Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-02
AFTER THEifRUSH.
Disputes Over Claims, Attended WITH tho
Usual Number of Kiliings-Confuskou -
to Town Sites.


Matters In Oklahoma settling Down -
Disputes Over Claims, Attended Wftn tho
Usual Number of Kiliings-Conf1skou -
to Town Sites.
GUTHRIE. L T., April 25-Near Alfred,
q small station fourteen miles north OF
here, Tuesday, three men squatted on
the same claim and trouble occurred b.
tween a man named Stevens from Kan
sas and the other two claimants, who's
names could not be learned, who he'd
agreed between themselves to force
Stevens and his family of wife and
four small children of the claim and then
divide. Stevens resisted this unfair treat.
ment and informed them he was willino
for all three to work the claim and leave
the matter to the proper authorities to say
who was the rightful owner. To this they
demurred, and during the row Stevens
was shot through the lungs. He manage0
to reach his family and died after feO
hours. His wife was almost crazed-
News soon spread over the neighbor-
hood and a small party of settlers soon
assembled at the unfortunate mans tent
The poor fellow was buried yesterday
in plain box on the claim for which bo
sacrificed his life. A collection was taken
up for the widow, which amounted to 81.
Mrs Stevens is not certain what she viii
do, but the neighbors strongly advise her
to remain and hold the claim
The murderers lost no time in quitting
the country for fear Of being lynched-
THE GUTHRIE TRAGEDIES
GUTHRIE. L T., April 25.-There wers
two tragedies here Monday in disputes
over claims. The first victim was N. L.
Compass, reported in these dispatches pre-
viously. OF the other murder the facts are
as follows: The body has been identified
County, Missouri. Ali information shows
| that it was a most heartless and cold
blooded murder, perpetrated oy
three desperate characters, who do
sired to take possession OF claim
of which he was the lawful owner. One
of the murderers OF young Cyland was
captured and executed. He was discov-
cred in the bushes near the river. A
posse of thirty men was formed for the
purpose of capturing him. When they
arrived at his hiding place they de-
manded his surrender. His answer was
to pull his revolver, and instantly a volley
| was fired and he fell mortally wounded.
| He died in hour. His name is unknown.
The vigilance committee made no effort to
| conceal the killing of the assassin. and
| rely upon the community to sustain them
in their efforts to overawe the turbulent
| and lawless element OF the camp
OKLAHOMA KILLINGS.
FORT RENO L T., April ga Sottle4
| named Goodwin has arrived at Reno
| from Oklahoma and makes q sworn state
| ment to the post commander that hig
party of four had been fired upon by q
| party of twelve Texans, who claimed the
| location made by Goodwin and party.
The Texans claimed the land, having To-
Gated there with Captain Payne several
years previous. Goodwin made his es-
| cape and hid in the thick brush along the
river until after dark. when he made his
way toward Reno. The rest of his party
| were killed. A detachment of company
| c, Thirteenth infantry, under Lieutenant
| Buck, were quickly sent to the scene to
recover the bodies and make full investi-
| cation and arrest all suspicious persons
in the vicinity.
HALF BREED KILLED.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, April 25.-Elder
| Towne tells of tragic scene enacted at
| Oklahoma City, of which he was an eye
| witness. A white man by the name q
holland and a half-breed named Halbere
| got into a quarrel over a claim and -
latter was instantly killed Noland nsao
| his escape.
| GROWING CONFUSION.
GUTHRIE L T., April 25.-ConfusioA %
| Guthrie still reigns and continu es to gfo0
| in dimensions. The trouble is all Aboue
lots. There are six and seven cleimaafs
for every lot The present town site oS
Guthrie contains !, 923 acres OF lana D.
actual survey and every lot is taken. =
very bitter feeling is being engendses4
| against the three hundred United Stako.
| marshals who were at Guthrie Ell
had claims staked before ten o'cloEk
| and then threw up their oficoe .
Unless this can be done away witt,
trouble is apprehended- Under an oficie;
guise the marshals got into the Oklahoma
| country and staked of the best claims in
| the forenoon. The boomers in the BRUSH
| saw this and they came from their hiding
places and did the same thing. The mar
| shals could do nothing because they had
violated the proclamation, and SO the
brush men and marshals stand in together.
| while the multitude Of home settlers are
| against them One gentleman, finding he
| could get no lot filed on the entire town
site of Guthrie, and the case will go into
| contest.