Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-07-14
THE RoWAN.coUNwY WAR.
As It Is Described By a Kentucky
Soldier-A Feud That Has
Cost Thirty 1ives-A
Review Of the Situa-
tion.

tlon.
An officer of the Third Kentucky
Regiment, while at the Philadelphia
encampment, gave the following
graphic account fthe Rowan county
Ky.,) troubles TO q Philadelphia
Times reporter:
John Martin, who heads one of the
factions, was indirectly at the bottom
of the Underwood war, during which
thirty men lost their lives, and the
male members of the Underwood
family were all killed. Martin is the
son Of respectable farmer, and he
was at one time clerk of Rowan
County Court, and the proprietor Of
large store ut Morehead, the county
seat. Early in 1877 Martin fell into
had company, and in few months
dissipation and cards compelled him
to give up his store. Soon after his
failure in business he was accused of
falsifying and mutilating the records
Of the County Court in the interest
of rising politician, who was known
to be his friend, and, the fact being
pretty well established, he was de-
feated for the Office at the next cleo
ton.
In the spring of 1876 Martin was
arrested in Mason county for horse
stealing, and, being released OH bail,
went back to Rowan. Old George
Underwood, the father of the Under
wood boys, lived at Olive Ilill, which
is just across the line in Carter county.
lie rented Martin piece Of land,
and the latter began to make crop,
living meanwhile at Underwood S
house. whittier he had brought his
young wife. One night some horses
were stolen in the neighborlIood, aud
Squire Elijah llolbrook, who was
Underwo0d's nearest neighbor, accus-
cd John MartIm and Jesse Underwood
Of stealing them. lie consulted with
his friends aud, after several meet
ings, II notice was sent to old man
Underwood that Martin must 90.
Martins wife was sick, and Under
wood told him lie could stay until
she got better. This defiance Of the
orders of Judge Lynch incens.d the
llolbrooks, aud war was declared.
Several of the Underwood boys were
shot down, George Underwood's
house was besieged, and jesse, his
favorite son, was compelled to take
to the bush.
The section of country in which
this happened is heavily timbercd,
rough and rocky. Bodies of armed
men, swearing allegiance to one or
the other o! the two factions, patrolled
the country, and skirmishcs and bat
ties were Of daily occurance. The
Governor ordered two companies of
State troops to the scene, but they
were poweress to quell the distur-
bancc. The lIolbrooks insisted that
the Underwoods and their friends
must leave Kentucky, and the latter
we're equally determined to stay.
For two years the Holbrooks kept
up the siege, and George Underwood's
double Lighthouse became famous AS
"Fort Underwood" One night in
1880 the old man ventured out into
the yard to secure an armful of wood.
lie was fired upon and severely
wounded. Jesse was in the vicinity,
and word was sent to him that his
father was wounded. The next night
he steathily approached the house,
but was discovered by the llolbrooks
and shot down just as he was enter
ing the door. The women dragged
him into the room amid a shower of
lead. Before morning he died, and
when his young wife gave utterance
to loud wall Of agony and the other
women joined her with loud cries of
grief, the listening Holbrooks set up
an eXultant shout, and, discharged
their rifles, they posted notices on the
trees along the road, warning every
body, Oh pain of death, TO keep away
from Fort Underwood, and no one
was found brave enough TO disobey
the mandate.
For three days and nights the
weeping women and children in that
old Lighthouse kept guard over the
dead body of their kinsman, and old
George. Underwood, desperately
wounded, clutched his rifle with a
firm hand and refused to surrender.
On the fourth night party of masked
men came to the door of the house
and demanded admittance.
ave learn that Jesse is dead" said
the leader, "and we want to sec if it
is so. If he is really dead we will
go away and there will be no more
fighting"
Old man Underwood would have
deiied them, but the women prevailed
upon him to treat with the party
outside, and he finally agreed TO
hand out his arms and open the door
to them, they promising not to mo-
lest any one if Jesse were really dead.
Several of the men entered the house,
and one of them, lifting the cloth
from Jesse Underwood's face, ,'identi-
fed him as the dreaded outlaw. Old
George Underwood sat on the bed
watching them. His little granddaugh-
ter nestled beside him holding his
hand. The invading party disguised
their voices but the old man recog-
niz:d one of them and called him by
name. With an oath the ruffian
stepped up behind Underwood and
empted both barrels OF his shotgun
into the defenseless mans body. He
fell forward into the arms of his
grandchild without groan, and
| with COARSE lest and q wild hnrrah h