Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-06-30


border. The mouth of Mate creek was
central and natural rendezvous, and abou
this point gathers the greatest interest
the story. Not one of these men remain
in his old home. Vance, Ellison and John
Hatfield are dead; Wall Hatfield and Eli
son Mounts are in prison, while Elias an
Anderson Hatfield have bsen forced t
abandon their farms end seek safety in tn
valley across Guyan ridge.
The Mccoy family is probably spread q
widely in West Virginia as in Kentucky
but with one branch of the Pike count,
members rests the chief responsibility 10
the slaughter of Ellison Hatfield, and th
deeds of blood that followed his death. Vi
! Tug river to the mouth of Blsckberr.
creek, and thence through a sharp cleft il
/ the Kentucky hills, the writer went t
I the ruins of Randall Mccoy cabin. Sine
the fatal night in December, 1887, wheI
his roof was burned over his head, Randall
Mccoy has lived in Pikeville, and from
there has directed and aided bis friends
The house, or rather houses, which consti
tuted the farmers home, sat in a LITTLE
bottom four or five miles back from TIL
river. Blackberry fork of Pond raI
within fifty yards of the door
ard behind the double building
the mountain rose steep to thu
height of five hundred feet Laurel anC
pine clothe the sides and come down tC
within few feet of the outbuildings be
hind the Mccoy home. Here Randall
lived with his family of six boys and three
girls, and ruled with an iron hand over
the rough and turbulent elements of tht
community. He and his sons were the
leaders in every merTy-making, Churcl
gathering and and shooting scrape alike
They were large men, brave as lions and
experts at all mountain sports. Except
when in drink they were peaceable and
generally law abiding, but in numerous
encounters had drawn and killed theiI
men.
DEEDS OF BLOOD.
Even nov the old women tell, with
something ike awe, how Bill Mccoy,
Randal's youngest brother, waylaid snd
shot three inofensive Union 81 mpathizers
during the war; how at last he was com
PEELED to flee the country, went west and
there sveDging Providence came in the
lightning stroke, and cut short his life OF
crime. They tell how the bitter feud be-
tween the Mccoy and Vance families
sprang up and fOurished until it was
drowned in the blood of old jim Vance;
how Harmon Mccoy went over into West
Virginia and quarrelled with Richard
Vance; how that night Vance was travel
ing slowly homeWsrd, shot rang out
out from the mountain side, and he fell
dead from his horse. Harmon Mccoy was
tie slayer, but he was never captured OF
brought to justice.
A few years later nephew of Randall
Mccoy shot a young man up in Wayne
county, West Virginia, who had crossed
him in love affair. in the spring Of 1882
another nephew of Randall Mccoy met
Wm. Staten in the road and shot him dead.
Staten had had law suit With Randall,
and the fatal alteration arose concerning
this. Nothing was done TO the slayeTs in
either Of these cases. The McCoys retired
to their homes. The Pike county suthOri-
ties refused to arrest them. Their friends
declared that they would not allow them
to be taken, and their crimes went TO swell
the ever-incrsasing burden OF hate among
the people along the border.
Irritation continued 10 increase and par
ties on both sides were ready for an open
out break, when the local elections were
held in the fall OF 1884. One Of Randall
McC0y's friends was a candidate for Justic,
eff the Peace, and near relative Of Ellison
Hatfield opposed him. On election day
Ellison Hatfield, who was a skilful and
active political worker, crossed over from
his West Virginia home to take part in
the contest. With him were his brothers
Anderson and Elias The polls were held
under some beech trees on the bank o.
Blackberry Greek, and the battle ragged
fiercely all day. In the afternoon the tide
turned against the McCoys, and the stu
alton soon became dangerous. Three o.
the Mccoy boys had been drinking heavily
and one of them came up to Ellison Hat
field and made a threatening ges
ture. II have nell in me to-day
was his significant exclamation, but
Ellison turned away and began talking tC
a friend. In few minutes the McCOyC
returned and again accOsted Hatfield. This
time an alteration ensued, but no one
heard what words we're spoken.
ELLISON HATFIELD KILLED.
1t ended by Ellison striking the younger
man with his open hand, and Immediately
the brothers, who had gathered around
him, made an assault. Their victim was
taken by surprise, and it was but tire
work of a moment for the three strong
men to use their knives with deadly effect
Elias Hatfield heard his brothers. cry for
aid and came riding up at g gallop As
ne approached the two older Mccoy boys
seized their weapons and fled. The
youngest, a mere lad of fifteen
stood his ground and never ainched
when covered by Hatfeld's pistol. HI
was disarmed, and the others who were
too much frightened by the horrible lie
suits of their own act to make resistance
were easily captured and brought back
The quiet, rural election was broken up
and it was a question now as to the dispo-
sitiOn of the three murderers. Elias Hat
field asked that they be taken to thu
Pike county Jail, but old Randall Mccoy
swore that his boys should never De taKei
to Pikeville. A justice Of the peace liveC
at the mouth of Blackberry, and after
brief consultation it was decided to TAX
them to him for a trial. Guards were sc
lected, and the party started, but in tn
meanwhile the alarm had sp cad through
out the whole country. Randall Mccoy
friends we're srming, and began to come
in to protect their kinsmen. At the moutl
of Blackberry a number OF Hatfelds Wer'
gathered, ana they were equally de
termined that justice should be done
The law officers became frightened auC
refused to conduct the trial. Tn
situation was becoming serious, the Nc
Cows were hourly increasing in numbers
aud it was plain that a rescue was intend
ed. Then the Hst6slds seized their pris
oners, bound them together and marcheC
them across Tug river 10 the West Virgins
side. They we're confined in a small
school. house at the mouth of Mate creek
and held to await the result Of Ellison
Hstfeld's wounds. GO
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