Evening star., 1941-07-10
Troopers on Guard
After 3 Are Hurt in
Mine Gun Battles
Pennsylvania Legislator
Asks Probe Of Bootleg
Miners Assaults
By the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
POTTSVILLE, Pa, July l0.-A
detachment of at least $50 State
troopers established patrols through
the lower anthracite region today
and power shovel operators made
tentative moves to resume coal
stripping operations stopped yester-
day by riotins miners.
At the same time, county authori-
ties started an investigation of three
widely separated disturbances in
which Is men were wounded by
buckshot and 20 others bruised and
battered.
Two of the wounded men, admit
! ted last night to the Ashland State
Hospital. were reported as in only
a fair condition. Both were shot in
the back.
3 Power ShOvels Destroyed.
The troopers, under command Of
Maj. Thomas Martin, arrived dur
ing the night and set up headquar-
ters at the Pine Grove Armory. Maj.
Martin said enough men, were
sent. with the approval of the Gov
ernor," to maintain order.
Yesterdays outbreaks, in which
three costly power shovels were
damaged and other equipment
burned. were part of a widespread
drive by independent-"boo
miners against surface stripping Of
coal veins. The miners contend the
practice lowers property values and
provides less work than the normal
shaft mining.
An estimated 800 miners assem-
bled along the State highway this
morning at Kohlers Gap, where q
$4,000 power shovel was run down
mountainside last night. State po-
lice, some mounted. kept the miners
on the highway shoulder.
Declaring the situation serious,
State Senator John H. Dent asked
a legislative investigation with the
assertion If we let this 20 unnoticed,
we are going to say to 10000 to
10000 bootleg coal miners that you
can destroy legal industry without
fear of repercussion.'
Hour Pitched Battle.
The independents, digging and
marketing coal from abandoned
mines in practice born of the de-
preston when hundreds were thrown
out OF work, launched their organ
lied drive after vowing at a mass
meeting to halt surface stripping.
Urging that the Legislatu ture make
an investigation, Gov James as
serted that strip mining. if permit
ted to expand, would leave the an
thracite industry completely disor-
ganized."
Frank Correale, lessee of one of
the stripping operations, countered
with the assertion that yesterdays
riot might have been prevented if
State officials had not ignored re-
peated requests for State police pro-
lection"
Gov. James Replies.
The Governor said he did not in
tend to use the State troopers ito
protect private activities which I
believe to be contrary to the public
welfare"
A two-hour pitched battle between
1000 miners using clubs and stones
and Is coal company police armed
with shotguns highlighted raids on
three strip operations yesterday.
Two steam shovels and an air COM
preSSor were wrecked before night
fall brought at least a temporary
lull in the warfare.
Shooting broke out as throngs OF
miners moved up steep Good Spring
Mountain 16 miles west of here to-
ward two shovels which the Correale
Construction Co. was using to scoop
away surface and uncover coal veins.
Other Shovels DESTROYED.
A detachment of State police ar
rived and restored order. Eight
company detectives were among
those injured by flying missiles The
operation was closed, just as it has
been every time work was attempted
the last six months. Independents
heretofore prevented operations by
forming a human chain" around
the shovels.
A rowing band of miners then
swooped down on the Winston COL
liery of the Susquehanna Coal Co..
where an air compressor was fired
and the shovel pushed down the
mountainside, smashing up on a