Page "Warren G. Harding" Paragraph 77

On May 12, 1921, just two months into Harding's presidency, violence was initiated near Matewan, West Virginia, between private detectives, on behalf of the Stone Mountain Coal Company, and United Mine Workers union members who had been fired from their jobs and were being evicted from company-owned housing.

The miners cut down telephone and telegraph lines and trained their guns on the mines, strikebreakers and buildings.

The battle lasted three days and on the first day and night of the battle some 10, 000 rounds were fired.

Former Justice of the Peace Harry C. Staton was killed, and Ephraim Morgan, Governor of West Virginia, pleaded in person with President Harding for federal military support.

Harding, who was keeping track of the situation, would only send in troops if state militia could no longer handle the striking miners.

On August 1, Sid Hatfield, a prominent Union organizer and Matewan chief of police, was assassinated by mining company agents.

On August 28, four days of fighting broke out on a front at Blair Mountain between coal company militia and thousands of Union miners led by Bill Blizzard.

Both the miner and the strike buster armies were equipped with physicians, nurses and chaplains.

President Harding, having issued two proclamations to keep the peace, finally used military force including Martin MB-1 bombers that deployed gas and explosive bombs.

Federal troops arrived on September 2, forcing the miners to flee to their homes and hostilities ended on September 4 ; 50 to 100 miners had been killed, as well as 30 strike busters, in the fighting.

After the battle, 985 miners were tried and imprisoned for crimes against the State of West Virginia.

Bill Blizzard was indicted and tried for treason, but was acquitted.