New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-03
BATTLE WITH WHITE CAPS.
AN OLD FARMER IN OHIO WHO WAS NOT TO
BE FRIGHTENED.
GETTING A SUPPLY OF GUNS AND TREATING
THE RUFFIANs TO voLLEYs OF BIRD-sHor
THE STORY TOLD BY vERMoNTER
NOW VISITING IN CHICAGO


THE RUFFIANs TO voLLEYs OF BIRD-suoT
THE STORY TOLD BY A vERMoNTER
NOW VISITING IN CHICAGO
Chicago, Dec 2.-Eddison Vance, Of Rutland,
Vt, is visiting frien is in Washington Boulevard.
For nearly three weeks he had been staying at
the home of his uncle Aaron Vance, who lives
near Sardinia, Ohio, at present the scene OF
White Cap" outrages. Mr.. Vance says he had
a thrilling experience with the ruiIans, and was,
handled roughly by them. The story in his own
words is rs follows:
Il arrived at Sardinia the night of November
0. My uncle, whose farm is about three miles
from the town, met me at the depot with horse
and buggy. We started for his home shortly
after Q o'clock The road was lonesome. The
greater part OF the way lay through valley,
and the hills arc heavily timbered. About
mile from the town a man horseback passed
us His head was cnveloped with white cloth,
and he was riding at a terrific pace. My uncle
said:
There goes one OF those cursed White
Caps Somebody Will got whipped tonight
Our conversation naturally continued on this
subject. About half mile further on, at the
edge of a woods, is drlnlIng-rough for horses
My uncle up to it and got out to loosen
the check-rcin from the horses head He had
been telling me about the dcpredations Of the
band and continued talking while the horse was
drinking He naturally talked in a loud t,lc,
and in the stiffness he could easily have been
overheard by any one concealed within twenty
yards My uncle. among other things. said
L know two OF them, and have engaged spies
to discover the rest As soon as we can get evil
dcnce enough, l will spend every dollar possess,
if necessary, to land the villains in the pcniten-
tiary.'
My uncle is a wealthy bachelor and has the
reputation of always going through with thing
when he has once started. We arrived at the
farmhouse about IL o'clock, and retired shortly
after l was tired and slept soundly. l rose
carly and came down stairs before my uncle and
the servants had got up. | opened the front door.
Fixed to the handle on a sharppointed knife was
n rough drawing Of a human heart the weapon
stuck through its centre. In the left-hand upper
corner were the skull and cross-bones and in the
opposite corner the picture Of a collin Below was
an inscription which read:
Aaron Vance, you'd better be careful as to
what you says and dose, This is warnin'. If
you try to do us harm you will get the worst of
it. WHITE CAPS
"On the steps was bundle OF b ech switches,
and attached to the cord that held them together
was tag on which written: Weapons Of
Reform l woke my uncle and showed the
ing and the bundle Of whips. His first words
were:
The devils must have been in the woods last
night when watercd the horse
After breakfast he announced his intention of
going into town and purchasing firearms. He re-
turned in the afternoon with two shotguns, three
evolvers and a quantity of ammunition. Then
he pasted a Obtice on the fence facing the road
tho bo all ha in
Chrstcndom, and would never rest until he had
hung few Of them. | tried to dssuade him from
putting up the notice. but the old man was OBJ
durate. The next morning another notice was
stuck on the front door, which read
" We will call on you within ten days
My uncle engaged the services of a man named
Harwck to watch the premises. On the fourth
night he OILED us and said the White Caps were
surrounding the house We arose and dressed
hurriedly. Aiming ourselves we went to the front
window. should Judge there were thirty masked
horsemen in the yard or near it,
Who are you, and what do you want p asked
my uncle.
"The foremost horseman replied: We want
you, and we going to have you.
"An right replied the old ndn, come on
with that he raised his shotgun and fired
into the middle of the group. There was yell,
and man fell from his horse. They picked him
up and all turned and galloped away. In about
| two hours we heard them returning. We were
ready for them. We had loaded the guns with
| small bird-shot and they dashed into the yard
we did not hesitate to fire al them. The vOlley
seemed TO rattle them. Again they went away;
! We heard nothing for three days. l supposed
| they had got enough and would let us alone. The
! third night about o'clock we heard a noise IN
the barn and IlarwicI and i went to see what
| was the matter. | never thought of White Caps
| We left nv uncle with an old woman servant alone
| in the house We had hardly left the house be
! fore | was struck down, and three men, their
| faces covered with masks. were on top Of me. AT
nv side IIarwicI was suffering the same violence.
! They bound us with cords and half carried and
! half led us to the Darn. One of them said to us :
We mean you no harm If you keep still
| We're going to teach Aaron lesson TO Keep MS
! tongue tied =,
| Then all but one went away The man left
with lis took a seat about ten feet away and never
! took his eyes from US. In short time we heard
| the report OF q gun and then followed perfect
! fusilade. Shot after shot was fired, and remem-
Der wondering how my uncle managed TO load and
! fire so rapidly. few minutes later man opened
the barn door and bccl<oned to our guard lie
Immediately left us, and we did not see him again.
| 1t was broad daylight when my uncle opened the
explained that he did not dare to come out OF the
/ house before. | was stiff that l. was some time
before / could move my limbs. My uncle 10 a tne
story of the assault and how. by the aid OF the old
servant, who loaded the guns, he had been aole 10
fire so RAPIDLY Two days before | left, my uncle
got a letter which said that the White caps would
have revenge il it took all winter. tired TO IN
duce him to 90 away until the gang had been
brought TO Justice but the old man said he would
! fight the battle out from his own castle. Whle
( ] was at my uncles some nclghhors wer' whipped;
though innocent Of any disregard Of public morals