Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (City of Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1853-1857, 1855-09-04

Fatal Array 1t Calhoun, Nebraaka...
Clolm lampef AtoackeA.esOno A06
Killed On the SPOT. faad chree savsrS-
w Wosaded. ss
On Wednesday, 10Th nit, claim 6sht
occurred ssiIA tenn she Of Fort -Cslhoua,
Nebraska, in which Sherman Goss, very
respectable ard we'll known citixcn wss IN.
stantly killed, and Hon. H. G. Purple, Mr..
Woman, and Mr.. Thompson were very con.
siderably wounded.
Thefacts in the case, as near as we could
gather, and carefully compare the different
versions, are about as follows, viz:
Over one year ago company of gentle
men made claim Of the site of old Fort CAL
houn, uponwhich they survey ed a town, built
one house and made some other improve
ment and at the time of the ARRAY, were,
by an agent building Public House or Ho-
tel, on the site. The cabin was occasionally
occupied BY some of the party Of claimants,
and it contained some articles Of cookery,
table implements, &C., &C.. when, about
three or four weeks ago, a man by the name
of Davis took possession, as he allodges, by
permission of some of the owners; but this
rs contradicted by the other party Mr.. Da-
Wis, 1t seems, intended to make the ''town
claim" his own for a farm, and had com
menced blowing and making other improve
ments thereon, and had sued the agent of the
company, who was erecting the Hotel, for
trespass, aud got judgment against him for
building upon the site. The rroprietors
meantime sent notice, warning Mr. Davis to
leave their claim peacefully, and finally no.
tined him thas upon certain day they would
put him Oh if not already gone. Thereupon
Mr. Davis made affidavit before the County
Judge that his hfo and property were threat
ened, and the Judge ordered out posse TO
protect HIM. Seventeen men, mostly armed,
were On hand at the house at the time desir
mated, when the other party OF twenty-eight
rode up; the spokesman required Mr. Davis
to evacuate the premises forthwith ur suffer
the consequences. This the party refused to
DO. hard words passed, and ere any one
WAS aware of positive intention on either
part to fight, pistol was fired, which was
the tocsin for general engagement, in which
the party inside the house had the decided
advantage. Mr.. Goss, one Of the attacking
party, was shot through the heart and in.
stantly expired, aud three others were woun-
ded, whilst no one inside was injured tits
hard to say by whom or which party the fir
ing t1rst commenced-both parties disclaiIn-
ing the act and as often charging it upou the
other.
Seeing their hopeless disadvantage, the at
tacking party retreated homeward, carrying
with them thsir dead and wounded Next
day, the agents Of both parties had a talk.
endeavoring TO settle the difficulty, which We
boliorv fairly arranged Tor an arbitru-
tration yesterday. 1t is not our province to
say where the greatest fault lies, but wrong
their doubtless is on both sides. Among the
attacking party we see names Of men If high
responsibility and stIndins in society, and
IN TACT, most or all were of that GLASS; whilst
on the side of Mr.. Davis we see names of
some men equally respectable. Ru. most we
were unacquainted with. We forbear even
harshly judging the matter, for we are well
assured that such as were engaged on both
sides would not have thus acted had they not
considered themselves in the right and JUS
tilted in SO doing.
We have, however. little or no sympathy
for man that wilfully and wautonly Jumps
an improved claim upon unsurveyei lands
We have smarted pretty severely from such
cause ourself and know how to feel for 9TH
ers. We would as soon be robbed of the
stock from our yard or stable as from claim
chad made and Justly owned. In tue ear
ly settlement of all new regions, civil law
has been inadequate in The protection of the
settler or squat:er, from the avarice of those
who follow them.
Though much we deplore the resort to il E.
gal acts Of violence in the protection of Just
claims, still we admit that cases may occur
when the Spectator has the legal advantage
of those who bravcd the scalping knife Of
the savage, the incursions of wild beasts and
the discomforts Of the earliest settlers.
The decision in the matter will doubtless
do much to place the blame where it should
be, aud meantime we patiently await the re-
salt which we shall give our readers at the
aorIiost m o,ua1t
The remains Of Mr.. Goss were borne to
his weeping family the dav after the mclan-
cholly tragedy. They reside aboct fifteen
miles North, on this side of the river. Hon,
II. G. Purple had his shoulder aud arm bad
ly shattered, and it is feared he may loose
his arm.
The Called Jade Winces.