Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-14
FIGHTING FOR THE SEAT.
A Kansas Controversy for
 County Headquarters.
INGALLS, AND CIMARRON AT WAR.

The Citizens of the Former Town Capture
 the County Records-A Rattle Ensues in
 Which Two Men Are Killed-Troops
 Restore Temporary Order.
 WICHITA, Kan, Jan. 1+.-Cimarron and 1ngallS are in the center ot Gray county, in southwest Kansas, and upon the Arkansas river Cimarron Is about six miles east of its competitor and both are on the main line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road The former is place of about 500 inhabit- ants, is the older town of the two, and boasts of some substantial improy ements in the way of brick buildings.
 Ingalls,, formerly called Soule. after its founder, is but few years old, and has be- tween 300 and 800 people.
 An election was he'd about nine months ago and since then all the county offices, ex- cept those of clerk and surveyor, have been at Ingalls,, while Cimarron has been looked upon as the temporary county seat, and there the county records have been guarded by two men, who were paid for this service $3 per day. N. F. Watson, candidate upon the Ingalls, ticket, was elected, but two of the commissioners refusing to canvass the vote, an order compelling them to do so was issued last Monday from the supreme court Three deputies in the discharge of their duties Saturday went from Ingalls, to put Watson in the possession of the county clerks office and to remove the records to Ingalls, About 800 people of Cimarron, hearing of this intended transfer, followed the deputies and demanded the return of the records. This was refused, when a shot was fired, by which party is unknown, as both deny that they fired. This was soon followed by other shots. The mob, awed by this de- termined resistance, fell back, carrying with them two of their men fatally wounded and others more or less injured.
 As soon as the excitement had ceased it was found that the two men fatally wounded had died. They were J. w. English and A. J. Bliss, both men of prominence in Cimar- ron and the heads of families. Their death seemed to infuriate the mob, and gathering together again they advanced toward brick building, in which Watson and the deputies had gone for safety. Both parties kept up the firing, the besiegers hiding behind houses and in ditches, the besieged returning the fire from windows and doors. Three of the deputies had been wounded st the first vol ley, George w. Bolds having received ball in his leg; E. D. Brooks a shot in the arm and Charles Reischedetfer a slight wound in the face. The mob, believing the besieged would not be able to hold out until the arrival of aid, and expecting to charge the building at night, had taken possession of the telegraph office at Cimarron, and refused to permit a call for militia to be made They vowed it their intention to hang Watson and the deputies, and had ropes, which they waved to warn the imprisoned men of their approaching fate.
 Fred Singer and James Matson, Ingalls, men, who had accompanied the deputies to (ylmarrOn in be and called upon to give up their arms. Fear ing the vengeance ot the mob they refused to do so, and built themselves a barricade of tables and chairs.
 In response to urgent telegrams Governor Martin sent to Gen. Meyers at Wichita an order for troops to be ready to start for Cimarron. But the sheriff at Dodge City. having been notified of the state of affairs. proceeded with posse to Cimarron reaching there shortly after dark A short barley was held with the rioters, and they agreed to hand over the imprisoned men and disperse The two 1ngalls men who had sought refuge in the court house were also taken in charge by the sheriff.
 The mob then declared its intention to go to Ingalls, and burn the town and kill the people, All were well armed. The farmers who favored the elected officers came to the rescue of Ingalls,, and all night guarded the town. sam Brown, a Cimarron man, is thought to have died from his wounds, and two of the deputies are believed to be in a precarious condition.
 Gen. Meyers arrived yesterday at Cimar- ron and reported all quiet, but an outbreak is hourly feared, as the bitter feeling engen- dered will, it is thought, result in another conflict at an early day, and the militiamen are expecting orders to move Parties in- terested ill the towns are here offering SIC per day to men who will fight for their re spective towns.