Bemberg plant TO WORK Ihs sS,
had better bid their children gooo-py
as they will not get back again"
Threatened Men Neighbors.
simerly is Arrowood's neighbor. Both
men had been working at the Amer.
lean Bemberg Silk Mill, but Arrowooo
said he had made application to the
union for membership.
II had not paid my dues, however
he said.
He did not return to work today
but said he would be on the jon
destruction of the barn followed
closely the explosion which wrecked
| the mountain home Of Mack Elliott, a
union striker The two incidents
brought the strike situation to the most
| acute stage since April Is, when the
walkout occurred.
Maynard Snyder, a deputy sheriff
! charged with feloniously assaultlne
George Arrowood, 17-year-old youth
waived preliminary hearing this AFTER
noon and was held to the grand jury
under $500 bond. Special onncers
| heavily armed. circulated among the
| strikers, who milled about the court
! yard during the hearing.
No Clues In Explosion.
/ A State fire marshal from Knoxville
was here today investigating the ex'
I plosion at the Elliott home. Omceri
| said no clues had been found.
Bloodhounds from johnson City FOL
| lowed a trail from the ruins OF the
barn to a crossing of Doe River, bu
there lost it.
A report was current today that the
machine gun unit guarding the Benz
berg silk and Glanzstoff rayon plants
had been returned to Knoxville.
! Pieces of the bottles which were be-
lieved to have contained the explosives
| we're gathered for fingerprints. The
pected of the burning of Arrowood!
barn were being watched.
Company officials announced today
that 1,l05 workers were In the plant.
and that 1857 former workers wert
ready to return to work as soon a.
conditions permit.