Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-05
ORGANIZED AGAINST EVICTION.
Prospects Of Bloody Times in Iowa.
THE PROSECUTION OF BOULANGER.
HORSE THIEVES OPERATING IN CHICAGO
Parnell Affected to Tears in Court.
SETTLERS READY FOR WAR.
They will Fight Against Eviction from
the Des Moines River Lands.

AuCy VIII against EN1CtiOu
the Des Moines River Lands.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, April 5-A United States
marshal and posse Yesterday evicted farmer
from the Litchield lands, better known as the
Desmoines river lands. Blake's farm is in Ham,
nton county, l6 miles southeast from Webster
city. When the posse reached the place they
found Blake had moved his house across the
road and entirely off the Litchfeld 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 violence whatever but shortly after they
arrived upon the scene a puff of smoke rifle
crack and a whizzing bullet told them that
THE SETTLERS HAD OPENED FIRE.
The shots came from dense thicket of hazel
quarter of mile away. Probably forty shots
were fired, but the craftsmanship was either
poor or the range was Intentionally wide. for
none of the deputies were hurt. The posse had
a number of writs, but as they were only armed
with revolvers they did not attempt TO serve
them, but retreated in good order. Thece
were probably twenty or thirty armed settlers
III the timber. Marshal Desmond will take the
matter personally in charge in few days and
will execute the writs or die in the attempt
THE SETTLERS MEAN TO FIGHT.
The settlers have been organizing all winter
They have what is known as the River Land
settlers union, and are as thor ouGhly dis
ciplined 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 have sworn to re-
slst all attempts at eviction, and as the United
States marshals will do their duty regardless
of consequences, bloodshed seems destined to
result. Their system of spreading the news
by telephone from town to town and by carri-
ers mounted on fleet horses is well perfected
If marshal appears in Webster City or Fort
Dodge. within an hour or two the fact is known
on every section of river land in Webster and
Hamilton counties. and every movement of the
marshal is watched by faithful spies and is
promptly reported.
THREATENING THE MARsHALS.
Last week a number of writs were served
The marshals were well armed and were fire.
quently met by squads of men armed with Win
chesters, who ordered them to desist operations
and threatened to shoot them if they persisted
In their purpose. These men were nearly al
ways mounted on horses, but at that time no
shots were fired. The part of Hamilton county
where the shooting occurred yesterday is very
rough and covered with a scraggy growth of
timber and thickets in plenty When the mar
shals reached this neighborhood the river
landers secreted themselves in the timber and
opened fire upon them. After evicting Blake
the marshals started to return. They had pro-
ceeded about three-quarters of a mile across
the hollow when regular fusillade of bullets
rained about them. The attack soon ceased
and the marshals concluded not to go on with
the work until reinforced Then the eyictions
will proceed without delay. The settlers are
determined. Nothing will probably be done
for several days.