The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-02
KANSAS.
Bloody and Fatal Emeute in Ste
yens County-Eleven Men Re-
ported Killed.
Two Parties, of Citizens Have {
Fight-Alleged Origin of the
Difficulty.

LIBERAL, Kan, July 27.-Shorty, a
livery stable keeper at Hugotown, gives
the following regarding the terrible en-
counter between the Hugoton and Woods
GALE men in Stevens county, whereby
seven men lost their lives.
Sam Robinson, city marshal of Hugo
ION, and Mr.. McCook, of the same town,
went to Dudley ranch, near Pony creek,
yesterday, accompanied by their wives, to
look up some cattle which they
we're trying to buy. While taking
dinner, Deputy Sheriff Short,
a Woodsdale man. accompanied
by five other Woodsdale men, rode up to
the party and asked Robinson to surren-
Ger as he had warrant for his arrest.
Robinson said he would go a short dis
tsuce from camp, leaving McCook and
The ladies behind and give his enemies
chance to take him. He did so, and, on
rsaching convenient spot, both parties
opened fire, with the result that four of
the Woodsdale men turned up their toes,
the other two fled to strip of timber and
Robinson escaped without scratch. Nc
Cook fastened to Hugoton and gave the
alarm, and soon an armed squad
went to their assistance. Meeting
lot of Woodsdale men an
encounter took place, in which three
more persons we're killed and number
wounded. According to the informant
the whole county is at war, but Sam
Robinson has disappeared. Jno. Cross,
sheriff of Stevens county, was killed in
the second fight. The names of the Others
killed could not be learned, but further in
formation is expected to morrow.
10 ~
Geo. A. Pierson, d. Grysup, H. Torrents,
Chas. Shafts, Geo. H. Hoffer and. Jim
county, came in this morning, as they say,
to look after Herbert Toney one of their
young men who was wounded IN the
shooting affair, and who has since disap-
peared.
Jas. Gonard, deputy sheriff of Stevens
county, gives the following account
of the affair: A warrant had been
issued to Ed Short, constable and city
marshal of Woodsdale, for the arrest of
Sam @. Robinson. Robinson had gone
to the neutral strip, and Ed Short, VIM.
Hauste and Dick Wilson went after him.
They found him in dugout and ordered
him TO surrender. He said he would never
surrender to Ed Short. Ed told him he
could get as many men as he wished from
the strip to go with him to Kansas.
Robinson did not surrender but got on
his horse and made run of SIX or seven
miles to Beaver river, where he got
fresh horse and soon distanced the boys,
who then gave up the chase.
Sheriff Gross, hearing that Short and his
posse had been corralled down in the
strip, started with four men for their re-
lief, but they could not find them, and so
started back on the trail and went into
camp. While they were asleep the Hugo
ton party surprised and djearmed them,
made them stand up in line and shot
them, killing four and wOuHdiug one. The
deputy sheriff did not give any names be-
sides those mention }d above, but O. L.
Stabley stated that the four killed were
Sheriff John Cross Robt. Hubbard, G. W.
Eaton, r. Wilcox; that Herbert Toney was
wounded. He also said that there might
be one or two more killed, and that he
heard Herbert Reed was wounded, but
could not say how badly hurt.
There must have been shooting besides
the above ARRAY, for boy named Nathan
Jones, who was on his return from Stevens
county to Liberal, states that he passed
near two squads who were firing at each
other. The latest report that has come in
is that eleven men were killed. So far
reports are very contradictory and many
Of them unreliable, but there is no doubt
hat the Stevens county people are in
errible state of excitement, and that
more shooting may be expected.