The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-06
EMOTIONS In IOWA.
HORRORS OF IRELAND PARALLELED
IN AMERICA.
HeE Industrious Farmers Have Been
1 Driven From Their Homes to Satisfy
Claims That Should Never Have
Been Granted.

place for charity to begin confronts the
people OF Iowa with vivid reality today.
1t is not necessary for them to 90 to Ire
land to witness the barbarism OF evictions.
They can read in their local papers stories
! OF evictions almost within the shadow of
n their homes that have all the sad features
a OF the Irish assaults. The evictions of the
HDes Moines River land settlers are now
being actively pushed United States Mar
shall Holbrook and his posse brought a
two days expedition to a conclusion to-
night, reaching Fort Dodge at late hour.
The scene of the last eviction was thirty
miles southwest Of here, on the edge OF
Hamilton County. There are hali-dozen
posses at work, and this particular posse
consisted Of six strappng fellows, built to
carry out hot cook stoves or TO stand off
indignant settlers The equipment in
cuded a Winchester with sixteen cart
ridges in the magazine. Besides the re-
pcating rifle, there was revolver to each
.,+man.
n The men looked even bigger than they
were, for they all wore enormous fur coats.
The air was nipping. There was no snow,
but ice had formed in the creek hard
enough TO bear up the buggies. II there
had been snow on the ground no evictions
would have been made, the officers said,
but a nightly white frost was not allowed
10 stand in the way OF the laws operation.
Marshal Holbrook carried with him on
this trip a pockctful of writs directed
against occupants OF the lands TO which
Mr.. Richard smell, the son of an old Illi-
nois capitalist, holds the title. The elder
Smell bought the lands from Roswell 5.
Burrows, of New York.
Mr.. Burrows was one Of the New York.
ers who formed the Des Mones River
Navigation Company and undertook the
impossible task OF making the river navi-
gable. For this undertaking the company
received grant Of alternate sections Of
land five miles on either side OF
the river. There is a tradition that a
inches, once made its appearance
at Fort Dodge during the high
water OF springtime. but it cleared
for below without any unnecessary delay
and never came back. This was the ox-
tent Of the navigation accomplished, but
for over forty years there has been n con-
test over the possession OF the lands en-
bmced within the limits OF the grant
The tang,e is complicated by Supreme
Court decisions, acts of Congress, and acts
of the Iowa Legislature. The navigation
company finally dissolved, and the stock
holders, who were mostly Eastern men Of
means, divided the land. What Burrows
got rs his share was bought from his estate
by Mr.. SHELLS father. Burrows lived nj
Albion, n. y and the sudden departure
Of his executor, a Mr.. Warren. created q
great scandal.
-~'-AIr. Smell is now seeking possession OF
what he bought. lie finds his lands occu-
pied by small farmers, who have been
there from five TO thirty years Some are
sqnatiers. some got color OF title by TAX
ing out prc-emptOn papers when these
lands were treated by the United States
land officers as subject 10 entry, Others
got footing nj time when the State
held some Of the sections under the school
land law. About all that can be made out
OF IL Is that the United States Supreme
Court has upheld the title OF the River
Land Company, and In the view Of the
blindiollcd goddess these occupants OF
the land urc trcspasscrs. The Marshal
and his posse are good natured men, and
they curse The law that forces them 10
oust these people The hnst eviction was
on Friday morning the home Of Matthias
llaganson, Norwegian farmer. who hal
occupied the land nineteen years lie
had run his stock oil aud had Offered no
opposition. The family went 10 the house
OF ncghbor, and Pony" for that was
the sobriquet OF llawnson, watched the
work toariully. When the house was en-
tered the rooms appeared 10 have been
stripped bare. One Of the officers climbed
mp into the loft, and Il was at once
evident that old "Pony's" moving had
Down came culuyator, then a
corn planter, and then pair
OF boots, aud next bedstead.
Don't break my bcdsicad," the old
man exclaimed. as that piece Of furniture
got a hard rap. Pumpkins, ca5bagcs,
pickles. and scores Of other things came out
OF their hiding place and were carried r.
the road and unloadcd. While the posse
was engaged in eyicting llaganson the
officers were In sight OF Spainhowcr'i
place, from which he was cyictcd the day
before. Spainhowers furniture, farming
machinery, his flock Of turkeys, and Other
~~>s gings wcrc san scattered about III,
road, but he WIS engaged with the help o.
neighbom In loading his things into
wagon and hauling them away 10 q house
the Use 81 which be had obtained for th,
time being. SpainhoWcr had hnc i'm
proycmcnts, his house was good, the
barns aud sheds wcrc OF good szc and con
vcnicnlly arranged. and he was in FIN,
shape ior the winter when the eviction
took place. llagansOnH Improvement
were more primitive than Spainhowcr's
lilo had polo sheds covered will
hay, making. however, very comfort
able winter quarters foT his stock, hu
spainhowcr's buildings were we'll made o.
good lumber and could not have cost hin
lees than n 500. The worst feature In biz
case was that Mr.. Smell made the eviction
absolutely refusing 10 let him buy the lane
at any price. The reason for this wa
that Spainhowcr had not only refused Il
recognize smell. hut had on one occasion
when smell was driving upon the property
seized his team and threatened violence
This was remembered against him, and b,
had 10 so, and lose oil his improvement
without compensation.
After the eviction Pony" was told thai
bis stock must now be seized for the cos
OF the eviction. lie pleaded that ho hat
no stock. But. Pony, you told M n Will,
ago that You had eight cows" said one o.
the posse The posse gathered around him
PONY" said another Of the party, II be.
licyc these are your COWS" pointing 10
herd out on the prairie. The old fellow
glanced that way aud shook his head Wig
orously. but looked "a " be were concrcd
"Wcll. Pony" said a third, III you won
tell where the cattle are guess We vii