Sharp County record., 1888-09-27
A FAMILY FEUD.
Thirty Years of Hate and Blood
Wiped Away in an Hour.

noon, when | got sudden surprise l
was emerging from a ravine to the
main trail when four men suddenly
sprang out at me from behind a mass
of rock. One was old and white
haired, though still vigorous, while
the others were men OF mlddle-age'
All had guns and knives, and tough
looking lot they were as they surround
ed me. There was a moment OF silence
as we surveyed each other, and then
one Of the men asked
"Who be you'un?"
told him.
"Oh, yes" he replied, as he held
out his hand $50 you'un is he'un, be
it? Glad to see you. "We'uns hcv all
heard of you'un."
All shook hands with me and passed
the time of day, and presently asked:
"Out for hunt?"
"Yes."
after bcar?"
digger nor that, stranger"
All chuckled as if highly pleased,
and after enjoying my embarrassment
for minute the spokesman said;
1--WE mought AK ye to mix in, stran-
ger, but it's none O your consider"
What is it?n
"Wc're huntin' Hank Bibbs an his
pap" e
Going to kill them?"
"If we kin. That's what we're yere
fur. That's why we're come from
t'other side of the big hill"
"Why, l was on my way to Bibbs''
"Reckon ye were stranger. That's
why we stopped ye. Didn't want ye to
suffer in the scrimmage."
1t wac feud-a vendetta. | real
lied it now. They had set out to kill
men just as you would kill pigeons.
Tell me about this | said, as we
sat down on a rock and passed out
some tobacco.
"War,n replied the spokesman,
"me'n the old man ar Carriers. The
others jined in to help. We've bin
down on the Bibbs fur-lets see-how
long is it, pap?'
"A year afo' the wah, answered the
old man.
Call it thirty years. resumed the
son. That's right smart, | reckon.
And, we've killed four on 'em-four of
the Bibbs. And they've killed three of
us--three of the Carriers! Thar hasn't
bin any scrimmage of late, cause
Hank Bibbs has been gone and have
bin gone, and the old folks here got
moas too old. But Hank has cum back,
and hev cum back, and so we reck-
oned on gwine over thar and wipin
the last of 'em out.
"How did this affair start? What was
the beginning?"
The start Let's see! 1t goes back
too far fur me. Say, pap, what begun
this yere fuss?"
Jim Bibbs pizened my mewl, cause
! beat him chopin"
"Are you sure of itP' asked.
"Shore? OF course I'm shore! The
mewl was found dead, and if jim
Bibbs didn't pizen him who did?'
"But was he pOisOned?"
"If not what made him die?"
Perhaps he was sick, or got fall,
. or died of old age"
"Say, pap" said the son, 'p'raps
that was the way of it"
"Mought be, Cyrus. l never thort
of it."
Look here, men, said after we
had talked little further, "thiS thing
is all wrong and | want to see it
righted. | want to see Bibbs before
you do any shooting"
What fur?"
ITO see what he has against you,
and to see if you can't be friends. You
have all been wrong from the start "
"But didn't my mewl die?" asked
the old man.
Eyes, but you didn't know that one
of the Bibbs' was within dozen miles
of him. Did you try to find out if
they were guilty?"
II hadn't no show. jist took down
the gun and peppered Bill Bibbs. Then
one of his brothers peppered my son
Enos, and SO we've been pepperin'
ever since"
"And all about an old mule!"
"Well, nevis was skace then, and it
was the principle of the thing, ye see.
Meb be we've been too firstly (hasty),