The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-27
WAR IN DAKOTA.

mined to Have Them or Blood.
TRAVERSE CRY, ID. T., December p.
Thiscity was thrown into a most intense
state of excitement at an early hour
this morning, and all day long the
greatest confusion has prevailed. About
seven O'Clock this morning, while many
OF the Inhabitants of the place were
asleep, mob of men, fully one hundred,
most of whom came from Wilmot, a
small town in the Southern portion of
the county, invaded the town. The men
entered the town and placed guards at
the end of every street, armed with
Winchester rifles, thus heading off peo-
pie from going or coming. After this the
remainder of the mob went to the Court
house, broke the doors down and went
through each and every Office, helping
themselves to papers, documents and
valuables, scattering and destroying what
they didn't want They also carried
away the safe. The mob destroyed a
great deal of property, public and pri-
vate, and helped themselves to what they
wanted, and after accomplishing what
had been mapped out, left.
Sheriff Cummings made an effort to re-
sist the men, out they were determined,
and he was ordered to remain quiet, and
at the same. time fine display of Win
chester rifles were placed on exhibition,
especially for his benefit. A number of
Traverse men left their homes with the
intention of assisting the Sheriff in quiet
ing the disturbance, but further consider
ing the situation, became convinced that
prudence at that particular juncture was
the wiser policy. The Sheriff and his
friends remained under cover of Win
chesters, in the hands of the murderous-
looking men, who had by this time inn
bibed most literally of bad whisky. Many
of the mob were very drunk, and had
grown boisterous as well as dangerous.
The mob remained about an hour, then
left with the county safe and all the pri-
waite property they could find. The I'M
side of the Courthouse is total wreck.
The business men of Wilmot led the mob,
and gathered the lower elements of the
country, mostly foreigners. The United
States mail carrier was stopped and the
been notified. The safe contained no val
liable records and papers. The mob de-
stroyed large number of papers, among
which were several hundred chattel
mortgages, which will be great loss to
the mortgages. All other county records
are safe, the County Clerk having
removed them from the Court house.
Notice was posted on the Courthouse
door to-day to the effect that the records
were safe, and business would be trans
acted as usual.
The excitement has by no means abated,
though the hostile intentions of the Will
mott mob have been Somewhat retarded
by the fearful blizzard that has prevailed.
In their almost defenseless position the
citizens of Traverse appealed to Governor
Pierce for troops and protection, but no
reply has been received from him. After
capturing the safe the mob were
furiously exasperated at finding it con-
tanned nothing, and made threats
that they would burn the town
and hang the county officers If the records,
books and papers were not turned over to
them. The Whereabouts OF these docu-
ments are unknown. The people of
Traverse are armed to the extent OF their
ability, and will defend their town, aided
ny Tue CtIlLcuS, WHO " buo
county seat from all parts of the county.
The officials are cool and ready to meet
whatever assault may be made. The de-
lay, OWING to the weather, has been
valuable u them.
In the late elections for county seat,
Wilmott won on the face of the returns,
but the canvassing board threw out two
towns, owing to ballot-box stuffing and
fraudulent irregularity. This gave the
county seat to Traverse. A mandamus
was served on the board, but at the hear
ing before Judge Smith it was quashed.
A second writ was decided in favor of
Traverse. Having been defeated in the
election and count the Wilmott gang de-
termined to resort to mob force. A fight
is expected in the morning.
TRAVERSE CITY, ID. T., December 81
A spy just arrived from Wilmot. A confer.
ence of one hundred and fifty men was held
in Mann's Office at Wilmot. The chair.
man, standing on the top of the stolen safe,
said the combination had been telegraphed
for, and if not received by Sunday morn
ing the safe would be blown open, and
asked the question: ''What shall we dc
| if the books are not in the safe?" A mo-
ton was made, and carried amid cheers
and bowls, to go to Traverse, sack anG
burn every building, and hang every
man found. Every man at the meet
ing was armed with Winchesters
and shot-guns. On receipt o.
this news the Traverse officers ordered
the women and children to leave tn,
town, and they are rapidly departing
The mob is not expected to reach her,
much before dark. Buildings are beins
barrcaded, and the men are out over thu
county for arms and men. The force il
Traverse at present is rather small TO
such an emergency. The men on tn,