In December 1977 the UMWA (United Mine Workers of America) began a 110 day strike nationally. Violence ensued in many parts of the country, and on February 14, 1978 Indiana governor Otis Bowen ordered the Indiana National Guard to assist the state police in escorting coal convoys in delivering coal to Indiana utilities. Here two men pass a box of supplies down a staircase---this is possibly related to the presence of the Indiana National Guard.