Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-26
All Gone a-Gunniing.
Population OF Several Kentucky
and Tennessee Counties.
A DELIGHTFUL SUMNER RESORT.

Provided Xon Are Looking for a Hot
flace-Work OF the Winchester in the
Vicinity of Pineville-The sowders-Tur-
ner Feud-Its History Written in HUI
mn Blood. One OF the Dead Being Lit
tie Giri-Disgracefui State of Affairs.
PINEviLLE, Ky, March 25.-A thousand
men armel with " incbesters and Colt revolv-
ers are in the Inoui tains Of Knox and Harley
counties, Kentucky, and Claiborne county,
tennessee, and a reign of terror and blood
shed prevails. Last night word was received
by courier that in fight near Salt Trace
Saturday four men were killed and halt
dozen wounded. Additional reinforcements
have gone out. A fort is being erected on
Pinking Creek by the Turner'S The sheriffs
of the three counties are arranging to make a
combined campaign against the outlaws, who
swear that they will never he taken Cover
nor Taylor of Tennessee will be asked for a
regiment of militia
The feud between the Sowders and Turn
ers began several years ago, when Marsh
turner, who was {. member of n posse sent
TO the mountains u arrest a near relative of
Sowders for some Crifiing offenss was liter
ally shot TO pieces. Gen. Sowders was ac-
cused of the deed and feud that was in
tensely bitter began. Sowders himself mar
ried Miss Turner, but nevertheless he has
killed Marsh Turner, her cousin; Lee Turner,
her uncle, and Tom Turner, her own brother
As IA result of this Sowders-Turner feud it is
said that forty people have been killed. A
little over two years ago seven men were
killed IN single fight at the court house here
over the capture of man named Harley, a
member of the SOyders gang. About the
same time at Baptist meeting house on Yel-
low creek, twelve miles from here five peo-
pie, including woman and a small boy
were killed in the church
Three years ago Jonah HOskins, a man
named Napier and little girl who was with
them were shot b. Andy johnson because
they ventured over dead" line that had
been mutually agreed upon. These are but
few of the more fatal fights Among the
more quiet killiegs we're those of Tom March,
Jack Carroll and Tom Turner, said to have
somehow got in front of Gen Sowders never
failing Winchester or foot-long Colts re-
voiver. Sowders always carried his Win
chester and three or four revolvers, and
Andy johnson, who is said to have put out
the lives of five men, goes about loaded
down with revolverS, while a boy attendant
follows him carrying his Winchester As a
result OF this feud there are said to be 5000
Winchester rifles IN Bell county, and the
"Bellicans" declare they could whip the
United States army
The last killing that has any direct CON
nection with faction al disputes occurred
little over year ago, when Gen Sowders
deliberately shot Les Turner in the parlor of
the hotel in this city. Since then Sowders,
who has killed not fewer than eight men, has
been "A fu yitive from Justice, hiding in the
woods, first in this state and then i'll Tennes-
SEE. He was wantel for his latest murder
reward of $500 having been offered for him.
Sowders was captured last Tuesday night at
his home on Yellow creek and lodged in Jail
Then Sowders' friend ds captured one of the
Turner's ana put him in the calaboose
A short time ago at Barbourville dispute
arose between the factions over pig, and
the turbulence broke out with increased
vigor The inevita ble came and pitched
battle WAS fought in which it is said more
than 500 shots were fired and a number of
people were wounded, but the injured men
were spiriteI away and the number can not
be learned A sheriff's posse was sent to ar
rest the rioters, but they were fired upon and
driven back to Bsrbourvile Ii was then
that Judge Gull himself headed posse and
made for the mountains. Another pitched
battle resulted, but The judges party, strong
and well-armed, Were victOrs and succeeded
in arresting five of the desperadoes among
them two of the Messers and Galloway
Carnes, brother OF the deputy sheriff of the
county.
Everybody in Bell Knox and Harley coun-
ties, KY, and Claiborn county, Tenn, is re-
lated to everybody else, and when any two
have trouble relatives side with whichever of
the disputants they hest like, and feud that
sometimes results in a dozen murders is start
ed. 1t is all the same to the Majority of the
people whether the original dispute was over
yoke of oxen or scrawny pig, their vio-
lence is as dreadful For two years, however,
comparative quiet HIS reigned, due no doubt
to the influx OF northern people, who, being
connected III no way with any of the fac
tions, made impartial jurors that have con
victed a number of outlaws brought to trial