The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-01-18
BLOODSHED.
Revival OF the County Seat Con.
test in Gray County,
Kan.
Men From Ingalls, Attempt to Take
Records From CimarrOn-Sh0ts
Exchanged.
Eight Persons Killed and Wounded
Troops Arrive and the Armed Msn
Retire.

in bloOdshcd and death Saturday. While
endeavoring to remove the records of the
county clerks office from this town to
ingalls, one man was instantly killed, two
were believed to be MORALLY wounded and
several others were more or less seriously
hurt.
The GRAY County seat contest has been
bitter one for more than two years.
Cinarron is the oldest town in the county
and by far the largest, and it consequently
thought itself entitled to the county seat.
A little over two years ago the town
of ingalls, was started and has
since had as its hacker A. L.
Soule, the wealthy medicine man of New
York, who is said to have invested largely
in the venture. When the census and vote
was taken by the enumerator-A. J. Evans.
Of Seneca-in the spring of 1887. he re-
ported population of over sixty thousand
and majority of lis for Cimarron for
temporary county seat. On this report
Governor Martin designated Cimarron
temporary county seat and gave it major
ity of the county officers. October 81 cleo.
ton for permanent county seat was held,
and Cimarron claimed the majority by ~
votes. The case was taken 10 the Supreme
Court by ingalls,, and a commissioner was
appointed TO take the testimony, which
was completed about month ago, and is
now before the court for final adjudication.
In November, 1887, when county officers
were elected, again both parties claimed
the victory. and there was the inevitable
fight. The ballot box in this town was
locked up in a building for several days
and guarded by armed men. When the
vote was finally counted the Ingalls, cam
didate for sheriff and clerk were declared
elected, and after receiving their commis.
sions removed the books to Ingalls,. After
ward the clerk skipped out and the Cover
nor appointed A. L. Riley of this town for
the unexpired term and he removed the
books back to Cimarron. Last November
n F. Watson, the ingalls, candidate for
clerk, was elected. but the Cimarron people
claim has never qualified and has not been
commissioned.
Saturday Watson and party of about
dozen came over from Ingalls,, about six
miles distant in a wagon and on horse
back, and drew up in front of the build
ing In which is the clerks office upstairs.
All but four of them dismounted and
started ups, airs. From this point the
stories differ. Clerk Riley says he saw
hem on the street and knowing their
GRAND locked the door, which they kicked
open and rushed in. Several held Riley
10 with WinchesteIs while the remainder
:ook the books and carried them down
stairs to the wagon. Near,. all the . ,,,v,.
we're secured aud carried down to the
wagon. BY this time the Cimarron people
we're flushing up from all directions and
soon shot was followed by another and
another until about forty had been de.
livered, the Ingalls, party in the mean
time driving away as rapidly as possible.
closely pursued. The chase was not con.
.inued far beyond the town.
An examination showed that of the Cim-
arron party ]. W. Engles had been shot
through the heart aud instantly killed;
A. j. Bliss was shot in the neck, cheek and
shoulder with buckshot; Ed Fairhurst was
shot in the breast with buckshot, and a
boy named Henry Warrington had finger
shot away.
OF the Ingalls, party, Ed Brooks was
shot through the liver; George Bowles
was wounded in the head, and two others
whose names could not be learned We're
severely hurt. 1t is thought Bowles and
Brooks can not recover.
After the Ingalls, party had lett it was
found that they had left four of their men
F. Watson. Jim Masterson,
taken refuge in the county clerks Office
and were closely watched by armed men
all day. About dark the Ingalls, men COM
menced to gather with every conceivable
kind of arms, and it was evident that fur
Their trouble was brewing but about six
O'Clock Sheriff Reynolds arrived from In
gals, took the besieged men from the
building and disarmed them. 1t was not
deemed best to hold a preliminary exami-
nation and the entire party were allowed
to depart in peace for ingalls,.
Shortly otter the party left an engine and
caboose pulled in from Dodge City with o
dozen men from that place. Had they ar
rived before the sheriff they would doubt
less have attempted arescue. which would
have caused more bloodshed.
Later-To all outward appearance peace
reigns in Gray County to-day, and the
fact that the Cimarron people allowed the
four ringleaders to depart in peace with
their friend Sheriff Reynolds, of Ingalls,,
night, is taken as evidence that
the people of that town are peaceably in
clined, and are willing to allow the law to
take its course. When Sheriff Reynolds
and the mayor Of Cimarron appealed to
the Governor for military assistance, the
prayer Of the mayor was granted, while
the sheriff was rebused for the power he
had assumed without authority.
A company Of the State militia arrived
at two O'Clock yesterday morning and are
now here waiting further orders. 1t has
not vet been demonstrated what their in.
tentions are, but it was noticeable that a
short time before their arrival there was a
sudden disappearance of armed men on
the streets, and, aside from those OF the
troops, no weapons are visible in town.
This, doubtless, is in anticipation Of an
attempt to disarm the population.
1t is reported that Ed Brooks. one of the
Ingalls, men who was shot, died yesterday
in that place.
1t is curious fact that all the Cabinet
officers are furnished with horses and car
riages at Government expense. but that
the President Is not. II he wants any Of
these things he must supply them himself.
There is q stable near the White House,
built during Grants time, with plenty Of
room for horses, but every President who
comes finds it empty. And,of course, costs
him lots Of money to fill it. or course the
President must have three or four car
riages and several horses. Whether Gen.
sral Harrison will bring any with him or
buy them is not known. Probably he
will buy new carriages, and, of course,
The Presidents horses must be thor
oughbreds. The President is also OBJ
iged to furnish his own driver. Albert
Hawkins, a big colored man whom
Grant brought here before he became
President, is still driving at the White
House, as he has done ever since Grants
term, and will probably be re-engaged by
Mr. Harrison, at his own expense, for the