Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-06
ANTr.RENT WAR IN NEW YORK.

4. 3 -. ...'s
WAR IN NEW YORK.
new nesus lnaians Besherea
Landlords I'm new York IN
: folS. Il
The death Of benjamin r. Curtis,
lew days ago at Blenheim, echohaire |
COUNT. At the advanced age OF ~
'yeuFg recalls the "Anti-rent'hmoye-
ment in this State some forty years
ago. "Uhcle Ben," as he was Called
was converted at q Methodist gather
ing held in his barn seventy years
AGO, Joined the Methodist Church and
was 9 consistent member till his
death. He was great Bible reader,
and during his life had reed that book
Through nearly forty times. He was
.anlacfive anti and his home
was headquarters for many OF the per-
sons in favor of the movement.
In the summer of 1843, the people
in portions Of Ulster, Green, Della
ware and Schoharie counties began to
talk excitedly about the evils OF the
gsvstam under which most OF them had
leaged lands which were q portion OF
the great Livingston tract. The prop
sttv was rented under what was
known as "three-life lease" The
lessee was to have the occupancy OF
certain specified land for term OF
years, during which three persons se-
xiscted by himself should live.
Usually these persons were the lessee,
his wife, and his youngest, health
lest child. When all OF these
were dead the land, with all the inn
proyements made thereon by the oc-
cupant, reverted to the owner. An
other evil of the system greatly COM
planned of was the fact that If at any
time the lessee sold his lease to an
other. one quarter Of the purchase
price was taken by the owner OF the
land. Some time after these evils be-
gan to be the subject Of discussion 1t
was whispered about that an organlz,
alton had been formed to ut an end
to the by legislation, and that TO en-
force the demand for such legislation
the organisation would refuse to pay
rent. and, by concentrated action and
physical force, prevent the collection
of rent. The organization was 9 sec.
ret and osth-bo one, and to avoid
responsibility for it's acts, the
members, when assembled in public
wore q disguise consisting OF sheep
skin mask for the face, a cap orna
mented with q fox or raccoon's tail
or feathers and blouse or tunic o
calico over the usual clothing. A bant
Of Anti-Rent Indians was organized
by prominent adti-renters in the town.
Of shandaken and Olive, in Ulstel
county. Its chief was known as blt
Thunder, and the place o. meeting
was ct well-known hotel kept bl
Cornelius Winnie. Some OF them ar
still living.
What was at. first regarded as fin'
chance for fun and excitement came
at last to be very serious matter. a
peculiar blast upon q TIN horn by
chosen leader, and then repeated BY
eubordinates near each house along
q designated route, brought the mem
bers together, armed and disguised
and when assembled, it was some
times found that the affair in hane
was the tarring and feathering OF some
one opposed to them, or armed re
sistance to the law officers, who wers
about to swoop down upon some de
linquent for non payment OF rent.
After these disorders had existee
for year or 30, law was passed II
1845 forbidding persons to appear dis
puised and armed under penalty o.
imprisonment in the County Jail fol
six months. This law, however, die
rot have much effect. A crisis OF 6
tragic nature was reached on August
7. l845, when Sheriff Moore OF Della
ware county, went to the town OF An
des to sell the cattle OF man named
Moses Earl, upon an exection Tor rent
He found assembled there l70 men
armed and disguised. He was tolo
that they meant him no harm, bul
they added "let bidders beware." The
cattle were driven near the road and
then the Indians surrounded them
Just then Deputy Sheriffs Osman N
Steele and K. Edgarton appeared on
horseback and caused their horses te
lean over the fence into the field. The
story of what followed is somewhat ir
dispute, but the ti-Renters in thai
dsy claimed that the Deputy Sheriff!
made very warlike demonstrations
fiourished their pistols and fired them
at the Indians. The chief in com
mand Of the latter ordered them t.
shoot the horses of Steele and Edgar
ton.
This was done, but one of the shott
took effect on Steele, and he survl vet
but q few hours. The Governor OF the
State declared the county in state o
insurrection, and placed it under mar
tial law. Subsequently Deputy
Sheriff was assaulted at Woodstock IL
this county, and deprived OF his
papers. Wholesale arrests followed
Only two persons were convicted
Their names were O'Connor ant
Van Steenburgh. They were
found guilty of the murder Q
Steele and sentenced to be executed
Governor Wright commuted the sen
tence to that Of imprisonment for life
and they were finally pardoned b.
Governor Young, after serving abou
two years in Sing Sing, A re-actiol
set in. In the course of few year
Legislation more securely protected thu
tenants of leased lands, and the fore,
of public opinion induced the holder
of these large tracts to sell lands t,
those wishing to buy, and the Anti
Rent War" was soon at an end.-[N
Y. Sun.
NEARLY KILLED HIS WIFE
rhs Effects of Overwerk and
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