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Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 2, 1921
Armed West Virginia Miners Advance Through Logan County
From The West Virginian of September 1, 1921:
Tag: Logan County WV
Hellraisers Journal: Redneck Miners’ Army Confronts Sheriff Chafin’s Deputized Gunthugs at Blair Mountain
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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday September 1, 1921
Blair Mountain, West Virginia – Miners’ Army Battles Chafin’s Gunthugs
From The West Virginian of August 31, 1921:
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Hellraisers Journal: Miners Gather Again for March on Mingo by Way of Logan; Cabin Creek Miners Arrive at the Front
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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday August 31, 1921
West Virginia Miners Gather Once Again to March to Mingo
From The West Virginian of August 30, 1921:
Hellraisers Journal: Miners Shot Down in Battle at Sharples, W. Va., as Force Led by Captain J. R. Brockus Invades Town
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 30, 1921
Staples, West Virginia – Miners Die Fighting in Battle with Brockus
From the Baltimore Sun of August 29, 1921:
FIVE MEN FALL AS MINERS
AND POLICE CLASH
———-
West Virginia Troops Fired On When
They Order Band To Surrender.
———-STATE POSSE THEN FORCED TO RETREAT
———-
1,500 To 2,000 Armed Men Reported
Gathered At Blair, Logan Co.
———-State Police Headquarters, Ethel, W. Va., Aug. 28.-Five men fell in an encounter early this morning between an armed band and State troopers on Beach Creek [which runs into Spruce Fork near Sharples, about 6 miles north of Blair], Logan county, near the Boone-Logan county line, Capt. J. R. Brockus, commanding, State police and deputy sheriffs, reported this afternoon. There was much shooting on either side, he said. Whether all the men who fell were killed, Captain Brockus was unable to state.
STATE TROOPS RETREAT.
He added that after his men had seen those who had fallen picked up and carried away by their companions the State troopers and deputies retired because some of their number were in civilian clothes and it was difficult to distinguish them in the darkness from the men comprising the armed band.
The clash was at close range, according to Captain Brockus’ report, the men firing at each other where but eight to ten feet apart.
Prior to the fight, Captain Brockus said, 11 prisoners had been taken by the patrolling party which set out from Logan yesterday, ostensibly toward Blair and Sharples. Four of the prisoners escaped during the engagement, it was said, and one of them is believed to have been killed.
Captain Brockus was at the head of the advance guard of troopers and deputies. It was this detachment, comprising 12 men that engaged the armed band. The patrol, while proceeding toward Sharples, Captain Brockus reported, ran across five men on foot. All were armed with rifles and one had a shotgun, he said.
CAPTAIN BROCKUS’ REPORT.
“We called upon these men to disarm, which they did,” the Captain continued.
“We placed them under arrest and proceeded down the road. Further on we met two automobiles and placed six additional armed men under arrest.
“With the 11 prisoners we marched on toward Sharples and came upon another squad of five armed men. Some one called to us that we would not be allowed to pass. We called upon them to surrender their arms, but received in reply a volley of shots.
“Our men returned the fire and in the fight five men fell to the ground. We waited until we saw that they were picked up and carried away, and then decided to discontinue the advance for the present. It was very dark and some of our deputies were in civilian clothes, hampering our distinguishing them.”…..
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[Emphasis added, map added from New York Daily News of Aug. 27th.]
Note: this is the same Captain Brockus who perpetrated the raid on Lick Creek Tent Colony in Mingo County in which Striking Miner Alex Breedlove was shot and killed with his hands in the air and a prayer on his lips.
Hellraisers Journal: Keeney and Mooney Speak to Miners at Madison, Convince Most to End March on Mingo Strike Zone
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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 28, 1921
Madison, West Virginia – Keeney and Mooney Convince Miners to End March
From The Wheeling Intelligencer of August 27, 1921:
GEN. BANDHOLTZ INDUCES ACTION
BY THE LEADERS
———-600 OF THE MARCHERS HAD
REACHED MADISON
———-
Conditions Reported Quiet on the
Boone Highways Friday Night.
———-Madison, W. Va., Aug. 26.-The march of miners from Marmet to Mingo in protest against martial law came to an end late today, when President C. F. Keeney, of district 17, United Mine Workers of America, induced 500 or 600 of the men to agree to return to their homes. Keeney said that special trains would be provided for the men here, while the thousands along the road between Madison and Peytona had already taken the back track.
Mr. Keeney said he was trying to have a train get here tonight. It is only a short run over the Coal River branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad to St. Albans, on the main line, and an equally short one from there to Charleston.
To Board Trains for Home.
He planned, he said, to get the men here aboard the train at the earliest possible moment., for they were footsore and weary, and many of them had marched a long distance before they reached Marmet.
A meeting of the advance guard of about 600 marching miners was held in the baseball park here, the men occupying the grandstand. Enough stragglers had come in along the Peytona- Madison road to swell the audience to about 600.
They sat in the bright sunshine and listened intently while Mr. Keeney and Secretary Mooney explained to them the details of the conference they have had with Brigadier General H. H. Bandholtz, U. S. A., representing the war department, in Charleston this morning. Mr. Keeney told the men that General Bandholtz had insisted that march end at once, and suggested the possible course of the federal government if the men persisted in the determination to pass through Logan and into Mingo county.
Told to Go Home.
Two or three of the miners, who were said to be leaders among the men, also addressed the meeting. The more conservative of these speakers urged the men to take such advice as Mr. Keeney had to offer.
Mr. Keeney promptly told them to go back home.
That broke up the meeting and some of the audience who had joined the marching force from this vicinity, immediately started for their homes…..
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SITUATION AGANIN CRITICAL WHEN
MARCHERS REFUSE TO TURN BACK
———-Failure of State Authorities to
Send Trains Criticized
-Band of 500 Seize Train, and
Are Headed for Logan County.
———-Charleston, W. Va., Aug. 26.-
The situation here tonight is critical. State officials made a serious mistake in not sending trains to Madison before dark to take the miners back to their homes.
This statement was made at 11:30 tonight by C. Frank Keeney, president of District No. 17, United Mine Workers, who is reported to have “turned the men back” in their march from Marmet toward the West Virginia side of Tug river, in Mingo County.
At the same time, State Tax Commissioner Walter S. Hallanan and other state officials received reports that a crowd of armed men estimated at 500, had commandeered a train at Clothier, on Coal river and were headed toward Blair, Logan county. Most of the armed men boarded the train at Danville…..
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[Emphasis added.]
Hellraisers Journal: Frank Keeney Fears Massacre of Miners, Rushes to Madison to Stop March; Redneck Army at Danville
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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday August 27, 1921
Madison, West Virginia – Advance Forces of Miners’ Army Reaches Danville
From The Washington Times of Aug 26, 1921:
Page 1:
By International News Service.
MADISON, W. Va., Aug. 26.-The advance forces in the union miners’ “army” of 5,000 men, which is marching toward the Mingo county strike zone, arrived at Danville, a little hamlet along the Coal river, two miles northeast of this place, at noon today.
The men had been marching since 3 o’clock this morning, at which time they broke camp at Racine, sixteen miles northeast of here. The marchers were tired but maintained orderly lines. They hope to reach the Boone-Logan county border by tonight.
—–
By International News Service.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Aug. 26.-Two hundred Federal soldiers from the Columbus barracks arrived at Camp Sherman today to join the 19th United States Infantry here, which is prepared to move at a moment’s notice, into Mingo county, West Virginia.
—–
By International News Service.
MADISON, W. Va., Aug. 26..-C. F. Keeney, of Charleston, president of district No. 17, United Mine Workers of America, left here this morning to head off the invasion of Logan county by 5,000 armed union miners.
Guns and Planes Ready.
Just before leaving Kenney said he had been advised that the sheriff of Logan county had machine guns planted covering all roads and that airplanes were loaded with bombs. Any attempt to march through Logan county would mean a massacre of the union miners’ force. Keeney made haste to reach the men before bloodshed resulted.
The marchers left Racine today for Madison and will not reach here until late this afternoon or tonight. The miners’ army is 12 miles from here now.
Deny Pitched Battle.
Published reports that Sheriff Don Chafin of Logan county and 300 Deputies had engaged in battle late Thursday with the miners’ army were flatly denied by both Kenney and local authorities. A small rumor was magnified into a great fact last night, it was stated. There was no battle or trouble of any kind.
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[Most emphasis not added.]
Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Goes to Marmet Where 3,500 Miners Are Camped and Ready to March on Logan and Mingo
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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday August 25, 1921
Marmet, West Virginia – Mother Jones Headed for Miners’ Camp at Marmet
From The West Virginian of August 24, 1921:
MOTHER JONES GOES TO MARMET
—————
Charleston Citizens Still Hope
There Will Be No Trouble
CHARLESTON, August 24-Mother Jones, well know as a leader among miners, left here this morning for Marmet where about 3,000 miners have been in camp as a protest against the state of martial law in the Mingo county coal field.
She was to have addressed the men, who had moved their camp five miles from the original site, which was described as a more comfortable location.
While recognizing the gravity of the situation occasioned by the presence of so large a body of men within striking distance of the capital public officials and leading citizens here expressed the opinion that under proper leadership the incident would be closed without serious result.
It was recognized, however, that the situation still contained elements of danger particularly if the original program was carried out and the men carried out their march through Boone and Logan counties to Mingo.
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[Photograph and emphasis added.]
Hellraisers Journal: 2000 Miners Gather at Marmet, Plan to March to Mingo County by Way of Logan to Protest Martial Law
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Hellraisers Journal – Monday August 22, 1921
Miners Gather at Marmet with Plan to March on Mingo by Way of Logan
From the Baltimore Sun of August 21, 1921:
Charleston, W. Va., Aug. 20 (Special).-Fifteen hundred coal miners from the Lens Creek, Cabin Creek and Paint Creek regions are camped tonight in a narrow valley at Marmet, eight miles east of here. Augmented by about 500 others from Little Coal river, they declared they will start tomorrow for Mingo county by way of Logan county in protest against martial law there.
Newspaper men who visited the camp this afternoon estimated at least 700 of the men were armed. Most of those had rifles and shotguns and others carried side arms. The two newspaper men who went to Marmet were escorted back to Charleston by six miners armed with rifles, who came as far as Kanawha City with them. As soon as they were forced to leave the valley a force of 100 men, armed with rifles, surrounded the camp to prevent outsiders from intruding…..
UNION HEAD “HANDS OFF.”
S. F. [C. F.] Keeney, president of District 17, United Mine Workers of America, said tonight that the men could march to Mingo as far as he was concerned and that he would not interfere. He said that he had been informed the miners were to have a meeting at Marmet, but that he had not been invited to attend. “I wash my hands of the whole affair,” he declared. “I’ve interfered time and again to stop such enterprises. I seem to have halted them only temporarily. This time they can march to Mingo, so far as I am concerned.”…..
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[Emphasis added.]
Hellraisers Journal: Winthrop D. Lane for the Appeal to Reason: “West Virginia is today in a state of civil war.”
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Hellraisers Journal – Monday February 21, 1921
Winthrop D. Lane on Civil War in West Virginia
From the Appeal to Reason of February 19, 1921:
Coal Barons, Guns and Courts in Hand, Fight
Attempts of Miners to Organize Unions
(You have read endless dispatches about the troubles in the mining district of West Virginia. But the Associated Press true to its time-established policy has obscured the issues of the struggle. The daily press, as a rule, presents no clear account of the conflict. In fact, in the ordinary news dispatches the miners are given the worst of the account. But one daily paper—the New York Evening Post-has seen fit to send a special reporter to the scene of the conflict, with instructions to tell the truth. He tells it in the following story, which, coming from a capitalist daily, cannot be accused of bias in favor of the miners. Indeed, you will note that this reporter is exceedingly careful not to tread too severely upon the toes of the coal operators. But, with all his caution and moderation, he gives the facts. Winthrop D. Lane, the author of the following article, is well known in the labor movement as a writer for The Survey, a liberal magazine which has in the past published many exposures by Mr. Lane of the persecutions of the workers:)
—–
BY WINTHROP D. LANE.
Mr. Lane has just spent six weeks in the bituminous coal field of West Virginia for the New York Evening Post. He went there to try to get a picture not only of the industrial conflict going on in that state, but also of the civilization back of it. He talked to operators, sat by the fire in miners’ homes, visited many mining camps, entered mines, and discussed the struggle with officials of the union.
WEST VIRGINIA is today in a state of civil war. This civil war is of a peculiar kind. It is not being fought by armies in the field, led by military commanders and seeking military victory. It is more subtle and covert than that. It is being fought through many of the ordinary channels of civilization.
Hellraisers Journal: From The Nation: “Labor’s Valley Forge” by Neil Burkinshaw -Life in Tent Colonies of Mingo County
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 14, 1920
Mingo County, West Virginia – Report from Miners’ Tent Colonies
From The Nation of December 8, 1920:
Labor’s Valley Forge
By NEIL BURKINSHAW
DRIVEN from their homes at the point of a gun for the crime of joining the union , more than four hundred miners and their families are camping in tents on the snow-covered mountains in Mingo County, West Virginia. To add to their difficulties federal troops have been summoned to play the ancient game of keeping “law and order.” But it will take more than the cold clutch of winter and the presence of soldiers to make the miners surrender in their fight for recognition of their right to unionize.
Across the Tug River, a narrow stream dividing Mingo County from Kentucky, is the union workers’ “No Man’s Land” held by the gunmen of the Kentucky coal operators who waylay, beat, and sometimes kill anyone even suspected of union affiliations. The same condition obtains in McDowell County of West Virginia just south of Mingo. The region was settled in pre-Revolutionary days by pioneers who crossed the mountains from Virginia and North Carolina, a hardy stock of Welsh, English, and Scotch from whom the miners are descended. One rarely encounters a foreigner there so that the industrial war now raging can not be ascribed-as is the convenient practice-to the agitation of the foreign element .
