Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-03

the best people of the county, while all the
| outlaws have enlisted under the banner OF
wills. Howard. The Turner'S, who original
ly were in opposition to the Howards, have
been nearly completely wiped out, and now
the people are endeavoring to secure the de-
struction of the Howards.
Judge Lewis and his men, with Harlan
Court House as the base of their operations,
had been for two weeks making frequent
| excursions into the wilderness surrounding,
| in search of the Howards. Last week, with
a large party, he inspected the camp of the
Howards and their friends, the Jennings,
in the mountains, but concluded that it
was
TOO STRONG TO ATTACK.
He then withdrew without any hostilities,
and returned to Harlan Court House. There
he secured reinforcements and more arms.
He thought he was then strong enough to
attack wills. Howard and his party, and
started on second expedition.
When Judge Lewis left Harlan Court
House be had under his command 65 de-
termined men, thoroughly familiar with the
mountains and resolved to kill. Each car
ried Winchester repeating rifle and Colt
or. Smith & Wesson revolver, sometimes
both. He marched first to Briarfeld Gap,
in the Cumberland mountains, % miles
distant from Harlan Court House. His
journey occupied two days. Hence they
descended the Cumberland Mountain into
Lee county, Va, then they turned and
marched up the valley to Sulphur Spring,
which is just over the mountain from Mar
tins Fork.
Sulphur Spring is the seat of the largest
moonshine distillery in the mountains. An
old man named Longford is -.
THE HEAD AND KING
OF the mountaineers of that section. How
ard an6 his friends had been in the habit of
visiting the distillery, buying liquor, and
having a carousal there. Judge Lewis
learned that the Howards were in the
vicinity of the distillery, and he determined
to bring on a conflict with them.
Howard had many friends in that section,
and they warned him and his men of Judge
Lewis approach. The HOwards were col
lected in the mountains, not far from the
distillery. They were frightened by the
strength of Judge Lewis force and wished
to get back into Kentucky, but the road
over the mountains was held by Judge
Lewis, and their return was cut of.
Judge Lewis decided to attempt the
surprise of the Howard band in their en-
trenchment. Neither he nor his men were
familiar with the country, and for some
time they were puzzled how to reach the
Howards. Three of his men, while out
Howard partisan. He was taken before
men. The Judge offered him his ultimate
release if he would pilot them to the
Howard entrenchment. Sergeant refused.
He was then
THREATENED WITH DEATH.
He refused again, and they began to make
preparations for the execution. Sergeant
then yielded and offered to guide them. He
was told that if he led them into an ambush
he would be instantly killed.
With Sergeant at their head, the party
assembled the mountain to Pocket Gap. This
was last Tuesday morning. Hence they
cautiously made the descent. Having gone
three miles they met mountaineer. He
informed them that Howard and his men
were a short distance away, coming in their
direction. An ambush was planned,
for in the mountains any kind OF fighting is
considered legitimate. Leaving the path,
Judge Lewis and his men passed 70 yards
to the right, until they came to a cave in
the side of the mountain. In the mouth OF
this cave they concealed themselves. Ser
geant and the mountaineer were taken with
them and kept under guard. The path was
in full view and easy rifle shot. There
they awaited the coming of the Howards.
TWO DEADLY voLLEYs.
In about Is minutes Howard and 25 or 80
men came in full view. Half OF Lewis
man Grad uDop fbapo and Torr
later the other half sent in volley. Six of
Howard's men were killed, their dead
bodies being left in the path. Eleven were
wounded, as was afterward learned from
people of the neighborhood by the Lewis
party, but it is not known whether any of
the wounded have since died. The names
of the killed and wounded have not yet been |
learned here.
AS soon as the two YolIeys were dis |
charged the Howard party broke and ran |
into the woods. Neither wills. Howard nor |
his lieutenant, Jennings, was hurt. With |
the remnant of their men they escaped by |
the way of Pocket Gay, over the mountains. |
Wills. Howard, as soon as he was safe, raj |
lied powerful party of his friends from |
both the Virginia and Kentucky side. |
Twenty men from one place Joined him.
He was also reinforced by number OF |
tough characters who are employed in
new railroad crossing in the mountains. He |
also pressed into service IL or Is farmers, |
threatening to kill them if they would not |
Join him and fight for him. With nearly |
200 men he returned through Pocket gap in
search of Judge Lewis.
JUDGE LEWIS RETREAT.
Lewis scouts warned him of the approach |
of a party three times his own in strength, |
and he retreated rapidly through the mount |
aims toward Harlan Court House. How
ard followed in hot pursuit, and
continued the chase almost to |
Harlan Court House, but could not |
overtake the fleeing regulators, who arrived |
at Harlan Court House Friday morning
without having suffered the loss.of man
killed or wounded. Howard and his men
then withdrew further back into the noun
tains, and nothing has been heard of them
since.
Judge Lewis has proved himself the
prince of the mountains and busy fighter.
Within ten days he has killed seven and
wounded IL of the Howards, and not one Of
his own men has been even
scratched. He, also has possession of
Harlan Court House, which is too strong
for Howard to attack. It is not thought
that Howard's men will stick together long,
as they are intoxicated most OF the time and
quarrel with each other. As soon as they
are dispersed Judge Lewis will not make
another sortie among them.
The present condition Of affairs in Harlan