The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-06
THE DES MONIES SETTLERS.
They Are Organized and Will Offer Stubborn
Resistance to United States officers.

DIES MONIES, Ia, April 5.-A United States
farmer from the Litchield lands, better
known as the Des Moines river lands.
Blake's farm is in Hamilton county. sixteen
miles southeast from Webster City, near
what is known among the settlers as Helrs
Hollow. When the posse reached the place
they found Blake had moved his house
across the road and entirely off the Liteh-
field tract. Some of his machinery was
still left, but this he was getting out of the
way as rapidly as possible. The officers
did not modest Blake nor offer him any vio-
lence whatever, but shortly after they ar
rlved upon the scene a puff of smoke, a
rifle crack and a whizzing bullet told them
that the settlers had opened fire. The shots
came from a dense thicket of hazel a quar-
ter of a mile away. Probably forty shots
were fired, but the craftsmanship was
either poor or the range was Intentionally
wide, for none of the deputies was hurt.
The posse had a number of writs, but az
they were only armed with revolvers they
did not attempt to serve them, but reiterated
in good order. There were probably twenty
or thirty armed settlers in the timber.
Marshal Desmond will take the matter
personally in charge IN a few days, and will
execute the wrlts or die In the attempt,
The settlers have been organizing ali
winter. They nave what is known as the
River-land Settlers Union, and are as thor
Oughly disciplined and as well prepared for
systematic action as the Ku-klux ever were.
They are armed with Winchester rifles and
indulge in target-shooting daily. They
AVE sworn to resist all attempts at evic-
ton, and as the United Statesmarshals will
do their duty, regardless of consequences,
blO0dshed seems destined to result. Their
ovpfnp, ~ cnraadfnn the r.axuo Ir foI0xIrx.A
from town to town and by carriers ounted
on feet horses is well perfected. If a mar
shall appears in Webster City or Fort Dodge.
within an hour or two the fact is known i'm
every section of river land in Webster
and Hamilton counties, and every move
ment of the marshals is watched
by faithful spies and is promptly reported.
Last week a number of writs were served.
The marshals were well armed and were
frequently met by squads of men armed
with Winchesters, who ordered them 10 de-
slsy operations, and threatened 10 shont
them down like dogs if they persisted
their purpose. These mon were nearly al
ways mounted on horses, and squads circled
around and around the marshals. cursing
and threatening them, but at that time no
shots were fired. The part of Hamilton
county where the shooting occurred yes
terday, is very rough and covered with a
scraggy growth of timber and thickets In
plenty. In early times 1T was a common re-
sort for hOrse-thieves, and even IN later
years they have, it is claimed. made il .
rendezvous. When the marshals reached
this neighborhood, the riyer-landers Sc
creted themselves in the timber and opened
fire upon them. After evicting Blake, the
marshals started to return. They had pro-
ceeded about threc-fourths of a mile across
the hollow when a regular fusillade of bull
lets rained about them. Branches OF trees
were cut off and the situation looked SCI
rious for "A while, but the attack soon ceased.
The marshals concluded not 10 90 on with
the work until reinforced. Then the evic-
tions will proceed without delay. The
scale will undoubtedly result. Nothing
will probably be done for several days.