On August 1, 1921, Matewan's Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers were shot to death at the Welch Court House. This “assassination” was part of the coal mining wars that had been going on in WV for over a decade. These murders followed the shootout in Matewan in May, 1920, between the coal company's Baldwin-Felts agents and the coal miners. The murder of these miners’ martyrs led to the Battle of Blair Mountain and continuing conflicts as the miners tried to organize the UMW. These dramatic events are portrayed in McArts’  outdoor drama, “Terror of the Tug,” written by Jean Battlo and based on the coal mine wars and the  story of the murder of Sid Hatfield & Ed Chamber s at the McDowell County Courthouse. The playwright and cast of "Terror of the Tug" were briefly filmed for a History Channel Documentary. A member of the Institute of Outdoor Drama(UNC) since 2005, “Terror of the Tug” will be  directed by Benny Mills and stars John and Maria Cox as Sid and Jessie Hatfield.

 

Alan “Cathead” Johnston is a lifelong resident of McDowell County , West Virginia and proud of it. He plays the singing trubador who relates to the audiences the tale of the Sid Hatfield murder.

Alan comes from a musical family and started playing along with his dad, Raymond Johnston, when he was twelve years old. He has played with several local groups down through the years including about a four year stint with Mel Street as Mel's bass player.

Alan currently is playing bass and guitar in a bluegrass group he formed called South 52. His youngest daughter, Stacy, is the lead vocalist for the group. He is probably most noted for a song he wrote, Muddy Water, about the floods of McDowell County in 2001 and 2002. He and his daughter, Jessi, recorded the song in 2002, and it was an instant local hit. Two noted bluegrassers, Don Rigsby and David Davis, have since recorded Muddy Water.

Alan is happily married to his childhood sweetheart, Wilma, and they have four children and six grandchildren. Alan and Wilma make their home in Premier in McDowell County , West Virginia .



 John and Maria Cox  of Princeton, WV perform as Sid and Jessie Hatfield in their 8th season in 2008, the 87th anniversary of the McDowell Murders.  

The photo was taken at the Matewan Development Center  during the filming of "Smilin' Sid," June 2000.
 
They live and work in Princeton, WV.  They are favorites year after year as they revive the characters of Sid and Jessie Hatfield.  "Terror of the Tug" is a must see outdoor drama.

Below are photos from past 'Terror of the Tug' practices and performances.

 










 "Sid, Sid come quick.  Those Baldwin-Felts men are tearing up my clothes and throwing my Ma an little brothers out of our home."