WV Coal Strikes-martial law-Blair Mountain

[butlersrangers]

I blundered into interesting history and accounts about Coal Miner Strikes in West Virginia at Paint Creek and Cabin Creek, in 1912.

Martial Law was enforced. The list of confiscated arms and ammunition is interesting. Twenty-two model 1892 Krag-Jorgensens & six 7mm Colt 'potato diggers'!

Note errors on - '.81 caliber Swiss rifles' - (.41 caliber Vetterli) and spelling of 'Erfurt'. I'm surprised at the detail attempted.

[butlersrangers]

Following World War 1, WV miners experienced depressed economic times and heavy-handed treatment by Mine Operators.

Earlier issues and conflicts stimulated a growth in Union activity, during 1920-1921. The Mine Owners reacted punitively and brought in thugs and scabs There were shootings and violence.
Armed striking Miners, numbering 5,000 to 8,000, marched to Logan and Mingo Counties.
Mining Company armed 'Detectives', Deputies, anti-Union supporters, and WV National Guard troops, made up a 'defensive' force numbering around 1,200 men.

The opposing forces exchanged gun fire at Blair Mountain. There are claims 1 million rounds were fired.
When President Harding sent U.S. Troops to the area, the Miners laid down their arms, refusing to fire on U.S. Soldiers.

[Baltimoreed]

Watch the film Matewan. My wifes mothers family were coal miners from West Va and strikers who were involved in the confrontations with the company goons. Supposedly one of her uncles shot a deputy but in all the confusion he was never charged. Its also the only time that American citizens were fired on by US aircraft.

[butlersrangers]

'Baltimoreed' - Thanks, I will have to view the movie "Matewan". I saw the Trailer and it appears the film is well done.

My Grandfathers, two Gr-Grandfathers, and lots of other relatives worked in the Northern Michigan Copper Mines, over a 100 year period (1860's to 1960's).

The conditions, housing and wages, in the Michigan Copper Mines, were far better than the situation of WV Coal Miners. Yet, the work was incredibly dangerous, with many tragic deaths.

1913 was a year of Labor Unrest in the Michigan Copper Mines. 1/3 of the Miners, predominantly newer immigrants, joined the infamous Western Federation of Miners.
There was a long Strike that reduced production about 25%. The more established Miners, though sympathetic, continued to work.
The powerful Mining Companies hired Pinkerton 'Detectives' and Chicago Thugs. There was ruthlessness on the part of owners and some of the strikers.
The Michigan National Guard was brought in to Keep the Peace and appear to have remained very impartial.

A Tragedy, known as, "The Italian Hall Fire", occurred during a Union sponsored Christmas-Eve Party, for the children of Striking Miners.

A false-alarm of "Fire" created a stampede. 72 people, (67 children), were crushed to death in a stairwell, during the ensuing panic.
This horrible event kind of sapped any enthusiasm for the Strike.

[butlersrangers]

Back to the earlier, W.V. 1912 Strike - A photo of Miners with an interesting array of weaponry: 5 Dutch Beaumont rifles, 1 Winchester or Marlin , and 2 'trapdoor' Springfield rifles, I think.

Cartoon showing 'Fake News' in operation.

[Local Boy]

I think Mario and some of his amicis are carrying Italian Vetterli-Vitalis 1870/87.

Interesting note gleaned from Wikipedia concerning the WV Coal Wars. "... Socialist Party activists began supplying miners with weapons: 6 machine guns, 1,000 high-powered rifles, and 50,000 rounds of ammunition."

Hmmmm

[butlersrangers]

"Local Boy" - Good Eye! I was judging by magazine contour and one-piece stock. I knew the rifles weren't Swiss Vetterli, but, forgot about the Italian Vetterli, with magazine. I believe you are correct.

(Also, FWIW, back in the early 1900's, Labor Unions were a different animal than Unions of later eras. Some unions were definitely connected to Socialist and Communist political groups.

The Western Federation of Miners, that was rejected by most Miners in Michigan, had 'dynamited' Mines in Colorado and assassinated the ex-governor of Montana).

Labor disputes usually have tricky histories.