The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-28
SHOT DEAD IN RATTLE.
x9erce Conflict for the Possession Of u
Gas-wcn Near Murraysvllle.

patural.gss companies, which resulted IN
the killing of q. NJ. Haymaker, promi-
nent citizen OF Westm0reland county, the
fatal wounding OF John keifer, OF Irwin
station. Pa. and the more or less serious
injury Of many others.
Eyer since the value OF natural gas as
fuel was first recognized In this community
the well at Murraysville, which Is the
strongest opened. and which has been
burning for several years, has been the
cause of more or less bad feeling between
rival companies. II Is generally eonsid-
cred the source of the natural-gas belt, and
FOR that reason the several competing COM
panies have stuobornly struggled for its
control.
Two or three months ago the fight mar
rowed down to the Penn Fuel-t'as Com
pany, whose headquarters are in this city,
and a syndicate OF Chicago capitalists. OF
which Milton Weston Is the head. Both
parties claim To hold the legal title TO the
property, which has been in litigation for
wears. Large forces Of workmen have
been kept constantly on the ground Tor the
purpose OF holding possession. battles
that resulted i'm 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 we're the latest VIC
tors. This morning word was received at
Murraysyillc that the Fuel-Gas Company
would cnde.vor to regain lost ground. To
prevent them from doing so Mr.. weston
sent party OF twenty men TO the wei,
arminc them with Springfield repeating
rifles that carried a No. 40 cartridge, and
supplying them with bayonets. Shortly
alter q O'Clock o. NJ. Haymaker, who rep
resented the Fuel-Gas Company, appeared
before the fence enclosing the well and de-
manded those within to surrender. They
refused. and finally two or three men, led
by A. NJ. Bowers, sailed out and attacked
Mr.. Hsvmaker. beating him so badly that
he was unconscious for half an hour.
When he recovered he summoned eighty
Of his adherents aud marched toward the
enclosure. The Weston party warned them
TO return, showing their rifie-barrels
through the fence at the same time. Hay
maker sprang to the front. and shouting 10
his followers that the rifles were Loaded
with nothing more dangerous than blank
cartridges, urged them on to the attack.
His confidence was contagious, and the as
saulters advanced in 4 solid body. Again
they were warned, but, instead OF hating,
they advanced nearer TO the fence, and
Haymaker struck the Waterman OF the
Weston party, man named John Keifer,
ON the head. fracturing his skull and in
flicting injuries which are expected to re-
suit fatally.
The next moment the Weston party
opened fire. Haymaker. who was i'm adj
vance, was struck by several bullets. and
fell mortaly wounded. Charles Clark,
BERNARD Ferguson, Adam Weber, and sam.
Klein were seriously wounded, and other
members OF Haymaker's party received
flesh wounds. The Weston party started
out the gate to make their victory COM
plete with their bayonets, but found no.
body to meet them. The Haymaker force
was armed with nothing but picks and
clubs, and those that were not wounded
fed precipitately to Murraysyille, two miles
distant.
From that place word was sent TO Green's
burg. the county-seat, fifteen miles distant.
The sheriff summoned a posse, and imme-
diately left for the scene Of the riot.
Further Particulars OF the Fatal Riot.
(By Associated Pressl
PITTSBURGH, PA, November 21.-Com-
parative quiet Is reported this morning III
Murravsville, the scene Of the fatal riot
Yesterday between the employees OF toe
rival gas-fuel companies. The successful
forces OF Milton Weston, the Chicago cap
itaIist, surrendered to the sheriff as soon rs
they discovered that the sheriff and posse
were officers; but nj O'Clock this morn
ing the prisoners made break for liberty,
and fourteen OF thirty escaped. Warrants
have been issued for the arrest OF the
whole Weston party, including Milton
Weston, DR.. J. l.. Crawford, Albert
Bowser, and +. Henry Ramaley, all
of whom are prominent persons. In
formations have been lodged against
them for murder. The inquest is in pro-
gress. The prisoners will be taken 10
Greensburg for bearing. strong guard
will be mustered, and there viii he no OPP
portunity either for rescue or Tor sue
cessful attack by the sympathizers OF the
dead or wounded men. Besides DR.. Hay
maker, who was instantly killed during
the fight yesterday, James p. Watson was
probably fatally injured, and Charles Sta
ger, c. T. Ray, and John McClelland Sc
riously injured.
PITTSBURGH, November IA dis
patch from Murrayyille says in warrants
issued for Weston's party Bowser Is
charged with murder and the others with
riot and felonious assault. Everything Is
now quiet at disputed points, and claim
ants have been notified TO keep off the
grounds by the sheriff. The feeling Is in
tense, and favors the Pennsylvania Fuel
Company and against Weston.
ALL QUIET LAST NIGHT-THE INQUEST.
PITrsBURGH, PA. November 27.-All is
quiet at Murraysville tonight. There has
been no further disturbance, and the lead
ers Of the aggressive party being in Jail
no trouble is apprehended for the present.
The excitement, however, was kept at
feyer-heat all day by unfounded reports
that bodies OF armed men were on their
way TO the scene. The inquest was con-
Guided this evening, and the testimony
elected proved that the attack on the Hay
maker party was most brutal and unpro-
yoked. Ii was shown that Bowser killed
Haymaker and also gave the order TO fire
upon his men; and that the Haymaker
partv was unarmed and acted entirely
on the defensive. The yercict rendered
charges Bowser with murder and tue others
with feIonious assault with intert TO Kill.
A preliminary hearing was given the fifteen
prisoners at Greensburg, after which they
were lodged in Jail 10 await trial. The
leaders-Milton Weston OF Chicago. VIII
liam Webbing OF Greensburg, Jsnles
Johnston OF Pittsburgh, and DR.. Crawford
OF Greensburg-all prominent, are charged
with murder, and will not be admitted to
bail. The wounded are doing well except
Heifner, who will probably die. \ post
morton examination OF lawmakers re-
mains developed eleven bayonet and two
bullet wounds. Any one OF four OF the
bayonet wounds would have been fatal.
Fox's Book OF "MAITYRs contains the
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