Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-06
SETTLERS WHO SH00T.
United States Marshsls Fired Upon
Evicted Farmers IN Iowa.

United States Marshsls Fired Upon by
Evicted Farmers IN Iowa.
DRs MONIES, IA, April 5.-A United
States Marshal and posse yesterday eyic.ed
3 farmer named Blake frcm the Litchfeld
lands, better known IS the DIS Moiues
River laDds. Boxes farm is IN Hamilton
county, sixteen mills foath,ast from Web
ster City, neaT what is known among the
settlers as Hell's Hollow.
Whea The posse reached the place they
found Blake had moved his house scross
the road and entirely off the Litchfeld
tract. Some of the machinery was still
left, but this was gsttiag out Of The way as
rapidly as possible. Tho officers did not
molest Blake nor offer him any violence
whatever, but ehortiy after they arrived
upon the scene a puff of smoke, a rifle
crack asd a whizzn ng bullet told them that
the settlers had opened fire.
The shots came flom dense thicket Of
hazel p quarter OF a mile away. Probably
forty shots were fired, but ;he marksman
ship was either poor or the range WAS in
tentionally wide, for none of the deputies
was huTt The posse had number Of
writs. but as they were only srmed with
revolveIs they did not attempt to serve
them, but Ietreated in good order There
were probably twenty or thirty armed set
tiers IN the timber. Marshal Desmond
will take the matter personally in charge
in few dsys, and will execute the writs
or die in the attempt
The settlers have been organizing all
winter. They have what is known M the
River Land Settlers Union and are at
thoroughly disciplined and ~ well pre-
pvreo fer syetematic action as the the Ku
Klux ever were. TEey are armed with
Winchester rifles and indulge in target
shooting daily. They have sworn to re-
siat ali attempts at eviction, and rs the
United States Marshals will Go their duty
regardless of consequences, bloc ished
seems destined to result. Their system o.
spreading the news by telephone from
town to town, snd by COuriers mounted or
feet horsep, is well perfected If a Mar
shal APPEARS in Webster City or For
/ Dodge, Within an hour CT two the fact is
known on every section of river land in
Webster and Hamilton counties, and every
movement of lie Marshsls is watched by
faithful spies srd is promptly reported.
Last week anumbsr os wTiis were served
The nsrahals we're well armed, and werC
| frequently net by squsds of men armed
VITA Winchestere, who ordered them to de
sist operations and threatened TO shoot theD
down like dogl if they persisted in thei
purp1s These men were Yearly alWsy
mounted on horses, and fquads circleC
round and round tia manhals, cursing anC
threatening them, bat at that time no shot
were fired.
The part of Hamilton county where th'
shooting occussed Yesterday is very rougl
aud covered with scraggy growth OF tim
her, ard thicke;s sIe plenty. In early
| tilnes il wts common resort for hOrs,
thieves, and even IT. later years they have
/ It il claimed, made it a rendezvous. Whel
/ the marshais reached this neighhorhooC
the river lanGers secreted themselves il
the timber and opened fire upon them
After evcting Blake the marshsls stnrteC
10 return. They had proceeded abou
three. quarters of a mile scro5s the hollow
when p regrlar fusilade Of bullets raineC
about them Branches Of trees were cui
eff and the situation looked serious ioi
awhile, bu. the attack soon ceased. The
msIshals concluded Tot 10 90 on with th'
work nutil reinforced. Then the eviciioni
will proceed without delay. The set,ler
ere determined, and war on a smSll scale
will undoubtedly re'alt. Nothing vii
probably ne done for several days