Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-03
THE EEATFfTLDS.
Not 40 Black "a They Have Been
Painted.

Of Logan county, explains itself;
3j1 WEST FfFTY-sIXTH STREET,
NEW YORK CITY.
j. b. Foyd, Esq, Charleston, W. Va
Ny Dear Sir,-I have been much in
terested of late in reading the various
newspaper accounts of the vendetta now
in hot progress along the Big Sandy
river in Pike and Logan counties.
OF the numerous and more or less
graphic accounts brought to my notice,
but one-and that a statement reported
TO have been made by yourself and pub
lished in the Herdld OF this city Janu-
AIRY 25th-appears 10 me 10 represent
with any degree OF fairness the relation
of the Hatfield party to the trouble in
which they ere forced to take an active
part.
NV knowledge Of the existence OF an
extremely antagonistic feeling between
the Hatlields aud their friends on the
one side and the McCoys and their allies
on the other side dates from the snm-
mers of 1888 and 1884, at which time, by
order OF the United States Government,
| was in charge OF an engineering party
engaged in geographic work in that sec
ton. You viii probably recall our meet
ing at Logan Courthouse, and subse-
quently at Charleston.
The character OF my work made 1t es-
sential that | should travel about as best
| could through all the highways and
bywaysof that excessively tOrtuous conn
try, and SO it vas / came to make quite
a prolonged stay among the people OF
Big Pond, Blackberry, and Peter
creeks and the neighboring streams in
West Virginia, and [ may say that
during a goodly portion OF my stay
thereabouts some one or moro Of the
Hatfield boys were always with me as
guides to pilot me among the hills and
creeks Of the country.
While there ! heard many different
reports of the Hatfeld-McCoy feud,
but can recall no account in which the
former party we're considered the ae-
gressors in any murderous attempt but,
on the contrary, were invariably shown
much sympathy by their countrymen for
the apparently uncalled-for and certainly
most outrageously murderOus attack
made on one of the Hatfield brothers by
Randall Mccoy and his sons at an cleo
ton on Blackberry creek, Pike county,
Ky, a few years since.
| will not venture the details of the
Hatfield murder as heard it on the spot
Of its enactment, but have TO say as to
the character of the murdered mans
friends-those now defending them
selves against the Mccoy faction-that
from personal observation gained by pc
culiar association, oftentimes under the
most trying conditions of labor and fa-
tigue, I invariably found the Hattields
men of slow anger, Of cool Judgment. Of
unusual hospitality, generous of dispo-
sition, always amicable, and in their
homes as handwriting and thrifty
class of mOuntaineers as the hills of
Kentucky and West Virginia can boast.
In travelling about through the noun
tains-probably as no one has ever
travelled before or since-l met natives
of all classes and conditions, the most
intelligent best serving my purpose in
tracing the intrlcacies OF the streams and
ridges of the country, and | can recall
no section in which the survey was given
more active. willing, and intelligent aid
than by this same band of weli-meaning,
industrious, hearted, gOOd-na-
tured, and goodly-mannered mountain
GERS, who through that unfortunate "sen-
sationalism of the general press are fast
becoming the heroes dime-novel readers
and made to assume the false roles of
outlaws and murderers. Without caring
to say aught against their opponents, or
to enter into the pros and cons OF the
cause for the present ill feeling in that
section, it is not improbable the impress
sions of a stranger, resident for awhile
in that country, may be of interest to
those concerned in the welfare and pro-
gress of these people.
The two points | make are The uni
form good character Of the Hattields as
class of rght-minded, law-abiding,
ard-working men--a fact generally con-
coded throughout the country-and the
equally general opinion among the peo-
pie of the aggresslveness of those who,
evidently through mercenary considera-
tons, constitute themselves enemies not
alone of the Hatfields, but OF the peace
and prosperity of the country.
10 my thinking, it is unfortunate that
throughout the mountain region of East
ern Kentucky and West Virginia there
are not more Just such active, honest,
and intelligent men as those of the Hat
fields whom have met, and they include
most of the family, and whose comforta-
BILE little mountain homes, rude and
primitive though they be, it is always
pleasure to recall.
trust you can take the time to write
me a few lines relative to the matter as
you Judge it, and know that will gladly
lend my aid in placing the responsibility
where 1t rightly belongs.
Believe me, sincerely yours.
WILLARD 4. SHUMwAY.
Ne,0 York, January 29, 1883.