The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-10-05
rIGur IN NEpRAsKA rERRIToRY.

FIGHT IN NEBRASKA TERRITORY.
We find long account OF fight at Fort
Calhoun, Nebraska Territory, in the Chrome
tpye, published at the city Of Council Bluffs,
a portion of which we give below. Mr.. Goss,
who is mentioned rs being killed, was formerly
citizen Of this (McNun) county, and has
many friends aud relatives living here who
will lie panied to learn of his untimely and
bloody end:
1t seems, from the account, that a company
had laid out town plot, aud erected log
house on the nite Of the old fort. some twenty
miles above Omaha, in the Territory, and had
been at considerable expense to secure the
claim and render it valuable. Mr. John S
Goss, one of the company, aud the son Of the
one who had first made selection Of the claim
had occupied the house for some time, making
improvements, and expanding both labor and
means to secure II comfortable home. During
his absence on visit to his parents, or on
business to this side--he having left his furni-
ture and other property at the claim-a man
named Chas. D. Davis moved into the house,
aud took unjustiliable possession of it and
goods belonging to Goss and tie company
Davis was ordered to leave the premises but
he refused TO do so, and informed the compa-
nv that when they proved their legal right
to the claim, he would quit it, hut not until
then. Previous to his jumping the claim, Mr..
f. H. Clark had been engaged in erecting
hotel on the town plot and thereafter Davis
entered n suit of trespass against him, and ac-
tually got Judgment of one hundred dollars
damages 10y partial proceedings before the
petty court at DeSoto. This affair enraged
the Calhoun company, and trusting no further
to the law, Davis was warned to quit the
premises before n set time or he would he
thrust out of the house. DAVIS was undopbt-
eddy an aggressor. but he felt confident his
party was the strongest, and that the iudg
ment rendered him was feasible plea, and
he was determined not to give up possession.
On Wednesday last, Goth ult.,) party of
meH. numbering some twenty, and nearly oil
holding interest at Calhoun, left this place
and Omaha, for the avowed purpose of re-
moving Davis as Others have before been re-
moved from claims illegally Jumped" A
portion Of them were armed, and few who
had apprehended no very serious difficulty
were entirely without weapons. Davis, APP
prised of their coming, had prepared for them,
and upon their arrival they found party of
about their own number ready to meet them,
armed and prepared for hostilities. The sup
porters of Davis We're mostly from DeSoto, a
well-known jealousy. 1t has been stated that
the DeSoto company urged him in the first
place to seize upon the Calhoun claim, and
assured him of their assistance in holding it.
One of the party from this place, a. Coeh-
ran. who was uuarmed was appointed to in
form Davis to the effect that they wished no
violence, but had come TO remove hnn-pe.ce
ably, if they could forcibly, if they must
that he was a trespasser on their property,
and must leave the claim. He, of course, re-
fused to do so, and thereupon firing immedi
ately commenced. We deplore the result OF
this procedure, and presume that such rash
ness might have been avoided, had there been
less of dogmatc pride and stubborn will to
sacrifice. 1t is difficult to learn with any
kind of certainty which party was the first
to fire. but to that party, even at this june
ture, belongs the greater guilt. We have
heard many partial statements, from one in
terest only, but we are confident that the tr,t
shot proceeded from the party inside two or
three of whom, with Davis. stood near the
open door at the time. The fire was return
cd, and second voley from the house, now
closed upon the party, resulted in the death
of Mr.. Sherman Goss the father of John s.
highly esteemed and worthy citizen of this
county, and in wounding Mr.. ii. G. Purple !
very seriously Mr.. Goss was penetrated by |
two bullets, very near the centre of the breast,
and died almost instantly One or two 9TH |
ers were wounded, but not seriously or fatally. |
1t is stated that the son of Mr. Goss and one |
or two Others were fired upon from the house |
while carrying away the dead body Of the |
father, in violation of the truce that had |
been granted for that purpose; but we do not |
vouch for this, notwithstanding the utter
recklessness displayed by that party. Mr..
Goss was brought to this place fcr burial, and !
it was sad sight to see the malay form that |
had left our city but few hours before, full |
of life, and energy, and vigor, mutlated,
cold aud rigid corpse lie had many friends
in this community, and his loss is deeply la.
mented.