Blair Mountain: A Battle for Union Rights Coal is the lifeblood of West Virginia, and the advent of WWI sparked an increased demand for it, with American production reaching 579 million tons in 1918 (Fishback, 21). “The total number of men employed in the production of bituminous coal reached the large total of 615,000 in 1918, exceeding all previous records” (UMW Journal, 1920). However, this massive production and large number of workers in the industry was destined to see a sharp post-war decline. The loss of munitions markets in Europe, new technologies, and alternate fuel sources all contributed to this decline. Surplus coal sat idle in rail yards: “…the surplus coal cars on March 23 alone [total] 230,394” (CTJ, 1921). Coal operators
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In July of 1921, Hatfield was charged with destroying a coal tipple (a machine used to load coal from belts into rail cars) in Mohawk, WV. His court appearance was to be in McDowell County, a coal company stronghold. Several things concerned Hatfield about this charge. He and his counsel sent a letter to the judge presiding over the trial outlining his fear of not returning. His lawyer called the Wheeling Intelligencer which subsequently printed his remarks, hopefully standing as a warning to Hatfield’s adversaries should they try to kill him. “The newspaper dutifully reported [the] remarks on its front page. The lawyer could now only hope that his words would serve as a warning to Hatfield’s foes and thus as a deterrent to keep his worst fears from coming true” (Shogan, 155). Three Baldwin-Felts agents met Hatfield at the McDowell County courthouse on August 1st, 1921 and shot Hatfield down in cold blood along with a friend who was charged in another incident. This was to spark a major retribution of miners against the coal operators. Over 3,000 people attended Hatfield’s funeral. Miners were decidedly angry over the shooting, especially when the sheriff of McDowell county corroborated the agents’ claims of self-defense. (Hatfield had been killed after climbing to the top of the courthouse steps). Mother Jones became involved and took the lead in defending the miners’
In July of 1921, Hatfield was charged with destroying a coal tipple (a machine used to load coal from belts into rail cars) in Mohawk, WV. His court appearance was to be in McDowell County, a coal company stronghold. Several things concerned Hatfield about this charge. He and his counsel sent a letter to the judge presiding over the trial outlining his fear of not returning. His lawyer called the Wheeling Intelligencer which subsequently printed his remarks, hopefully standing as a warning to Hatfield’s adversaries should they try to kill him. “The newspaper dutifully reported [the] remarks on its front page. The lawyer could now only hope that his words would serve as a warning to Hatfield’s foes and thus as a deterrent to keep his worst fears from coming true” (Shogan, 155). Three Baldwin-Felts agents met Hatfield at the McDowell County courthouse on August 1st, 1921 and shot Hatfield down in cold blood along with a friend who was charged in another incident. This was to spark a major retribution of miners against the coal operators. Over 3,000 people attended Hatfield’s funeral. Miners were decidedly angry over the shooting, especially when the sheriff of McDowell county corroborated the agents’ claims of self-defense. (Hatfield had been killed after climbing to the top of the courthouse steps). Mother Jones became involved and took the lead in defending the miners’