The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-26

WAR ON STINKING CREEK.
Feuds Lead the People of Three Counties Into
BlOodshed-State Militia Called For.

PINEvILLE, KY, March 25.-Thousandso
armed men are watching each other in Bell
and Harley counties, this State, and Clal-
born county. Tennessee. This city, just
now being doomed as the Iron Mountain
metropolis, has been for years portion of
the district that has achieved unpleasant
notoriety by reason of the desperate deeds
of the factions. On Thursday night, a posse
led by Alvis Turner, boy of eighteen.
captured General Sowders and a friend
named Berch and lodged them in Jail here.
Sheriff J. c. Hargus and a posse guarded
the Pineville Jail that night to prevent the
Turner crowd from lynching Sowders.
Another posse have arrested, after q des-
perate fight, two more of the Turner gang.
Another posse have started out towards
Barboursville for further revenge 1t is
feared that much bloodshed will result
trouble at Barboursvilie is directly
connected with the hostilities between
the Sowders and Turner factions.
The Messer and Slusher families sided
with the SOwders' and the Smiths with the
Turner's. A dispute arose over q pig, and
the old sore between them was opened. A
fight ensued, and the friends of the two
families flocked to their assistance. For
aineers in the vicinity of Sinking creek,
twelve miles from BarbourSville, were
armed to the teeth. The inevitable came,
and pitched battle was fought, in which,
it is said, more than 800 shots were fired
and number OF people were wounded. A
sheritf7s posse was sent to arrest the rioters.
but it was fired upon and driven back to
BarbOursville. 1t was then that Judge
Gull headed a posse and made for the
mountains. Another pitched battle result
cd h1If q Ii m TO- IN a
resting five of the desperadOes. among them
two of the Messers and Galloway Carnes, q
brother of the deputy sheriff. of the
county. The sherih's posse is still in the
Not only are the people of the city and
county alarmed, but those of Knox county
as well, and nobody ventures out unarmed,
and few unaccompanied by friend. Last
in fight near Salt Trace, Saturday night,
four men were killed and half dozen
wounded. Additional reinforcements have
gone out. A fort is being erected on Stink
ing creek by the Turner's, and rumors of
killing are plenty. The sheriffs of three
campaign against the outlaws, who swear
they will never be taken. Governor Tay-
lor, of Tennessee, will be asked for a regi-
ment of militia.
LOUISVILLE, KY. March pa special
from Pineville, KY, to the Evening Times
S0wders by jeff King. Avis Turner and
others, and the subsequent arrest and con-
veyance of Harvey Laurener and John
Cadle to the Tazewell. Tenn, Jail. and the
arrest of John Cook Turner by Sowders's
friends on Friday and Saturday was en-
acted this morning, two miles from town,
on the Cumberland Gap road. Alvis Tur-
ner and jeff King were going toward the
gap and James Burch was coming to town,
and the meeting was celebrated by Avis
Turner firing at Burch. the ball striking
Burch's gun. Burch returned the fire
promptly, killing Alvis Turner, and then
King fired on Burch, killing him. and beat
ing a hasty retreat up Clear creek. The
double tragedy was witnessed by two men
at work in field near by. Following the
numerous arrests of last week, just after
the public mind was becoming quiet, con-
siderable excitement has been aroused, but
in view of the loose methods of the crimi-
nal courts during the past year or two, the
Winchester is believed to be doing n good
work. Avis Turner was the son of Jack
Turner. and since his release on bond has
been q leader. His death shuts off the
money from those who are before the court