The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-27
THE VENDETTA
OF PIKE COUNTY, KY, AND
LOGAN COUNTY, W. VA.
The Affair Worked to Bring Dis
credit on This State.
Gross Ignorance Of the News
papers Of Other States
Concerning the Geography Of West
Virginia and Kentucky,
Causes Them to Attribute the
LaWlessness to This State.
Thus is West Virginia Getting
Bad Reputation Abroad.
Histories Of the Feud as Told on
Both Sides Of the Line.

A dispatch from Louisville, Kentucky
received at the 1NTELLIaRECKR office last
night, Gays:
"oflcinls Of Pike county have applied
to the Governor for troops to defend the
people against the Hatfield gang. Troops
were refused, but the people were giver
permission to arm themselves. The
Sheriff Of Pike county hGs invaded West
Virginia to capture the outlaws, but q
West Virginia sheriff is out with posse
to drive him back to Kentucky"
This is the latest news concerning the
Hatfield. Mccoy Feud, which is attracting
so much attention throughout the coun'
try. 1t should be stated that, with one ol
two exceptions, all the press dispatches
relating to the matter which have appear
ed, have been sent from Kentucky towns,
They contain decided co!oring in favor
OF the Mccoy faction, and are evidently
calculated to make 1t appear that the Hat
fields are the sggressors. Pains are taken in
the accounts cent out by these Kentucky
correspondents, also, to create the impres.
Rjon that the affair Is case Of "West Vir.
ginia outlawry," much to the disCredit oi
the State. The truth OF the matter ia that
| 1t is Kentucky feud, and Is the result ol
difficulty which occurred at a local cleo.
tion between rival factions In Pike county,
Vnal.oku aounn uaoya anO
There does not aeem to be anything to
warrant the
COURSE OF THE PRESS
in making It out case Of "West Virginia
lawlessness," and charging the whole
matter up to the account Of this State. 1t
will be observed that tho reports Of the
depredstions by both gangs chow that the
crimes have nearly all been committed in
Kentucky. The unenviabls reputation
which West Virginia Is gaining abroad By
the reason OF these inaccurate reports,
and the gross ignorance OF the geography
OF this State and Kentucky which exists
in the minds OF Bome editors, is illustrated
by the following editorial, clipped from
yesterdays Pittaburgh Times, under ths
caption, "West Virginia Barbarians:"
A DIzzY EDITORIAL.
1.-THE latest reports from the scat OF
war in West Virginia left the Judge aud
Prosecuting Attorney OF Lee county about
starting to seek the aid OF the Governor
| In suppressing the conflict between the
Hatfield and Mccoy factions. We shall
be curious TO hear what is the Governors
action.
ain one view refusing to interfere might
be the better course, for the killing on
both sides has been pretty lively Of late.
Kept up, the conflict would in time ex'
terminate lot OF citizens Of no earthly
use and that had better bS killed of for
the good OF the State.
"Someth!ng is due to the feelings Of cit.
iEens OF other States and the reputation oil
the country, and this may be the view the
Governor will take. This might lead to
the arrest Of all who in any way have
been engaged IN the murderous raids oi
the Hat6elds and McCoys, and to the
summary hanging OF the whole lot. That
would 20 far towards redeeming the repu-
tation Of West Virginia, which, 1t mus: be
confessed, ia at very low point, rather
worse than Kentucky's.
SIN the quarter Of the State where the
warning factions live law seems not to be
operative. In some OF the other States,
where there Ia something to admire as well
as much 10 condemn, the citizens OF the
rest Of the State would gather at the seat
Of violence, set up Judge J.ynch's Court
and administer law which, although rude
and unknown to the books, would yet be
efficacious. some such thing In Wesl
Virginia, which we do not wish to be
understood as encouraging, would un'
doubtedly elevate the State in the estlma
ton Of intending settlers, who, as the case
Is, will 60 anywhere else.
"No one seems to think that the CitiEer
will be safe in the quarter oil the State II
question until the Hatfelds and Mccoy
and all their BympathiEtng friends are eI
terminated. This 10 the view the Cover
nor may take and 30 not interfere, for thu
process OF determination was rather rapit
at the last advices."
HISTORY OF THE TEuD.
A special dispatch from Frankfort, KY.
to the Loulayille Commercial gives wha
purports to be an authentic history OF th'
feud. 1t 10, conservative, and the honor
are divided between both States. UnlikI
most OF the reports from Kentucky It doe
not leave West Virginia to bear Rll thC
odium, The dispatch Ia as tollowe:
Several yeRrn ago the frat trouble orig
mated between the Hat6elds and and Nc
CoyS. Ono Of the latter, who wa1 Oon
stable, arrested one OF the former for somI
trifling oTense. Subsequently, ct an cleo
ton in Pike county, a difficulty ensuet
between the psrtiep, and Hatfield wa
shot. Four Of the MCCoys were arrestet
and were taken from the authorities b!
, the Hstneld mob, who carried them, to
gether with the wounded Hatfield, int
Logan county, West Virginia. Hero Hat
field died, and after his death the -FOUR Nc
Coys were taken back to Plkecounty, tiet
to paWpaW bushes and shot TO death
This ended the matter for q tina.
Last September Governor Buoknsr O
iered $500 reward for tho murdeIers oil thI
McCoys, but the Governor Of West Viz
j. ginia refused TO recogniEs the requisition
J Emboldeped by this refusal, probably, tn
!. Hatfield gang Inado TAti iRta Pike coun
ty on New Years eve OF the present SeGI
and burned old man McOoy's hpnse
! MoCoy's young daughter attempted 4
, quench the flames and was shot in thl
! breast and killsd.
A TALE or MURDER.
L young man was also killed on thu
same night, end the aged mother wa
beaten nearly to death. The old ma
j escaped, and carried the news TO Pike
z Vile. The people armed themselves, an
i about thirty men formed party 10 avsng
!, the outrage. They went into Loga
i county, and soon after killed two mer
Tim VRnna and Inhn Hatfiold. cnpnocIa