The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-26
DEPENDING MS HOME
a West vIrginIan Man DeryIng and shooting
into "a hand of vIgIIants.

PARKERsBURG, West Va, May 2i.-For some
months past the upper end Of adjoining coun-
ties Of this State have been the scene Of chas-
tisement and threats by vigilance committees
or Red men. Unfortunately in the unsettled
condition OF some Of the hily regions occasions
for the use Of tho whip OF public justice arose
without the power to use IL. Thefts and high
way robberics. so often committed. caused the
best residents to become incensed and failing
10 bring the depredators to justice they formed
themselves Into n society. calling themselves
v.giants or Red men. They have captured
suspected horse thieves AMI tying them 10 n
tree. have given them "a sound thrashing with
hickory withes. They served several known
lul'N's IN thls manner. ana sent notices To
others 10 qult the country. For a short time
thls seemed 10 have good effect in the sup
preston of crime; hut their own ranks at
length became filed upwtn bad persons who
used their power 10 accomplish petty rrvenges
and 10 carry out schemes and the organ ization
fell into i'll repute. For some time tho
actions of the so-called committee had been
looked upon with aversion. but no one could
be found brave enough TO bring thcm To pun
ishmrnt A few days uEO they took ono Thviur
who lived on Turkey Fork Of Little SANDY from
MS house. ana. after n severe cast CATION. or
u'I'u hlnl our ol ti' country INlur declined
to g., and being Isolated IRON his ncighbors hy
several miles OF hills ami valleys be- prepared
ms house 10 stand Siege. He dug tunnel
under the floor of his house and carried il out
about sixty feet before he brought It to the sur
face near the woods, intending to pscaue
through this II the vgilants should fire his
house He then loaded his arms. consisting Of
several shotguns and rifles. and with only his
wife in the house, awaited the coming Of his
enemies. Night before last they came twenty
or twenty Ave strong, and ridinc up TO the door.
demanded adnntance. No answer was given
To the demand. and they proceeded 10 batter
down the door. As soon as the door fell they
rushed IN, but were received with yolley ~
huckshoi and bullets. Several OF them fell. and
the vigilants retreated In disorder. Taylor
awaited their return. but their courage
or their powder had oozed out. and
they failed TO come TO time After about
half an hour one Of the vlgiants halloocd
from the woods. distant sixty or eighty
yards, ana told Taylor that ii he would permit
them To carry on their wounded they would
retire and l"avc HIM alone in the future Taylor
consented To- this and they went into his yard
and carried of their wounded. The next day
the affair became bruted about. and IL WIS as
cortpin"d that on" I0wther WIS missing, while
another man. BumEHrdner. WAS wounded in
the nand. u is thought seYcrn persons were
killed. as clots and pools OF blood were found
IN Iaylor's yard. No one else from the neigh
horhooi appears u Ice missing. Indictments
are % b" brought against several men ns being
phrtlcpaors IL the outrage. In an adjoining
county fifteen or eighteen have been identified
und viii soon be arrested and hroughtto justice.
and this fact coming 10 the knowledge OF the
members has causeda scattering Of their forces.