The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-29

which 10 continue the contest and trans
form them into the serfs of the COM
pany.
The outside world during all this
time remained in almost absolute ig-
norancc of the desperate attempt being
made upon the rights Of portion Of our
citizens. The greater part OF the press
Of the Pacific coast wore the muzzlc Of
the corporations. and only the most
meager reports Of these matters were
sent out through the Associated Press.
and such as were sent were tingcd with
the coloring furnished by the conspira-
tors.
The first year after the completion of
the main irriaating ditch the settlers
had set apart the eleventh day Of May
as . day Of general rejoicing and
Thanksgiving for the harvest which fol-
lowed the coming of the waters, and
through all their troubles they had
regularly observed it, their festivities
usually taking the form Of picnic.
which was attended by everybody, re-
gardless Of age or sex. and it was this
eleventh day of May, 1880, that the
corporate conspiratoIs fixed upon for
the consummation Of their scheme for
possessing themselves of the homes Of
these people.
In order to secure fit tools for this
purpose. the company had made pre-
tended sales of the homes OF portion
perate character, among others to a
noted desperate and crack-shot; and
it was these men whom the United
States Marshal was ordered to take
upon his raid Of eviction. The Mar
shall left san Francisco before day and
arrived at Hanford, the station nearest
the Slough lands. at seven O'Clock in
the morning. Here he was met by the
gang of desperadoes armed to the teeth,
and all started together in wagons.
The leader of the gang carried two
bulldog rcvolyers and knife in his
belt, aud had repeating rifle and .
double-barreled fowling piece in the
| wagon in which he rode, and all bristled
with deadly weapons, principally re-
yolvers and knives.
/, As was anticipated by the Marshal,
they arrived at the first house in the
Slough settlement after its occupants
had left for the picnic. Without cere-
mony the door Of this peaceful dwelling
was broken down and everything in il
pitched into the highway. This done.
they placed three No. 10 cartridges
upon the doorstep as an indication OF
the fate which awaited the honest
settler and his family if they dared re.
place their household goods and re-
sumed the occupancy Of their home.
They then started in the direction o.
the next settlers claim. intending I,
proceed in the same manner with each
of the twenty-five houses against who's.
owners the Marshal had writs of eject
ment But they were not destined Il
proceed so far. Unknown to them tn,
gang had been seen to leave Hanfort
by one who, surmising the nature o
their errand. fastened to notify lii.
settlers of what was about TO be at
tempted. Mounting horse he rod.
with all speed. and, approaching thu
. picnic grounds. came first upon severa
parties who had driven a little wa,
back from the immediate scene of fes
tivities in order to find suitable plac,
for leaving their teams and wagons
Among them were Erastus Hemming
way and his neighbour, Mr.. Johnson
To these men he communicated Wha
he had observed, and his belief regard
ing the intention of the Marshal and hi.
gang of desperate characters. AL
listened eagerly to the information
brought by Their friend. and then held
hurried consultation among them
selves.
Erastus, johnson and one of the
others were armed with single re
yolver of small caliber each. The resI
were without weapons OF any kind
They did not like to return to the picnic
grounds and brighten the women ant
children with an announcement of wha
they believed was taking place; neither
did they propose that their home.
should be ravished and they make nj
effort to defend them.
1t was finally agreed that Hemmlng
way, johnson and those who were witt
them should hurry across country to 1
point in the road about a mile away
over which the Marshal and his GROVE
must pass. while the friend who hat
brought the information should quietl,
notify others and leave them to follow
or wait for report from those WIN
were in advance, as they thought best
, Hurrying across the fields, this littl
, body OF men came out into the road b.
, which the gang were proceeding. jus
, in advance of the Marshal and hi
party, as they approached the cottag
of the second victim marked upon thci
list for eviction.
: Seeing them, the Marshal halted an,
got down from the wagon in which h
was riding. The others did the same
, Approaching TO within few feet of tn
, Marshal, Erastus demanded TO know
, it were true that they had come to evic
the settlers, and was told that the
, had.
You will not be allowed TO do SO,
D replied Hemingway; I'VE redeeme
: these lands from the desert and CAV
g them all the value they possess. The
4 belong to us and We intend to hol
: them"
8 The Marshal replied that "he was dc
: ing only what the law and the court re
: CURED OF him, but that rather than US
I force he would abandon the attempt
q But the gang thirsted for blood, an
v had been ordered to prevent any aban
e donment of the object for which the
J, were sent Scarcely had the word {
! the Marshal issued from his mout
1 when the leader of the desperadoe
: drew his revolver and fired at Erastu.
+ thus giving the signal to the others {
!, the gang, who at once followed his g,
/ ample and emptied their revolycrs int
Q the bodies of the innocent and almo.
: defenseless men in front of them.
) The first shot was aimed ut Hen
t mingway's heart and missed it by bl
' few inches. The bullet entered h
: left breast and passed entirely throug
= his body, but though mortally wounde
. he succeeded in drawing his own II
volver. and, firing, killed one of IL
G desperadoes on the spot.
1 One other of the gang was wounde
r by shot fired by johnson, who W:
) himself instantly killed by the secon
g volley of the desperadoes. Two Other
0 OF the settlers were killed outright an
8 three wounded; the latter by shots fro
t the fowling piece of the leader of Il
n gang. who fired at them as they ne,
e and but for the fact that the horses a
| tached to the wagon in which Law II