Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-02
THE COUNTY SEAT WAR.

Further Psrtlcuiars of tho killing In
stevens Couiity, iten,.~An Editor'a Ac-
count OF the Anair,
LIBERAL, Kan, July 3O.-The bodies OF
the four men killed by the Hugot0h
/ party were taken to Voorhees,, stevens
County, and, with the wounded boy Tom
ny, sfterward taken 10 Woodsdale. No
further sh0UtiHe has been reported, but
armed squads Of HuRJton and Woodsdale
p-,cle have been seen by travellers IN diff
ferent parts OF this county and may Meet
at any time.
Attorney General Bradford, Of Topeka,
and Bfigadiers0e Murray Myers and
Captaih J. ~ Wallace, Of Wichita, arrived
here yesterday Afternoon srid departed a
few hours later for Hugot0h, While here
they questioned many residents Of tiils tswu
and nitrfy others from Woodsdale and HUI
goton relative tt the war in Stevens C0un-
ty, and despite the fact that tho towns
engaged in the war were well repfAsented
here, they found II impossible 10 arrive &C
any thing like a definite conclusion as 10
Che actsai state Of affairs.
Some claim .hs. woodsdale rien to the
number Of fifty or more h6Fe surrounded n
party Of twelve Hugoton warriors "a =
small place called Lafayette, and are en-
deavoring to drive them from their hiding
plaeei but others go no further than TO
deny the story and claim that the war is
for the time being at an crA'
The Hugoton and Woodsdnle nicr row
IN town are peaccable and claim to have
left home 20 avoid trouble. That they fear
TO return indicates an absence Of belief In
the report that Stevens County hostilities
have ceased.
The Liberal Leader publishes the follow
Ing statement from G. Il. Cook, editor OF
the Hugoton Herdldj Saturday, July u,
q party consisting OF G. E. Cook, o. j.
Cook, A. Mcdonald and Sam Robinson,
NTH their families, went 10 the Strip, hunt-
ing and fishing ard gathering wild plums.
On the third day out, and N CONS creek,
they were surrounded by a partt from
Noodsdale 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 force, which eon-
sisted OF eight men. IL 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 n forced march 10 Hugoton,
dnd force was Immediately organized
and started in rdrsuit for the rescue OF
Rp1.uson. Tley met Robinson IN the
S rip ~, .is. way home, about eleven miles
in the Territory, and, as Il was near mid
night concluded 20 go into camp at some
haystacks near by. When they reached
the stacks they were fired upon by
parties secreted in the stack
and general fusilade began. When IL
ended Sheriff Cross, Bob Hubbard J. Ea-
ton aid Wilcox were dead and young
man by the name OF Tommy was seriously
II not fatally wounded. Sam Robinson, OF
the Hugoton party, was shot through the
leg. Any statement differing from this IN
false, as this is written by an eye witness
of the whole proceedings. II was the in
tention, as stated by Cross and Short, "to
kill Sam Robinson, l.. +. and o. $. Cook
and A. Mcdonald, and they stated they
were in the Strip for that purpose. S. N.
Wood stated that II the Hugoton party
was ever allowed 10 leave the Strip alive
the WOodsdRle people were towards. The
necessity Of such slaughter is deeply re-
gretted by all Of our people and they lay
the blame of the whole matter upon y. ".
Wood, who is believed to be at the bottof
Of the sCheme.n