Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-12-12
AL fsR a covnrY SEAT.

ALL Fer A COUNTY SEAT.
The Plains of tho Moth rremble sseneafhI
The CreAd ut Arln.d M..-Gs,iierinx sti
hedd. Id Of the W.riike Hosts OF spiuk
County
ReLheld. Dak.. Dec. e-This county
and city have been wild with exvitemsnt
to-day, occasioned by renewed efforts on
the part of Ashton and frankfort to re.
cover the county records, which we're re-.
moved Friday night from Old Ashton to
tlle place. Last nlght, about seven
O'Clock, reports reached here that armed
men were gu route with the avowed Oh
ject Ot getting possession of the records.
Tue fire aiarm was quilAly sounded. aUu
u less than ten MINUTES the Rsdtield
military company, which is thoroughly
equipped aud organized. was in arms,
prepared to resist at sli hazards auy
such attempt. The other cit,zsus, were
out too, uith their revolverr, Winches.
ter rides. and every other available
thirst for gore; hut the report proved to
be premature. To-day, however, the
mob came, consisting ii fully 5oO men,
armed to the teeth, headed by the
county sheriff witE' a search wsrrsut.
rhey demanded the Records, AMI belux
refused, Threatened to fire the whu 9
town aud take them by physical force.
Boz ore they could exercise their threat,
special train arrived from Watertowp
with anfinjnnction from Judge Smith,
Who ls hoiding court at Miibank, eujuin
lng tue county board to let the records
remain at Redfeli. the Recognized
county seat. unit cause shonid be shown
shv they should not. This special
sas chartered yesterday, at noon
lor The purpose. The records we're then
put iuto the sherlff's keeping. THIS
proceeding only served to Increase che
anger OF those who came expecting to
recover the records, aud for y time a
blrody conflict seemed inevitable. The
Reddeid people, 6O strong. including
tile militia, ~er. thoroughly prepared
tor AN attack. Finally cooler judgment.
prevailed and the xrmed mob. which had
halted about hundred rods from the
city, dispersed slowly aui sadly after
having paesed denunciatoly resolutions
aud threatening to return in stronger
numbers next Monday, if the records VI .
uot returned before that time. One nun
dred R.dteldmen who veniured out to
interview the visiting statesmen, were
| sevareiy handled and were not allowed
TO return Ut til. the crowd began to dis.
perse. Guards have been stationed about
the city and preparations made to pro.
tect the records from any and all
,nvaslons. The military company has
telegraph. for additional ammunition,
THE COMBAT DREPExs.
Red6eld, Dec 9-tlhe county seat war
assumed u warllke- phase SUNDAY night
At an early honr the fire bell was rInR
and in few moments the entire mai.
population of Redfield was in arms
ready to resist any effort of the people
Of Ashton or Splnk county retxklng the
records. The alarm was caused by q
man riding into town, who spread the
report that an army Of some 500 strong
was marching from Ashton to take. the
records or spill some blood. Soon all
was commotion. People were running
here and there yelling, while the com.
mands of the leaders OF the various
squads, armed with shotguns, Wagon
spokes, muskets and revotvers, made the
nlght air llug with the din OF War. Soon
norsenaen start ted ont to.Ruard. tho three
bridges leading to the city, and while
those plckets or skirmlshers went ont, the
rank and file was busily engaged barri
cadibg the enEine.hOuse. wherein the
books are stored. Heavy oak planks
we're fastened IN the place of the lower
sash Of the windows through winch port
hOles were cut. At these were stationed
soldiers With repeating rifles. The lower
part VI the building was filled With men
armed to the teeth. Oh the streets large
squads of armed men weie stationed 10
guard against any surprise. The engine
aud hose cart were out, and tho iuten-
ton was to give the invaders q bath.
which. 1t was hoped, would cool their
valor. The territorial militia, someforty
strong. armed with repeating rifles, oc
cupied their armory near the engine
house, with loaded Runs and hAed
oaJ onets ready for the attack. The CITY
presented genuine military appearances
Guus, sabers and the various implemepte
OF warfare gllstened in the lamplleht
aud caused one to think of the days some
twenty four years ago.
When the forces had all got their
stations they breathiessly waited for the
invaders. At one time courier came
10, reporting the Ashton army on { Q
march toward Redneld. Excitement
then beggars all description Command
srs then yelled for volunteer guards to
help them hold important points. The
hasty tramp of the guards, the ringing
of the bells, commands Of the officer 8
skedadlinR Of disinterested spectators,
aud clatter of horses hurryl.g to and fro,
was = scene your wal correspondent will
long remember. To add to tho novelty
Of the scene just then several lauiee
whose spouses we're in the service
coaxed their husbands to leave ttl. nelti
aud come home. But patriotism out
weighed domestic fidelity. ana the
poor women left the busy scene, ex
pectinR every moment to hear the ciast
Of arms and the BAD intelligence Of theil
j IwldoWhood. But the invaders failed 'tu
come After weary hours Of waiting the
fact became apparent that there vas K
be no battle. and none bnt the Rusrds
renamed to watch any midnight attach
1tshxt might occur.
Il the forces had met, % was positively
lanticipated at Que time, there wouie
lhsye been bloody war. Tue people
of Reddeld meant business. How the
matter may 'end 10 not zknUNng 70 s.you
correspondent. Excitement aruns iiRh
! aud If ap attempt is made % tSkk Ia
reeor 's somebody will get kurt. It il I,
Il be hoped that cooler judgment viii rul
and the courts be 10 settle tn
matter. rathsy hAne teeott W srma
Yat stIux1fUN kfIDL csilf1cAt. I, 4
Rei6eld. y. l., Dec. lO-Wh all re
MAINS quiet Ut, Rsd6eld, the towns Q
Ashton aud Erankfort are sill in i,
fernsnt which met no imt iuvesaen
after fhh rstsrs. of ths representative q
the beitigefents iron thesS towns, vh