The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-05-09
STRIKERSATTACK
Mine OFFICIAL
AND FARMER AT
EVANSVILLE
Mob of $50 Men Forces Return
of Loaded Coal Truck; Arrests
May Follow This Week

The vice president and general
manager of the Burnwell Coal Com
pany, located on the Grantsville- New
Germany road in Garrett county, and
young farmer living along the same
road were attacked yesterday morn
ing by mob of about $50 striking
coal miners from Garrett county and
nearby West Virginia, state police
and Garrett county authorities said
last night.
| They said the attack occurred after
the mob, which arrived in fifteen cars
and one truck, threatened to over
turn a truckload or coal being hauled
from the non-union mine, and that
the mine was shut down when the
operator received word of the APP
preaching strikers.
Constable Charles Teller, Grants
vile, said John Keister, Grantsville,
the vice president and general man
ager, left after he ordered it closed
down and was attacked on the
Grantsville-New Germany road by
the strikers while on his way to his
home.
Zeller said he found Keister lying
unconscious at the edge of the road
and that the mob left the scene a
short time later, probably" believing
they had killed him. He said Keister
was struck with blunt instrument
and was kicked and beaten.
Keister said he suffered a concus-
sion, was bruised about the body and
had several dumps" on his face. He
said he was told he was kicked while
he was unconscious.
Several Arrests Likely
The farmer, identified as Ray E.
Jenkins, about 26, who recently re-
turned from the armed forces, was
on his way to Grantsville when he
was "beaten up and his lips mashed
up" by members of the mob, Zeller
stated.
He indicated that several arrests
will be made later this week, four
warrants have been issued.
Last night, J. Fred Graves, Balti-
more, president of the mine, arrived
in Cumberland and said he will have
a talk with company attorney, Will
liam c, Walsh, today, tell him what's
happened and ask him to take it up
with governor to get police protec-
ton Immediately.
Gas far as we're concerned"
Graves said, with proper police pro-
lection we're going to resume oper-
alton of the strip mine and the deep
mine"
The strip mine operation ceased
the first of April, Graves said, when
employees quit there jobs. He said
operation Of the deep mine has con-
tinued and that coal has been ship
ped by rail to supply the Potomac
Edison Company at Cumberland and
Williamsport and the municipal light
plant at Hagerstown.
State police said men in the mob
were miners from Shallmar, VindeX
and Kitzmiller but that they did not
know if they were members of Dis
trict 16, United Mine Workers of
America. Zeller said the men were
mostly strangers to me" and that
he does not know if they are men,
bers of District 16.
Keister, who termed the bunch of
men "a bunch of outlaws" said they
were from Kitzmiller and Vindex, and
Blaine, w. Va. He said he thinks"
they are members of District 16.
Contacted last night in Washington
where he was participating in wage
negotiation parleys, John T. Jones,
president of District 16, declared, Il
don't know anything about it," He
added, violence has never been con-
doned by the United Mine Workers
of America"
Graves blamed the attacks on
leadership of District 16. Keister told
a Cumberland News reporter that
UNIV representatives visited him
last week and said "some of the boys
might get me-"
Sgt. Hignutt, Maryland State
police, said the mob arrived at
Grantsville about 10 a. M, and pro-
ceeded toward the coal mine by way
of the New Germany road.
They forced the operator of a
loaded truck to return to the mine.
Later Keister was encountered
Keister said about so to 60 men
were employed at the mine when in
full production bu that only ten were
working yesterday.
Graves said they paid their men
above union scale "to get the men to
produce coal" The miners who quit
work the first of April went to the
mine Tuesday and asked to return
to work.