 As it became clear that battle was imminent , and Chafin printed leaflets for his biplanes to drop on the miners , ordering them one last time to disperse . The effort produced no results , and both sides prepared for the conflict . Not long after the leaflets were dropped , the battle " erupted in hot warfare . " Chafin served as Eubanks 's second in command , and helped organize forces . The next day , September 1 , as the fighting intensified , Chafin left the front lines to establish a second line of defense around the town of Logan in case the miners broke through the first line . That same day , Chafin also equipped his biplanes with pipe bombs and tear gas , which they dropped on the miners , though they inflicted no serious casualties . 
