The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-05
shot Dead in Battle.

miles east of this city, was the scene
TODAY of a riot between adherenls
ofriyal natural gas companies, wnich
resnlted in the killing of o. NJ. hay
maker a prominent citizen OF West
,,oreland county, the fatal woundlng
of John Keifer. of Irwin Station, Pa,
and the more or less serious injury
of many others.
Ever since the value of natural
gas as fuel was first recognized III
This community the well at MUIR
ravsyille, which is the strongest
opened. and which has been ourh-
inc for several years, has been the
canse of more or less bad feeling be-
tween rival companies. It's gener-
ally considered the source ol the
natural gas belt, and for that reason
the several competing companies
have stubbornly struggled ior It's
control.
Two or three months ago the tight
narrowed down to the Penn Fuel
Gas Company, whose headquarters
are in this city, and syndicate OF
Chicago capitalists, Of which Milton
Weston is the head. Both parties
claim 10 hold the legal title to the
nroperty. which has been in Iuga-
lion for wears. Large forces OF WORK
men have been kept constantly on
the ground for the purpose OF hold
inc nossession. Battles that resulted
in nothing more serious than bruised
heads have been of frequent occur
renee. and one party has not gained
any advantage over the other.
The Weston forces were the latest
victors. This morning word was re-
ceived at Murraysville that the Fuel
Gas Company would endeavor to re-
cain lost ground. To prevent them
from doing so, Mr.. Weston sent a
party of twenty men to the well,
arming them with Springfield re-
heating rifles that carried number
40 cartridge, and supplying them
with bavonets. Shortly after nine
o'clock o. NJ. Haymaker, who rep
resented the Fuel Gas Company, APP
neared before the fence enclosing
the well and demanded those within
to surrender. They refused, and r.
nally two or three men led by A. NJ.
Bowers. sailed out and attacked
Mr.. Haymaker, beating him so bad
ly that he was unconscious for hall
an hour.
When he recovered ne summoned
eighty of his adherents and marched
toward the enclosure. The Weston
partv warned them to return, shov-
ing their rifle barrels through the
fence at the same time. Haymaker
sprang to the FROM, and, shouting
10 his followers that the rifles were
loaded with nothing more danger
Gus than blank cartridges, urged
them on to the attack. His conf
dence was contagious and the as
saulters advanced in a solid body.
Again they were warned, but, instead
of halting they advanced nearer to
the fence and Haymaker struck the
watchman of the Weston party, and
a man named John Keifer, on the
head. fracturing his skull and infiict-
ing injuries which are expected to
prove fatal.
The next moment the Weston
party opened fire. Haymaker, who
was in advance, was struck by sew
eral bullets and fell mortally wound
ed. Charles Clark, Bernard Fergu-
son. Adam Weber, and Sam Klein
were seriously wounded, and other
members of 1iaymaker's party re-
ceived flesh wounds. The Weston
party started out the gate TO make
their victory complete with their
bayonets, but found nobody to meet
them. The Haymaker force was
armed with nothing but picks and
clubs, and those that were not
wounded fled precipitately to Muir
raysville. two miles distant.
From that place word was sent to
Greensburg, the county seat, fifteen
miles distant. The sheriff summon
ed a posse, and Immediately left for
the scene of the riot They had not
returned TO Greensburg at last ac-
counts. and, while it is known that
there has been no more blood shed,
it is understood that no arrests have
vet been made and that there will
likely be another not before morn
ing. Haymaker's brother and friends
have organized party and started
toward the well determined, they
say, to have revenge at any cost
PITrsBURG, November 27.-The
inquiry to-day by the coroner, at
Greensburg, into the cause of the
killing of Obadiah NJ. Haymaker, in
the riot yesterday at the Murraysville
gas well, disclosed the fact that the
Weston party were the aggressors,
and the responsibility for the affair
was therefore placed on them. Abe
Bowser, the constable of Irwin, is
held individually responsible for
the murder of Haymaker.
He confessed this afternoon in the
Greensburg Jail that he had stabbed
Haymaker five or six times in the
abdomen with a bayonet. but said
that, as he was not an anatomist, If
would require a doctor to tell wheth-
er the injuries inflicted by him were
the fatal ones. A post-mortem eX-
animation of the body of haymaker
disclosed seven wounds, one a gun
shot wound and six bayonet wounds
The gun shot was fatal and SO were
four of the others. 1t has not yet
been learned definitely who shot
Haymaker.
ARREST OF wEsToNs FORCES.
Milton Weston and thirteen OF
his party were arrested. Weston il
out on bail, but the Others are in
prison in Greensburg. They are all
charged with murder. There will
probably, be no bearing in the case
before Saturday, as all the interven
ing time will be required TO secur,
witnesses. About fifteen prisoner
broke away last right from the Off
GERS who were guarding them a
Murraysville. Warrants have beer
issued for their arrest, and it il
thought within day or two the,
will oil nrahahlv he in cnstod 4