POLCE v. STRIKERS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 22 November 1927, Page 5

POLCE v. STRIKERS

HAND=TO=HAND FIGHT. COAL MINE STORMED. MANY CASUALTIES CAUSED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 10.25 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, Nov. 21. A message from Denver, Colorado, states that four were killed and more than a score were injured, six critically, in a clash this morning with the State police, when live hundred striking coal miners stormed the property of the Rocky Mountain Coal Company. After a hand-to-hand fight the police were overwhelmed and resorted to guns, the demonstrators using all manner of weapons. The I.WAV. inaugurated the strike on October IS. There had previouslv been scenes of violence.

TEAR. GAS USED. THE ATTACK ON THE MINE. STRIKER'S DISREGARD WARNINGS Received 11.30 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, Nov. 21. A message from Denver states that the long, tense mine dispute broke into violence when the State police and striking miners battled at the Columbine Aline. Official reports declared tliat the two strikers were killed and at least thirty persons were injured. The fight occurred when five hundred miners and women sympathisers rushed the fifteen State guards at the mine, which has been the testing ground since the strike was called and the only property operated virtually throughout the strike. When the miners approached the propertv :i deputy-sheriff 1110 unfed u truck and warned them against entering the enclosure. The miners paused, l>i!t tlie leaders urged them on, and the crowd pushed inside. The police used tear bombs and the niineis ie~ treated, cursing and yelling, but charged again when the gas cleared, despite further police warnings. Ihe latter fired in the air, hoping to stop the advance, but the attackers swung clubs waved knives, and swept on. The officers- then fired into the advancing ranks and two _ miners dropped dead at the first volley. In another clash near Aguilar, 12 more miners were injured and 35' arrests made by deputy sheriffs, but no shots were fired. , ~ , Governor Adams stated that martial law would shortly he declared. National Guardsmen were being despatched to the strike zone.