Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-12
AUSTIN.
A Fight Between Ranchmen and Fence
Cutters in Edwards County.
A Fence Gutter Killed and Ranohman
Wounded Capital Chatter.

AUSTIN, ZEN, aug. H. lne DailaS
Paint and Color company, capital
stock $25 900, filed charter to-day.
The comptroller has paid Sc 800, bal
ance due on university building.
The following counties have received
their school fund: Orange, Robertson,
Red River and Gregg.
The assessment rolls of Oldham
county show S229, ii0 increase; Kerr,
Sl67 .444; Throckmorton, $2I 800; Ma
vsrro, $6l2,90l.
The general revenue was increased
by the comptroller to-day $1,000, and
the available school funds $500.
The land board to-day made awards
in several of the counties. A petition
from PecOs county asking the board to
put the lands fronting on the Pecos
river on the market to actual settlers
was considered, and the board refused
to change the order Withdrawing
them from sale. The petition alleged
that the actual. settlers were ready to
locate and desired lands on the river,
that they might be irrigated 1t is
understood that the board, in discuss
ing the matter, expressed themselves
IA favOring the withdrawal by legisla-
tive enactment of all the state lands
bordering on streams, that their water
may be free for all time to come.
The acknowledgement Is in receipt of
official Information relative to the
killing of fence-cutter in Edwards
county July 20. The report is from
Corporal Barra of Capt. Sewers COM
pany, who with three men were or
dered to investigate the cutting OF the
fence of G. b. Greer, near Green lake,
Edwards county. 1t Is said they left
camp on July %, reaching Green lake
on the 2Sth. Their horses were secreted
in the cedar brakes about two miles
fiOm Green lake where the fence had
been cut, while the men concealed
themselves within two hundred yards
Of the spot and in sight of John Land
ingar, an employe Of Greer, who was
rebuilding the fence. Landingar was
aware of the presence OF the rangers.
A few hours after the arrival of
the rangers NJ. d. Hemphill,
Henry Burton, John Brennon,
and one Mason were seen approaching
driving about $50 head of cattle.
Hemphill rode up to Landipgar and
asked permission to water the stock.
The request was refused, Laudingar
saying that Greer had given orders to
close up the fence. The report then
says that Hemphill drew his six.
shooter and ordered Landingar to get
out of the gap and let the stock pass,
He did so. The cattle were
driven inside, watered and
again turned out. Landippar
closed up the gap. The rangers from
their place of concealment witnessed
the above, and being satisfied in their
own mind that the party would re.
turn, did not show themselves. In
the afternoon OF the same day, Greer,
1t Is said, received note from HEMP.
hill, warning him not to close up his
ience. and shut cross to water, Greer
said he refused to let the gap down.
hemphill on getting the note, with
the assistanceo of Burton, Brunson and
Mason, rounded-up some fifty or sixty
head OF horses ana drove them to the
pasture, the fence of which they cut
ana watered their horses. The rangers
witnessed this, and leaving their place
OF concealment rapidly approached
the ieDce-cutters, who dismounted
ana placing themselves behind a
stone fence prepared to fight.
The rangers when within $50 yards
shouted to Hemphill and his men
70 surrender. They refused and an.
swered back, "Come on IL you want To
light" They We're again ordered to
surrender, but refused and Hemphill
hired Mt the rangers. The fight then
commenced in earnest, several shots
being exchanged, when HemphilI.
Burton and Brunson hastily mounted
their horses aud rode Of, Mason hav-
ing been shot through the BODY and
Killed. w. N. Baker, one OF the
rangers, was severely wounded In the
left side. Hempnili was not followed
as the rangers had left their horses in
the cedaI-brake ut distance of two
miles. Hemphill and Burton were
raised near Austin. and are well con.
nected and well known. Letters from
Them relative to the affair give an en-.
tireiy different report OF II. and
the whole matter Is 10 be Investigated
Mason was In the employ as a fighter
OF the Northern aud Southern Ilano
Fence-Cutting association, composed
y 10 said, of the leading free-grass Cal,
tiemen OF the North west. II h he
iieved here. II the drought continues
that much larger fence-cutting will
again commence In earnest.
. Contemplating commenced In the
unity to-day hut tho crAn mill -