Herrin Massacre

Herrin MassacreHerrin Massacre

Mr. Weaver Mr. Weaver

Local HistoryLocal History

Southern Illinois Coal Miners Southern Illinois Coal Miners By the 1920s half of the 60,000 miners in Illinois lived in By the 1920s half of the 60,000 miners in Illinois lived in

Franklin and Williamson County.Franklin and Williamson County. These miners belonged to The United Miner Workers of These miners belonged to The United Miner Workers of

America.America. Over a period of 20+ years the average day pay of a miner went Over a period of 20+ years the average day pay of a miner went

from $1.25 a day to as high as $15.00 a day.from $1.25 a day to as high as $15.00 a day. The jump in pay was due to the workers uniting and demanding The jump in pay was due to the workers uniting and demanding

both higher wages and better working conditions.both higher wages and better working conditions. When miners and mine owners couldn’t come to an agreement When miners and mine owners couldn’t come to an agreement

the miners would go on strike crippling the mine owners ability the miners would go on strike crippling the mine owners ability to mine and sell their coal.to mine and sell their coal.

Most Southern Illinois citizens were loyal to the union and Most Southern Illinois citizens were loyal to the union and sympathetic to the miners demands.sympathetic to the miners demands.

Franklin County Coal Miners Franklin County Coal Miners Circa 1920Circa 1920

West Mine Circa 1920West Mine Circa 1920

Hand Loading Coal Cars Hand Loading Coal Cars Circa 1920Circa 1920

Coal ShovelCoal Shovel

Southern Illinois Strip MineSouthern Illinois Strip Mine

Abandon Southern Illinois Strip Abandon Southern Illinois Strip MineMine

Southern Illinois Coal CompanySouthern Illinois Coal Company

The Southern Illinois Coal Company was owned by The Southern Illinois Coal Company was owned by William Lester of Cleveland, OHWilliam Lester of Cleveland, OH In September of 1921 the company opened a strip mine In September of 1921 the company opened a strip mine

half way between Herrin and Marion.half way between Herrin and Marion. Due to start up cost and the cost of equipment the company Due to start up cost and the cost of equipment the company

had a large debt and was desprite to mine coal .had a large debt and was desprite to mine coal . It is probably fair to say that Lester didn’t understand the It is probably fair to say that Lester didn’t understand the

culture of a Southern Illinois Coal Miner. culture of a Southern Illinois Coal Miner.

Prelude to MassacrePrelude to Massacre

April 1, 1922 UMWA Coal Miners go on strike.April 1, 1922 UMWA Coal Miners go on strike. June 13, 1922 The Southern Illinois Coal Company June 13, 1922 The Southern Illinois Coal Company

fires its union miners.fires its union miners. June 15, 1922 the Company brings in workers from June 15, 1922 the Company brings in workers from

the Chicago area to work and protect the mine.the Chicago area to work and protect the mine. June 16, 1922 the Burlington Railroad is notified that June 16, 1922 the Burlington Railroad is notified that

16 coal cars are ready for transport from the mine.16 coal cars are ready for transport from the mine. Despite warnings the company had decided to mine coal Despite warnings the company had decided to mine coal

and break the strike and the Union.and break the strike and the Union.

Prelude to MassacrePrelude to Massacre June 17, 1922 The June 17, 1922 The Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune reports that the reports that the

Southern Illinois Coal Company had started shipping Southern Illinois Coal Company had started shipping coal.coal. Illinois officials begin to express concern that violence Illinois officials begin to express concern that violence

would erupt due to the company’s decision to mine and would erupt due to the company’s decision to mine and ship coal.ship coal.

June 18 & 19, 1922 meetings are held in Marion by June 18 & 19, 1922 meetings are held in Marion by local and state officials to try and resolve the situation local and state officials to try and resolve the situation peacefully.peacefully. Williamson County Sherriff Melvin Thaxton was Williamson County Sherriff Melvin Thaxton was

uncommitted or mysteriously absent from meeting.uncommitted or mysteriously absent from meeting.

Prelude to MassacrePrelude to Massacre June 20, 1922 hundreds of union miners hold a mass June 20, 1922 hundreds of union miners hold a mass

meeting at the Sunnyside Mine near Herrin with State meeting at the Sunnyside Mine near Herrin with State Senator William Sneed.Senator William Sneed. Sneed was also the president of the UMWA sub district that Sneed was also the president of the UMWA sub district that

included Williamson Countyincluded Williamson County June 21, 1922 several hundred miners gather in the Herrin June 21, 1922 several hundred miners gather in the Herrin

CemeteryCemetery Mobs were looting hardware stores in Herrin taking guns and Mobs were looting hardware stores in Herrin taking guns and

ammunitionammunition By 3:30 that afternoon the mine was surrounded by union miners By 3:30 that afternoon the mine was surrounded by union miners

and over 500 shots had already been fired by the two sides. The and over 500 shots had already been fired by the two sides. The Southern Illinois Coal Company was under siege.Southern Illinois Coal Company was under siege.

Sunny Side MineSunny Side Mine

The MassacreThe Massacre

The Massacre occurred over a two day period June 21 The Massacre occurred over a two day period June 21 and 22, 1922and 22, 1922

On June 21On June 21stst striking miners surround the mine and a striking miners surround the mine and a shoot out between the striking miners and “scabs” shoot out between the striking miners and “scabs” breaks out.breaks out.

During the night a series of explosions occurred During the night a series of explosions occurred blowing up the water plant and coal shovel.blowing up the water plant and coal shovel.

At dawn on the 22At dawn on the 22ndnd the men trapped at the mine try the men trapped at the mine try to call for help but the phone line was dead.to call for help but the phone line was dead.

Lester Mine Coal Shovel Lester Mine Coal Shovel destroyed during the destroyed during the

siegesiege


After a discussion with the trapped men C.K. After a discussion with the trapped men C.K. McDowell the mine superintendent agreed to McDowell the mine superintendent agreed to surrender.surrender.

The strikebreakers agreed to surrender in the striking The strikebreakers agreed to surrender in the striking miners would give them safe passage out of the miners would give them safe passage out of the county. The striking miners agreed to the terms.county. The striking miners agreed to the terms.

The strikebreakers were lined up and marched along The strikebreakers were lined up and marched along the railroad toward Herrin 5 miles to the Northwest.the railroad toward Herrin 5 miles to the Northwest.

At the Crenshaw crossing a half mile from the mine At the Crenshaw crossing a half mile from the mine several miners waited for the procession.several miners waited for the procession.


A discussion took place about what should happen to A discussion took place about what should happen to the strikebreakers. During this time strikebreakers the strikebreakers. During this time strikebreakers were being beaten with the butts of guns. After some were being beaten with the butts of guns. After some time the procession moved forward.time the procession moved forward.

At Moake crossing a half mile further down the track At Moake crossing a half mile further down the track the first murder occurred when McDowell couldn’t the first murder occurred when McDowell couldn’t go any further. He was led off of the track and a few go any further. He was led off of the track and a few minutes later shot.minutes later shot.

A mile further down the track at the powerhouse the A mile further down the track at the powerhouse the procession came to a stop.procession came to a stop.


At the power plant striking miners planned to take At the power plant striking miners planned to take four strike breakers at a time down the road and kill four strike breakers at a time down the road and kill them.them.

At this point a man named Hugh Willis drove up and At this point a man named Hugh Willis drove up and instructed the miners to stop. He said there were to instructed the miners to stop. He said there were to many women and children around and to take the many women and children around and to take the “scabs into the woods and kill as many as you can”.“scabs into the woods and kill as many as you can”.

The strikebreakers were marched into Harrison The strikebreakers were marched into Harrison Woods until they reached a barbed wire fence. At Woods until they reached a barbed wire fence. At this point they were told to run.this point they were told to run.


At this point the striking miners opened fire. By the time At this point the striking miners opened fire. By the time it was over 26 of the strikebreakers were dead or dying.it was over 26 of the strikebreakers were dead or dying.

At Herrin Cemetery the Massacre came to an end with At Herrin Cemetery the Massacre came to an end with word that the sheriff was on his way. Wounded men still word that the sheriff was on his way. Wounded men still breathing had their throats slit, while one by standard breathing had their throats slit, while one by standard urinated in the faces of the victims. When a reporter urinated in the faces of the victims. When a reporter tried to give water to a dying man he was threatened and tried to give water to a dying man he was threatened and told to back away. told to back away.

The sheriff arrived about mid-morning when it was The sheriff arrived about mid-morning when it was determined that is was safe determined that is was safe

Herrin Massacre Herrin Massacre Painted in 1941Painted in 1941

The AftermathThe Aftermath

News of the massacre not only spread quickly News of the massacre not only spread quickly throughout Southern Illinois but made headlines throughout Southern Illinois but made headlines around the nation. Newspapers from New York City around the nation. Newspapers from New York City to San Francisco reported what had occurred in to San Francisco reported what had occurred in Williamson County.Williamson County.

On both the floor of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. On both the floor of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives members condemned the House of Representatives members condemned the violence that had occurred in Williamson County.violence that had occurred in Williamson County.

The nation was demanding justice for the dead strike The nation was demanding justice for the dead strike breakers. breakers.

National Newspapers report the National Newspapers report the Herrin MassacreHerrin Massacre

Funeral Procession Funeral Procession

The Aftermath The Aftermath

A coroner’s jury of six men of which three were A coroner’s jury of six men of which three were union miners found that all the strikebreakers killed union miners found that all the strikebreakers killed on June 21 and 22 were killed by unknown parties. on June 21 and 22 were killed by unknown parties. The also found that the deaths were due to the “direct The also found that the deaths were due to the “direct and indirect acts by the officials of the Southern and indirect acts by the officials of the Southern Illinois Coal Company” and recommended that an Illinois Coal Company” and recommended that an investigation be undertaken to fix blame on those investigation be undertaken to fix blame on those officials.officials.

Once again the outrage of the nation was voiced in Once again the outrage of the nation was voiced in newspapers and in Congress.newspapers and in Congress.

The AftermathThe Aftermath

On August 18, 1922 Judge D. T. Hartwell summoned On August 18, 1922 Judge D. T. Hartwell summoned a special grand jury to convene at Marion on August a special grand jury to convene at Marion on August 28 to investigate the Herrin Killings.28 to investigate the Herrin Killings.

The first to be indictment for the killings was Otis The first to be indictment for the killings was Otis Clark farmer and miner. Hearing of the charges Clark farmer and miner. Hearing of the charges Clark turned himself in to the sheriff. By September Clark turned himself in to the sheriff. By September 23 the Grand Jury had indicted 44 men for murder 23 the Grand Jury had indicted 44 men for murder associated with the Herrin Massacre.associated with the Herrin Massacre.

Herrin Massacre

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