Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-02
FIGHT IN THE STRIP.
The Bodies of the WOodsdale Vic.
tins Taken Home-State
Officials
60 to HugOtOu-Affairs Believed to
Be Peaceable in the Rival
Cities.
The Hugoton Herald's Account of the Af.
fair-RsspOnsibility For the Slaughter
Laid on Sam Woods.

LIBERAL, Kan, July 3o.-The bodies o,
the four men killed by the Hugoton
party were taken to VOORHEES,, Stevens
County, and, with the wounded boy Tom
nv. afterward taken to Woodsdale. No
further shooting has been reported, but
armed squads of Hugoton and WoOdsdale
people have been seen by travellers in diff
ferent parts of this county and may meet
at any time.
Attorney General Bradford. of Topeka,
and Brigadier-General Murray Myers and
Captain j. II. Wallace, of Wichita, arrived
here yesterday afternoon and departed q
few hours later for Hugoton. While here
they questioned many residents of this town
and many others from Woodsdale and HUI
goton relative to the war in Stevens Coun-
ty, and despite the fact that the towns
engaged in the war were well represented
here, they found it impossible to arrive at
any thing like definite conclusion as to
the actual state of affairs.
Some claim that Woodsdale men to the
number of fifty or more have surrounded a
party of twelve Hugoton warriors at a
small place called Lafayette, and are en-
deavoring to drive them from their hiding
place, but others go no further than to
deny the story and claim that the war is
for the time being at an end.
The Hugoton and Woodsdale men now
in town are peaceable and claim to have
left home to avoid trouble. That they fear
to return indicates an absence of belief in
the report that Stevens County hostilities
have ceased.
Means of communication between the
towns about Liberal are very meager, there
being no railroad or telegraph line and the
mail being carried only three times aweek.
Prior to departure Attorney General Brad
ford wired the Governor, telling him of the
condition of affairs so far as had been
ascertained, and advising him to withhold
the militia until there should appear to be
greater need of their services.
The Liberal Leader publishes the follow
ing statement from C. E. Cook, editor Of
the Hugoton Herald; Saturday, July II,
party consisting of c. E. Cook, o. J..
Cook, A. Mcdonald and Sam Robinson,
with their families, went to the Strip, hunt
ing and fishing and gathering wild plums.
On the third day out, and at Goff's creek,
they were surrounded by party from
WOodsdale led by Ed Short, and a demand
made for their immediate surrender,
which, of course was promptly refused.
The party then determined to try
and divide their folce, which con-
sisted of eight men. 1t was decided
to have Sam Robinson take one of his
horses and fee, which he did. with five
men in hot pursuit and on horseback, and
armed with Winchesters. The remaining
Hugoton men hitched up their teams and
let their wives take charge of them, while
they marched out, with their Winchesters,
and protected them in making their escape.
They made a forced march to Hugoton,
and a force was Immediately organized
and started in pursuit for the rescue of
Robinson. They met Robinson in the
Strip on his way home, about eleven miles
in the Territory, and, as it was near mid
night, concluded to go into camp at some
haystacks near by. When they reached
the stacks they were fired upon by
parties secreted in the stack
and a general fusilade began. When it
ended Sheriff Cross, Bob Hubbard, j. Ea-
ton and Wilcox We're dead and young
man by the name of Tommy was seriously
if not fatally wounded. Sam Robinson, of
the Hugoton party, was shot through the
leg. Any statement differing from this is
false, as this is written by an eye witness
of the whole proceedings. 1t was the in
tention, as stated by Cross and Short, ''to
kill Sam Robinson, E. E. and o. S. Cook
and A. Mcdonald, and they stated they
were in the Strip for that purpose. s. N.
Woods stated that if the Hugoton party
was ever allowed to leave the Strip alive
the Woodsdale people were towards. The
necessity of such a slaughter is deeply re-
gretted by all of our people and they lay
the blame of the whole matter upon S. N.
Woods, who is believed to be ct the bottom
of the scheme"