Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-16
miscellaneous &eading.
THE WAR IN KENTUCKY.
THE STATE MILITIA ORDERED TO SUP
PORT THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

THE WAR IN KENTUCKY.
THE STATE MILITIA ORDERED TO SUP
| PORT THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES
A dispatch of July 5th from Morehead
Kentucky, says: Promptly at ten O'Clock
last night the taps were beaten and lights
put out, and all the troops not on guard re.
tired on their arms, hoping for nights
rest, but prepared for any emergency. The
pickets around the encampment grounds
were increased, and also the pickets placed
around the house of Craig Toliver. A brav-
er and more vigilant lot of soldiers were
never on duty than those last night. Capt.
Strothers was in command of the guard at
Toliver's house, and Capt. ]. Speed Smith
was the officer of the day. The house in
which Toliver is guarded is situated on the
railroad, and only few hundred feet from
the depot. About eleven o'clock last night
pistol-shot was distinctly heard upon the
encampment grounds. Thereupon the long
roll was immediately sounded, and the three
companies fell into line. The Cerro Gordo
and Winchester Guards were left on the
encampment grounds under the command
of Capt. J. Speed Smith, and the Irvine
ran in double quick time to the guarded
house, and they arrived there with their
rifles loaded, cartridge boxes filled and pre-
pared for any emergency. Within two
minutes of the firing of the shot no other
shot was fired, and nothing more was heard.
After remaining at the house for some time
the Irvine Guards were marched back to
the Courthouse, and the companies broke
ranks. The guards watched vigilantly the
rest of the night which passed quietly away.
No attack is anticipated either from the
friends or enemies of the parties under ar
rest, but if one is made the attacking party
will most assuredly have splendid oppor-
tunity of trying the hardness of S. G.. bull
lets. Major Mckee is most excellent COM
manding officer, and neither he nor his
men can be surprised.
The examining trials will begin to-mor-
row, and many developments are expected.
Some of the prisoners under arrest are very
young, which is very striking fact. The
guards were increased and everybody on
the alert because of various rumors on the
streets yesterday, some believing that an
attempt would be made to rescue the pris-
oners, and especially Toliver, and others
expecting an attack from the Martin faction.
The "Rowan war;" as it is termed, is an
outgrowth of the old Underworld Holbrook
feud. The following graphic. story of the
trouble was told by a Kentucky officer on
Saturday: John Martin, who heads one of
the factions, was indirectly at the bottom of
the Underwood war, during which no less
male members of the Underwood family
were all killed. Martin is the son of a re-
spectacle farmer and he was at one time
Clerk of the Rowan county Court and the
proprietor of a large store at Morehead, the
county seat.
Early in 1877 Martin fell into bad COM
pany, and in few months dissipation and
cards compelled him to give up his store.
Shortly 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 we'll
established he was defeated for the office at
the next election. In the spring Of 1876
Martin was arrested in Mason county for
horse stealing, and being released on bail,
went back to Rowan. Old George Under
wood, the father of the Underwood boys,
lived at Olive Hill, which is just across the
line in Carter county. He rented Martin a
piece of land and the latter began to make
crop, living meanwhile at UnderWOod's IS
house, whittier he had brought his young
wife. One night some horses were stolen in
the neghborhood and Squire Elijah Hol-
brook, who was Underwood s nearest neigh
Dor, accused John Martin and Jesse Under
wood Of stealing them.
He consulted his friends and after several
meetings notice was sent to old man I'm
derWood that Martin must 60. Martins
wife was sick and Underwood told him he
could stay until she got better. This def
ance of the orders of Judge Lynch incensed
the Holbrooks and war was declared. Sew
eral of the Underwood boys were shot down,
old man 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 timbered,
rough and rocky. Bodies of armed men
swearing allegiance to one or the other of
the two factions patrolled the country and
skirmishes and battles were of daily occur
renee The Governor ordered two compan-
les of State troops to the scene, but they
were powerless to quell the disturbance.
The Holbrooks insisted that the Under
woods and their friends must leave Ken
lucky and the latter were equally determin-
ed to stay. For two years the Holbrooks
kept up the siege and George Underworld
double log house became famous as "Fort
Underwood"
One night in 1880 the old man ventured
out into the yard to secure an armful of
wood. He was fired upon and severely
wounded. Jessie was in the bush and word
was sent to him that his father was wound
ed. The next night he stealthily approach
ed the house, but was discovered by the
Holbrooks and shot down Just as he was en-
tering the door. The women dragged his
helpless body into the room amid shower
of lead. Before morning he died, and
sr 81, ttnro TO q,
loud wall of agony and the other women
Joined her with loud cries of grief the lis
tening Holbrooks set up an eXultant shout
and discharged their rifles. They posted
notices on the trees along the road warm
ing everybody. on pain of death, to keep
away from Fort Underwood, and no one was
found brave enough to disobey the mandate
of Judge Lynch. For three days and nights
the weeping women and children in the old
log house kept guard over the dead body of
their kinsman, and old George Underwood,
desperately wounded, clutched his rifle
with firm hand and refused to surrender.
On the fourth night party of masked
men came to the door Of the house and de-
manGed admittance.
1--WE learn that Jesse is dead," said the
leader, and we want to see if it is so.
If he is really dead, we will 20 away and
there will be no more fighting"
Old man Underwood would have detied
them, but the women prevailed upon him
to treat with the party outside, and he final
ly agreed to hand out his arms and open the
door to them, they promising not to modest
anyone if Jessie were really dead
Seven Of the men entered the house, and
one of them lifting the cloth from Jesse Un-
derwood's face identified him as the dread
ed outlaw. Old George Underwood sat on
the bed, watching them. His little grand