Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-06-01
WAR In WISE.

count of the '.War in Wise from the
Bristol News hs reported by Captain
Starrit himself:
"The combined resistance to tile
United States Court order for The
survey of the great Campbell Alexan
der survey i'll Wise and Dickinson
coulitics culninatod last Friday nj
noon by the killing of two of the
corps of surveyors. The survey has
been in charge of Capt A. 7. Starrit
and Mr.. John D. Barns, both of
Smyth county acting for the Virginia.
Tennessee and Carolina Steel and
Iron Company, who have purchased
these lands, supposed to contain
lO1, 900 acres, but which bid fair to
run out more than 100000 acres. A
consent suit has bceli matured in the
United States Court at Abingdon,
under whose order the surveys have
been proceeding. It is understood
that numerous parties have :natured
good titles inside this old survey,and
the order is TO ascertain all such, SO
the vendors and vendces t;iin settle.
Last Friday as Messrs. Starit and
Barns were sitting on the porch of
Clark VauShn's house, on Cranes
Nest, Wise county, they saw IN nrm-
cd party of seven persons emerge
from the wood. Their purpose being
evidently hostile, Starrit and Barns
started toward them to explain mat
ters. and if possible pacify them.
When within some fifty yards the
party, all of whom but one, had their
faces BACKED, openod fire OH them
with Winchester rifles, shot guns,
m-slets and rifles. This continued
until Starrit and Barns were within
fifteen feet af them, when they sur
rendered and asked TO talk to them,
rs they were unm med. The party
replied they had not come 10 talk,
but to Kill every surveyor in the
woods and all who assisted them. IA
number OF Wise county people were
assisting Che surveyor They added
they intended to begin with Starrit
and Barns, and they ordered them to
march into the woods, so as to get
beyond the sight of houses. jim
Green, ono of the party, seized Capt.
rtarrit and, with cooked pistol at
his head, marched him some three
fourths of q mile, the others following
with Mr.. Ban MS. AT that time Jos.
V. Kelly, with several persons be-
longing to another corps, ran upon
them, when the party left Barns and
ran into the woods. Barns then ran
to Starrit's rescue, when Green turned
on Barns and rushed at him. At this
moment Kelly came up and covered
Green with his pistol, but Barns Call
ed at him not to shoot and thus saved
Green, who sprang across the fence
and turned and fired at Kelly, who
returned his fire, evidently shooting
him twice as Green twice foil, leaving
bloodstains on the ground. One of
the S ots aimed at Stafrit and Barns
MORALLY wounded Geo. Hop Skeen,
the ball entering his neck, cutting the
windpipe and lodging under the
shoulder blade. This shot is said to
have been fired by james Powers
from Winchester rife. Skeen is a
brother-in-law of Capt. II. IL. Dotson
and one of the leading men Of Wise
county. At q late hour Friday night
no was not expected to live an hour.
About an hour later two other
corps, who, at point q mile distant,
had set down on the ground TO lunch,
were attacked by the Same party.
jeff Lawson, another Wise county
mar who was aiding in the survey,
was shot through Che heart by Jim
Green lawson stood a moment
withoa$ moving and thon fell. dead.
a hahtto' HAND fight ansued and the
lsttanking party Escaped into the