New-York tribune., 1889-12-24
WHAT OE KENTECKYf

WHAT OF KENTUCKYi
We suppose it altogether probable that the
reader has had sheet come to him through tbs
mails. or left on his doorstep or thrust into his
hands on the street, purporting to tell the story
Of let us say, Poison Pete, the Blood-red Robbcr
of Upas Tree Valley The tale has looked
interesting, and he has read it only to find at the
end Of the second chapter, just as the lovely
heroine is clinging to breaking root halfway
down a 500-foOt precpice with a band of bowling
Sioux Indians above, and the gentleman with the
poisonous name below shooting at her with a
long rife, and the hero, who ought to be there,
nowhere in sight, that the remaining chapters
of this thrilling narrative may be found in the
succeeding numbers of the "New-York Family
Hair-raiser," for sale by all respectable news
dealers. Much the same thing has happened in
regard to Kentucky-the last news from there
O month ago was that half dozen feuds were
at their height, and nothing has been heard since
there is not even, in the case of the story any
intimation as to where or when it is to be con-
tinued
As we said month ago, the Kentucky feuds
had reached their most critical stage The last
news came almost simultaneously from az least
three distinct centres of disturbance since which
crag, and the correspondents have made no sign
In the case of the Hatfelds and McCoys, two
men had just been lynched, and great excitement
prevailed. The two families were camped short
half mile from each other. Each side was heavily
armed. Each had sent word to the Governor that
it was the last chance to include the other fellows
in the State census. All of them were drinking
moOnshine whiskey, that the cornmeal
was floating around in it, The next day was
set for the final conflict which would wipe either
the Hatields or McCoys, and probably BOTH from
the face Of the earth. Since which time nothing
has been heard.
Under the same date the situation in Harlan
County was reported even worse if possible.
Judge Lewis had adjourned court and posted a
notice on the church, Of which he is the pastor
stating that there would be no services for two
weeks and gone out at the head of all the Turner's
in the region to eXterminate the Howards The
Howards were out hunting Turner's. Already
there had been one meeting, with score or more
killed. They were campcd just across little
ravine from each other. The correspondent could
hear them gnash their teeth and wlet their
knives on their boots as he wrote The next day
had been mutually agreed on for the great fight.
Since which no breath Of news has come from
Harlan County.
In Perry County new feud had Just broken
out. This was between the French and Eversole
families. Several had been killed, and the
Trenches had got the Eversoles bockaded in the
Court House. Constant firing was kept up night
and day. The gable-end was shot off the COnrt
House. The Trenches were undermining the build
ing and had a large quantity Of dynamite stored
under it, The next day it would be exploded. if
the Eversoles did not march out that night and
Il. ~ IL ,1o baa
come from Perry County since.
The wedding-bcls ringing, of course, in
Rowan County, but Old Man Tolliver had sent
to town for two hundred long cartridges, and the
neighbors were pulling in their latch-strings. If
the eruption took place at all, it would be the
next day. But Rowan County has been as a
sealed book ever since.
Now the question which is agitating the whole
country is this Is Eastern kentucky still in eX-
istence ?-or has great convulson Of nature
swallowed it up? Did all the divers factions of
the sundry feuds come together the next day, as
expected, and sweep every living thing from the
face of Eastern Kentucky, including the agile
minded correspondent. For over month now
the American people have eagerly scanned every
newspaper which has come to hand for some word
from Kentucky, but without avail The Tribune
is as much in the dark concerning the present
state Of affairs in Kentucky as its readers. We
would call on Colonel Watterson of Louisville.
for light, but we appealed to him before, when
,ye found that his 100000 unarmed kentuckians
had each got gun, and he paid no attention to
our reouest for assistance in disarming them, so
we feel certain delicacy in approaching the
Colonel again. But, while all is doubt, we have
n tbeoly. 1t is this That the very night before
the battles, while every man sat with his finger
on the trigger. the copies OF The Tribune con-
tanning our missionary enorts-our appeals TO Ken
tuckv 10 cease her fratricidal warfare-arrived in
tho cartons camps and were instantly read and
that they as quickly brought conviction and re-
nentance. and that those brave Eastern Ken
tuckians. with the tears streaming from their
oves and wctting their self-cocking pistols and
mining down the barrels Of their repeatng-riiies
and dripping of the muzzles, rose as one man and
sbooL hands with their enemies and fell on one
onother's neck and wept again.