The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-22
DISTURBANCES IN ILLINOIS.

There appears TO have lately been some very
serious disturbances Of the peace in the neigh.
borhood of Metropolis city, Illinois. One &C.
count says:
There is band Of men hack of Metropolis,
composed as we learn of the worst characters,
who set at defiance law and order, and are
known by the name Of Flalheads. body ot
citizens, composed Of good nen. but of course
having in their midst evil characters, are called
Regulators, and have heen formed to carry out
| the law. Some of the Fla.heads stole horses.
| and one Of the Regulators who informed on
,hem was caught, lynched, and tied naked TO a
tree during the night, exposed to the mosquitoes
aud weather He died several days thereafter,
but before his death he gave the names ot sew
eral persons he had recognized. The Sheriff
found them, hut they refused to deliver them
selves up unless they could be tried by Magis
trates oftheir own selection, and who of course
| would screen them. The Sheriff could not do
this, and they were not arrested al the time
The Flatheads gathered to the number Of about
two hundred. The Regulators assembled, and
there was a pleasant prospect Of a.battle all
last week. The Flatheads finally secured and
| fortified themselves in a large log house, about
| twelve miles back of Metropolis, to the number
! of about one hundred and sixty, with two cam
| mons and ammunition. The Regulators were
allying last Friday (27lh nlt.,) and had sent TO
Paducah and Smithland for cannon. with the
determination to arrest the three men. A
grand fight was expected to come of last Sat.
urlay, 2sth ult.
Another story, given by DR.. Young to the
editor of the Cairo Del a, is as follows:
Two or three weeks ago barn belonging to
Mr. Tolson, was set on fire and burned down.
Mr. ToIson and Mr.. Shelby, who are brothers.
in law, stand in the position Of 'eaders-tho
| first of the Flalheads, and the second OF the
Regulators both are men of influence.
| The lncendary was traced to the house of
Regulator named Douglass, who, with young
man of bad character named Bruce, confessed
to setting fire to The barn, but turned state
evidence, and said they had been employed by
certain Regulators to murder prominent citizens
of Metropolis. Things now began to grow
exciting. Backus was whipped by "lhe
Lynns," family Of very bad reputation belong
ing to the Fla,head side, who were once driven
from Kentucky for misconduct, and who have
been prominent in these difficulties. Arrests
were made on both sides by constables and
affairs were approaching bloody crisis, when
DR.. Young, who says he had been occupying
neutral position, was chosen as peace maker
by the FIalheads, and in this capacity went to
the opposite party.
He made speech to the Regulators, and
gave them such assurances Of peace from the
other party, and of their limited force and
preparations, that the constable dismissed The
band, numbering about one hundred and fifty.
A guard of six Regulators started oul with DR..
Y. TO escort him back. This was OH Saturday
morning, las, the 2sh ut. When about seven
miles from Metropolis, they arrived in sight of
the Flatheads, who numbered sixty. Here a
doctor took our informant aside, and urged him
to fr, as there were hundred Regulators in
ambush close by. While they were talking,
the Regulators rushed out and attacked the
other party. DR.. Y. ran to make peace, but
fell stunned by ball, which passed through
his hat and grazed his head. The FIaheads
fed, the Lynn family having been the first to
set the example. Two of The Flalhead hand,
Samuel Taylor and Roh. Canada were killed,
and another wounded, Daniel Enlow, son of
Col. Enow, formerly Representative from
Massac county. On the side oflhe Regulators
man named Clinton King, who had been the
cause OF much Of the strife, was killed, and two
others wounded, one dangerously. The Sheriff,
Read, had gone home when he thought peace
for the time was established Both parties
were we'll armed.
DIR. Young went to Metropolis, but was warn.
ed to fly, as the Regulators wished 10 take bis
| LIE, and was provided ~hh,he means. He was