Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-11-02

A SpecK OF WAR.-On Sunday last, about
IL o'clock. an express arrived 10 this town,
bearing dispatches from the Sheriff Of Grant
County. demanding The immediate aid Of some
dozen of our citizens, al Patch's Grove, 10
said county, 10 assist lin ia protecting John
Thompson, who was there, his prisoner; and
stated that he was forcibly prevented by the
settlers there, from proceeding. According
~, some eight or ten Of our citizens. in com
pany with The Deputy Sheriff, started for the
scene Of action. They arrived on the spot
about six O'clock r. NJ, aud found a large
collection Of The settlers, at the house of Mr..
Patch, armed with all the implements Of war,
aud apparently too, under high state OF ex-
element. The canse % this trouble, as near
as we understand it, is briefly this Within
the last two years. there has been much troub.
lie and contention between the settlers gener-
ally. ard Thompson The prisoner; during which
time. there has been several buildings, and
large quantities Of grain in the stack. destroy
ed by fire. all the work Of an incendiary.-
Circumstances led 10 the belief that Thompson
was the origin Of these several fires, and be
was arrested, and not giving bail, was com
miied TO prison, and after remaining there for
several months, made his escape before trial
Last week, as our readers were informed, an.
other barn, and number Of large stacks of
wheat, were destroyed; the latter, being the
property Of man to whom Thompson owed
an inv,tsrate enmity; this, connected with other
circumstances, led to the belief that he was
the author Of The fires, and 10 short time, scores
Of armed men were securing the country in
search Of him. For two or three days, the
search was Intellectual, but yet it was thought
they had traced him 10 where he had encamp-
ed and drawn up his canoe on the east bank
Of the Mississippi This discovery or some
thing else, led TO farther search in that quar-
ter, and his arrest by the sheriff the same eve.
ming, on an island in the river. He was brought
to The place above mentioned by The sheriff on
his way to prison. Here the settlers had as
sembed 10 the number Of forty or fifty. pre-
pared, as they said. TO take summary Vengeance
for their long suffered and severely felt wrongs.
on their supposed author; and prevented the
sheriff from proceeding with his prisoner
At this stage Of the proceedings the company
from this place. arrived. At first, all attempts
at argument. seemed but a waste Of words, so
intent were they on their work Of summary
justice. But as good luck would have it, no
particular mode could be agreed upon, and
dsunion, soon gave way to cool reflection,
which finally resulted in the removal Of the
prisoner to this place, where he ia now secure.
As to tho gull, or inocenco Of the prisoner,
we know nothing report says, that he, but
two years since, was one of the most prominent
men 10 the settlement, had large and beau
lful farm, under high state Of cultivation,
and was generally respected Subsequent acts.
however, have reduced him to state Of the
mos, abiecl poverty and degradation.
In Justice 10 tho settlers engaged in the
tho above Transaction, we will state, that they
arc oil substantial farmers, and good order
loving citizens and that nothing, but what
they conceived to be their last and only resort
to secure the safety Of their lives and property,
could have induced them TO have taken the
stand in regard TO the maller,,hdt they did take.
~ II is said that the reports in relation