Wichita eagle., 1888-11-30
THE IOWA EvICTIoNs.
Some of the Scenes Witnessed in the
1eighborhood Of Hooks Point
From the Globe-Democrat.


drove ND in front of William Hooks, at
Hooks Point, in Hamilton county. He
meant that the eviction would be soon
over. for the house was close to the public
read and the goods and chattles would
have to be carried less than thirty feet.
A rap brought black-eyed woman to
the door. She was frustrated, and no won
der. for she knew what the sudden call
meant. Besides there was little 7-year-
old chap to quiet.
MA, here come the officers with their
guns, and they're going to shoot US, ne
was crying
men folks about She was the daughter of
William Hook and the wife of II. NJ. Lucas.
Her father had gone down to Stratford,
her husband had gone in another direction
and her brother was out after load OF
shedding.
''Pll tell you how it isl she said; I'VE
are getting ready to move. II you Will
give US two or three days We'll get out
ourselves and not give you any trouble
The marshal said it was impossible.
The papers called for immediate action.
"Well, go and see father first" she
urged. He has been to town twice to see
Mr.. Smell. but didn't find him. He means
to have an understanding with him."
The marshal replied that he would send
after Mr. Hook, but meantime the eviction
must go on. He took out the long writ
and commenced to read. This was the
signal for work.
THE FIRST BREAK.
"Might as well make a break first as
last" said one of the posse, and he picked
up the big rocking chair and
carried it out and set it down in
the road. At the same time another
of the posse led out a span Of colts and
tied them TO the hedge The Improvements
on the Hook farm consisted OF one story
house, collection of big log stables, corn
cribs. sheds and pens. Half of the posse
went to work in the house and the other
officers ravaged the barns and sheds. The
lob didn't prove TO be so easy as 1t looked.
Hook had come on the place in 1854 and he
had collected about him the usual assort-
ment of implements. A big harvester had
to be rolled out in the road along with the
other things. The house didn't look large,
but three stout men worked two hours
clearing it. There were pictures to be
taken down A fine parlor stove, SO hot 1t
had to be handled with gloves, was set
down in the road with the smoke pouring
out of it, A large cabinet organ followed
the stove. There was number OF books:
The old gentleman came down the road
lust in time to see the well worn FAMILY
l1lDle Drought OuU inii oONsi Oii G.,
table. He entered not word of objection
to the proceedings, of which he had had no
notice till he came in sight of the dis
mautled home and the heaps OF personal
property scattered over the highway.
There was spirit of Christian resignation
In all he said.
II ought to have gone to see Mr.. Smell, "
he argued to himself rather than to the
officers. ''and | intended to do so. did go
ha Ecrt ttCi Int he gone when
/ got there"
Emery Hook. the old mans son, a fine
looking young man, drove up with load
of shedding while the father was reproach-
ing himself.
.:Yes pop" he added, that's what you
oughter to have done, and then we
wouldn't have had this trouble. 1t serves
us right"
SEEKING SYMPATHY.
The old man turned away from the jobs
comforter in his own family and sad to
the writer:
You see l lost my wife some ago, and
things have been going wrong with me
since. It breaks Il man up to have his
wife taken away. He don't think Of things
as he would | didn't want TO have any
trouble. | intended to buy this land of
Mr.. Smell. You see the man from whom
bought it. MIR. Hurst. got it from the state
when it was considered school land l
paid Hurst $500 for the eighty away back
in 1904 and that was good price Tor IL
then"
Mr. Hook didn't add what the record
showed. that when the state found that
the land really belonged to the river COM
panv, and that school land title couldn't
be given to il, he was reimbursed Tor MS
improvements 10 the amount of $50. 1t
wos evident that he had no legal claims
on the place, aud that he acknowledged
to himself the legality OF the eviction.
The son evidently felt the same way, for
when a neighbor drove up and asked the
young man:
He replied, bitterly: Out in the road,
where We belong. Pop knew this would
come some time, but he just let things
drift"
"Where'li we go tonight" asked the
black-eyed woman of her father.
Il don't know, am sure" replied the
old man shaking his head helplessly.
well do the best we can. We can't do
no better" said her brother, who, seeing
that his father was overwhelmed with the
situation, began to take the direction OF
things in his own hands.
sTREAKs OF COMEDY.
While the family gathered IN llttla
group TO discuss The most pressing question
OF the hour-where to find shelter for the
night-thtre occurred funny scene which
made even the evicued people laugh. Two
of the officers started for the road with a
long table on which were half dozen
pans of milk. One officer went ale 4d,
holding his end of the table with his
hands behind him. The other followed,
and being q fellow OF infinite jest, he
gradually elevated his end OF the table
ana let the spilling milk flow down
the others back. The man ahead was
thickly clad. and not until he set down his
end in the road did he perceive that be had
been deluged with gallon and half OF
milk.
For a black-eyed woman Mrs. Lucas pre-
served her temper wonderfully. Only
when she discovered loaf of new baked
bread was missing did her good nature
fail her. She demanded TO- know what
had become of the bread. One OF the OH
GERS told her he thought it had dropped IL
the crock OF plum butter. She looked into
the crock and saw some crumbs, but
considera ole portion of the but
ter was gone. The situation needed
no explanation. While apparently eneag-
ed in moving out the furniture the boys
had broken the loaf into pieces. dipped
them in the plum butter, and had lunched
The black eyes snapped over this dis
covery.
sNhc did itg' she demanded.
OF course the one addressed promptly
pointed out the other man in the yard
HE looks as if he had been out OF the
penitentiary about month, she said,
and modified by the approving laughter OF
the officers who heard her, she went on
packing up her dishes, and said no more
about the plain butter and bread.
The only time that the men folks OF the
Hook family made any protest was when
Marshal Holbrook said it would be neces-
sary 10 turn the hogs loose IN the road,
There were two hog pens full Against
this act the young man earnestly CD
iected. He didn't see why the marshal
couldn't be satisfied with clearing out the
house and barns. To turn the hogs loose