THE SHAMBLES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3334, 16 August 1926, Page 8

THE SHAMBLES.

Following tlie violent (TeaMi of the Klau ."ml aut i-Kla.n leaders in a street duel eleven months ago, the Mayor ol Herrin, a (own known as the sore spot of America, predicted I hat peace would descend on his town. Ue was mistaken. Last week brought another riot, with six more deaths, bringing the total rosier of men slain in Herrin within four years to forty-two, and again drawing the a Hen lion of the country to the county which is known as ‘ ‘ bloody Williamson. ’ ’

The doings iu Herrin during the hist few years road more like those of a Wild’West town iu the early eighties Hum .if a modern city of the twentieth century. They show what may happen wlmn Hass hatreds are fostered by narrow and bitter men.

'To-day a dark and sordid cloud broods over the unhappy county, as tho citizens feel tiie weight of massacre and murder of the years.

The trouble started during a coal strike in 1!>22, when a mine owner tried to work a mine with non-union labour in a district: that was 100 per cent, organised. He brought armed guards from Chicago, and these guards fed the (ires of hate directed at them liv excesses in the surrounding country.

Finally. 1 lit* thing came to a climax wlieii litM>o miners from ail round assctjilded at the mine, and engaged the guards in a battle. The guards sur rendered. and, when being taken through the woods towards Herrin, one attempted to run away. The miners then massacred twenty-five men in cold lined. MViitia took charge, and eleven miners were tried for murder. All the-

witnesses were grim, silent men. none of whom admitted know dig anything about it, and after a long, futile investigation. tlio .'ilidiorif ies were foreed to drop it.

in 1023 the Ku Kin;; Klan organised a drive on Herrin. There was night riding, the carrying of fiery crosses, large parades of hooded, sheeted men, and all the miimbo.jnmbiT that comes with the ’Klan. Their ostensible aim was to clean up bootleggers, but they began spreading a doctrine of ndgiious and racial hate in n country already over-supplied with hatreds. The Klan hired Glenn Young, a notorious twogunman, who had acquired an unsavoury reputation in the hills of Kentucky, chasing army deserters and moonshiners, 'doling had a summary manner of dealing with anyone .suspected of bootlegging.

A I (lie bead of a band of men be organised a guerilla warfare en men suspected of working stills; be beat up men and women, destroyed shrines wliii-b pious Catholics bad creeled -in their homes, and terrorised the country. Bome American-born miners joined the clan, and involved the dear issue of miners against the rest of the county autborif ies. The local authorities were all elected by the miners, and were Labour sympathisers. They organised their forces against the Klan, and, led by the asaislan! sheriff. Ora. Thomas, called themselves “The Knights of (he Flaming Circle. ’ ’ From then on, when Knights and Klan nut. there was shooting, and every few days the newspapers told of dashes, with men killed or wounded.

A climax i-Mii;' when Young ;iihl his wife were lin I<ij>;!n l <J. Young was ,rounded mid his wife Minded. The Klim then took the town, proclaimed martial law, "patrolled the lowa with high-powered rities and sawed-off shotguns, kidnapped Sheriff Milligan, ami drove Thomas from the town. Militia arrived and held It until the situat ion quiet a ned down. Immediately the militia left Galligap and Thomas re-entered the tow iml engaged in a light with some of the Kinx. Six were killed, and Galli-

gan amt Thomas were barricaded in the hospital, will; tin; Klau shooting nil the building. Again the militia re-imn-'i, and I his time Imth Voting ami Thomas were required to promise to leave the town. They did so, but a Vo months late" Young came bark, pav idvd the n>wn, and bousled that 1m had driven t’imma.-; ont, aad that tie iv:i" a fra id to return. A stranger visiting Herrin on that dav would have .seen a bright, active, am! Un to-daM town, with modern simp windows, am! wetl-dres.-ed citizens saindi ring or shopping. Then, in a. ■uomeni, fhe sheets ' leaved like magic, as Ova Thomas strolled down (he main dmd, lire in his « < , and guns >n his bell. .1 n a tense moment the two notorious gunmen faced cacti other, pistols Hashed, and imth fell, stud through I tic head. In tin uproar there was more shootmg between subordinates of both sides, and before rhe situation cleared (wo

more men lay dead. After (hat Il'irin rested tjiiielJy. An evangelist wen! !■» the town, and left eleven months ago, declaring that he ■had converted io; r ; into brothers in ;•<■- “f.ioii- - e was mistaken. The latest mi hiiv-1 -o as no casual shooting affray. There were iwo distinct battles, a har.svaded garage, automobiles (dazing wda hr. '.arms, and machine gnus. ii-cfc is pretty mess from •intoierauce aad JiaM. Gu" ol the higii sj><.i)s in the life of 'mmiig when cleaning up the count w 'oi India If of the Ivinn came when tie was arrested .for his high-handed conduct. He mulched into the court for Ids I rial a I Use head of an armed band, Inindting macliim- gams, and brhd tiim i'h revolvers. Young had two gnus Trapped I" nis wa c.arvyiag tiii rI v - eim notches, in memory of the tiiirivom men their owner had J: ii i• J f ,;n<-e he began h.s career as a regain lor of men. The Judge gazed at the jiarfv dnldonsiy, and promptly :i< <(ni11 1 i Young. Then it was Iha I Young seized the town, declared iiims<df .am ing mayor and chief of police. On another occasion Vonng vent In Ylii' ago opmily ( arm ing two revolver;,

a ride, and a. sawcil-oIT shotgun. IE is I'lggage was .. pi of imoddnci'y 111, at h-oJ;cil very much jjke a mar him; gun.