Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-19
COWBOYS IN KANSAS.
They Take Possession of a Town-seyeral
Lives Lost.
IBy telegraph

WELLINGTON (kansasl, December l7th.-Abou:
the middle OF this forenoon, the Mayor of Caldwell
who was in the city, and one of the committee
engaged IN settling up the Danford business
received dispatch from the City Marshal of Cald.
we'll stating that mob of cowboys had the town
corraled, and that the officers were powerless to
suppress the trouble. The Mayor Immediately
replied with order for the Marshal to call the
citizens, and Immediately suppress all rioting and
arrest the participants and he also called upon the
Sheriff, who organized posse, and took train for
the scene of the trouble. 1t that the trouble
had been brewing since last night, and grew out of
ill feeling epgeudered at gambling place. This
morning cowboy arrested for disturbance
and fined and ordered con mitted. His friends
swore that he should not be taken to jail and in
reseuipg him the firing began. 1t was kept up for
an hour two between officers and citizens and the
cowboys. There at first six cowboys and one
Dave Spear, young fellow connected with dance
house and saloon OF Caldwell. engaged against the
officers. Three or four hundred shots were fired
during the melee. Mike Meagher, ex- Mayor of the
city, who assisting the officers, shot through
the heart and killed The only words he spoke after
being shot were, "Tel my wife I've got 1t at last
The cowboy who shot Meagher Jim Talbot,
who was one of the leaders Of the party who to7k
barker Dauford from the Sheriff short time since,
and who headed the element who insisted at all
times on hanging Danford without giving him a
chance TO settle, and is altogether a bad fellow
Immediately after killing Meagher the cowboys
skipped for the Territory, and rode oct of town
amid showers Of lead, three Of their horses be ng
shot from under them. After the boys rode out
Dan spear walked into the bank and drew some
money While he was standing at the counter some
one looked in at the door and called out, "Dave
they after you" He broke out of tile back door
and started TO across lots toward the dance
house, the Red Light, when he shot through the
heart by one of the Marshais posse. Spear was a
resident OF Caldwell, having come with his father
and brothers from Missouri and settled in Cald.
WELL where they have earned the reputation of be-
ing hard citizens The Spears, it is claimed, sympa
thize with the cowboys, because they want to keep
their custom for their saloon Dave Spear was ar
rested year ago, charged with murder in having
killed Frank Hunt, Nsrshal of Caldwell, by shoot
ing him through the window OF dance house. He
was discharged, though everybody thought him
guilty 1t is reported that four of the fleeing cow
boys are surrounded in the timber, and cDe of the
pursuing citizens shot in the arm.
A late report SAYS: Rurnors are flying about of
the killing Of three or four citizens and two cowboys
There is nothing definite.
LATER PARTICULARS.
CALDWELL December lSth.-Reports came in late
last night that Talbot and his party had been cor.
raed in brush on Deer creek, twelve miles south Of
here. IL was ascersanod that the cowboys had been
closely pur.ued and that when they got to Deer
creek they concealed themselves The pursuing
party only numbered eigbtmep, but they surrounded
the ruffians well they could and kept up firing
upon them. About dark W. E Campbell, one OF
thespursuers received a shot which struck him
above the groin, glanced and went through his wrist
This distracted the attention Of the citizens ard it
seems thet during that time the COWBOYS crawIed
out and escaped At daylight this morning it was
found that they were gone. BY that time there
were fifty men on the ground, all well armed. De.
tails were sent out and the country secured, but up
to this evening no report has come in. Captain j.
NJ. Steel,, OF Wichita, brother-in-law Of Mike
Meigher, one of the men killed here yeste day, went
down to-day. Steele means business and won't give
up the chase until the villains captured or their
is NJ possibility Of taking them The cowbows are
on foot and without hats, having lost them in the
chase. One of them is known to be wounded in the
ankle.
The streets here have been full of people all day.
and there seems to be determination to c'ean out
not only the parties who ins;igated the row, but
those who consort with them Caldwell will most
likely lose of its citizens by sudden emigration
otherwise before tomorrow night.
The Cororer is now holding an inquest over Mike
Meagher, which will probably last until to morrow
Meagher's body will be taken to Wichita for burial
Meagher was Marshal OF that town during the worst
part Of the cattle trade there, was brave to fault
and a man who never shirked a duty
The inquest on George Spear wi probably com.
mence to morrow. Spear one OF the friends of
G. Flat, who was killed here last year while Mea her
May or Of the city. The best informed state
that Spear got up the to have Meagher killed
having had a spite against him since the killing of
Flat. There three of the Spear family left-the
old man. Dave aud boy about u named Wade
Old Spear has brought his boys up to drink gam
bic and do everything else mesn.
Four parties named Tom Love- Dick Eddelnan
Tom Dnlany and Comanche Bill charged with com.
picity in the row yesterday, under arrest 1t
uncertain how they will be disposed Of The Sheriff
Will probably try to take them to Wellington, but
whether the people will stand that is doubtful