Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-20
Thew inchester Talks
Down in the Promised Land OF
Oklahoma.
TWO FIGHTS AND A FEW OORPsEs.

Deputy MarshaIs Get on the Trail Of Tres
passers and Have a Pitched Battle, the
Result Being Seven Badly Wounded Men
An Ambuscade That Belched a Show.
er of Buliets-Another Fight Reported
Indian Police Prevent "A Decrease in the
Gambling Population-Progress of the
Boomers
CHICAGO, April 20-The following dis
patch is published here this morning:
PURCELL, l. r., April 1s-There has been
battle between United States officers and
boomers and thirty boomers were taken pris-
oners. Seven of them were sevely wounded
and one deputy marshal was slightly hurt.
A raid was made by United States deputy
marshals this afternoon on boomers who had
disregarded the law, and taken up claims in
Oklahoma. For several days men ON horse
back and in wagons have been seen fording
the South Canadian north of Purcell and
disappearing i'm the timber to the eastward.
and the feeling against the trespassers was
given expression in an indignation meeting
in the Methodist church at which several
fiery speeches were mad. The chief deputy
marshal thereupon determined to make raid
on the trespassers, and made up party and
started gut He picked up fifteen on the
road and started them back to the border,
and then cautiously proceeded several miles.
Suddenly shot was heard on the left and
bullet clipped leaf above the head of one
OF the party. A minute later volley rang
out IN front, and the pony ridden by one of
the deputies sank to the ground with bullet
In the head. The chief of the deputies is
noted for his bravery, and he called out for
his men to charge" Each had unslung his
Winchester, and all surged forward. They
fired into the thicket and shouted like mad
men. There was no response for several
minutes, and the men began to think they
had dispersed the assailants
They soon discovered their mistake A
man popped from behind log and fired at
them, and this was the signal for another
fusillade from his friends. He retreated
down ravine just in time to escape the fire
OF the deputies, who continued to advance
and pump their repeaters. Half way down
the ravine the deputies discovered rough
barricade of logs and brush across the en-
trance, and simultaneously a voice exclaimed
Now give it to them, boys" A sheet OF
flame poured from the face of the barrier,
and another shower of bullets sped toward
the officers. They had been sufficiently
warned, however and but one of their mum
Der was hit, and his wound was not serious.
The chief deputy ordered retreat and
gathered his men about him for a council OF
war. 1t was evident that the barricade was
quite heavily manned, and that direct as
sault would proved disastrous, therefore il
was decided to divide the party and attack
the tanks of the enemy. This movement
brought the deputies directly above the bar
ricade. At given signal they began shoot
ing from the top of the ravine right into the
| midst of the boomers, who Were utterly un-
able to defend themselves from such an at
tack.
Ten minutes of rapid firing ensued and
then cry for quarter went up from the bar
ricade. I'VE surrender" shouted a mar
when the firing ceased. The blood pouring
from wound in his forehead attested thai
he knew he had enough. A hasty advances
to the fort and the officers We're in charge OF
| thirty prisoners, seven of whom were severe
ly wounded
Two of these, Thomas Mullins and David
Winship, will probably die. Mullins has 6
bullet i'll his left lung and Winship one in hi.
abdomen. Martin Fallon, of Gaines vile
Tex, receiveda ball in his left thigh; Johr
T. White, of Fort Worth, was struck on the
shoulder; Samuel Dodd, of North Carolina
has deep cash in his forehead: Edward
Frabishey, of Texas, suffers shattered arm
John Young, of Louisiana, is shot through
the shoulder
The prisoners, all of whom had rifles anc
| revolvers and plenty of ammunition, wer,
| disarmed, the wounded cared for as well a.
possible under the circumstances, and tn,
march to Purcell was taken up. The wagons
and personal property of the boomers wer,
destroyed. The gang were all southerners
mostly from Texas, and presented forlorr
| appearance. Their captain, Edwin Mcintosh
| said he had been concealed in a ravine fol
three days and that the party was only th,
advance guard of a body of more than 400
| who, through agents sent ahead, had selected
their claims and proposed to hold them witt
Winchcsters against all Corners.