The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-04-29
County Seat.
AN EXCITING DAY IN
LAKE COUNTY;
BUT THE COUNTY PROP
ERTY HAS BEEN RE-
MOVED TO
BALDWIN.

one of the most exciting days ever
known i'm the county. BY perusal of
the articles given elsewhere our readers
may learn of the progress of the strife,
up to Thursday. When the fact be-
came apparent to citizens on the west
side of the county that the prospects for
long litigation, with costs and trouble
for Taxpayers, they resolved upon re-
moval of the county property at all
hazards. The Chase element were des-
perate, and their case required a
DESPERATE REMEDY.
Some of the best legal authority in the
State was consulted, and it was resolved
to go to Chase and remove the safe and
records to Baldwin, where they proper
ly belonged.
Accordingly, when the early morn
ing train from the west arrived, it was
boarded by from fifty to sevcnty-five
men. When they reached their des-
tination, and embarked, they found
crowd awaiting them, armed with clubs,
iron bars, &c.
A BATTLE
seemed imminent, and yet, would they
come to open blows? The squad from
Baldwin moved promptly and quietly
to the shed containing the safe, and pro-
ceeded to work. The first move tow
ards tearing away the miserable shanty
covering the safe, was the signal for
MURDERoUs ASSAULT
from the mob. The battle wagcd hot
while it lasted, both sides being about
equally matched, as regards numbers.
But, warm work as it was, 1t only last
ed short time, when the Chase faction
"backed down." and the labor of re-
moving the safe went on. Among the
most serious injuries was one Chase
man with his head cut open, and one
Baldwin man with his collar bone bro
ken. The severe cuts and bruises re-
ceived were numerous. Revolvers were
drawn ON both sides, but fortunately
they were not used.
Just as the pOnderOus safe had been
moved out to the track, the prolonged
shrieking of the locomotive whistle
gave warning that the freight train was
at hand. When it drew up,
THE SAFE WAS LOADED
on to the fiat car ready to receive it, and
within a few hours was
SAFELY DEPOSITED
where the people, through their Board
of Supervisors had ordered it.
INCIDENTS.
The reputed reverend assistant editor
of the Herald went into the melee with
stick of wood as carnal weapon.
His worldly vanity was soon laid low
in the dust by blow from "crow-bar,"
and he retired to the rear to have his
head bandaged, and endeavor to collect
his few scattered senses.
As they were about to load the safe
on the car, some one attempted to serve
an injunction" Oh Charlie Sugars, the
conductor. Says Charlie, "DoyOu take
me for fool?" "No, not exactly!"
"Wcll," was the reply, "you acted as
if you did"
AT the commencement Of the fracas,
Towner mountedthe stairs Of the "court
house'with mysterious looking paper.
Ears were opened, expecting the read
ing of the "Riot Act" 1t was the in
junction.
The Editor of the STAR was present
looking for items. AS the train came
in, he started for the caboose, when he
met "Bob' Bigbee, cx-County Treasur-
err. Bigbee had short iron bar in his
hand, which he shook at the unsuspect-
ing literary man before they came with
i'm rod of one another. Thinking it
all in sport (he didn't know as "BOb"
had forgotten the lonely building in the
lovely valley of Green DelD, he adj
vanced boldly, extending his hand,
and saying-"Good morning, 'Bobv
How are you?" "I'm no friend of
yoursv' exclaimed the exasperated
Robert, and struck the man of letters
i'm the face. No blood was drawn, or
even heated in this encounter-the on
ly one the Editor experienced.
"Doc." Mott, of Baldwin, went down
to Chase to see what was going on. He
was over at the hotel, when the long,
lean, lank form of the assistant editor
of the Herald came in; blood streaming
from the severe cut on his head. From
that time on, the Doctor had his hands
full, caring for the wounded on both
sides, as they flocked to him, some talk
ing their Affections rather gloomily;
Others laughing, and calling 1t "all
right" "Doc." AYERS, we understand,
that he bound up some twenty-one bro
ken heads for the eastern army.
1t was laughable to see the mock ex-
preston of horror at the idea of "mOb
Violence" put on by some of the Chase
men, as they stood around with hands
full of clubs, iron bars, chisels, &c. AS
| pared to have row, both Wednesday
and Thursday mornings before the in
| junction was issued. If the mob had
been 'laying around loose" looking for
something; 1t seems they found 1t FRI
day morning.
AS the train moved away, a shower
of sticks and stones from the hands of
the baffied Chase mob, were hurled ut
the cars. The caboose contained sew
eral passengers, other than those who
had helped remove the safe. Fortu-
nately no one was injured.
While the battle was waging, the
women and boys were running about,
gathering clubs for their champions,
the Chase crew. The yard of the Her.
aid office, close by the court room, was
q sort of arsenal.
We do not uphold wanton, unneces-
sary mob violence; but knowing what
we do of the past history Of the strife
over the location of the County Seat in
Lake county, we have no comment to
offer. We have stated facts; our read
ers can draw their own conclusions
II Is said that on Wednesday morn
| tpo af chase xubiIo tho oit;1opo <xf th;o