The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-13
War to the Knife.

PINEvuIE, KY. Oct. 3l-News reached
here tonight By reliable parties tha, Judge
Lewis came up with Howard and his gang
yesterday on Martins Fork and killed six Of
the Howard gang withou, losing a man.
Three Of the men killed were named Hall.
one by the name Of Whitlock. the other two
names were not learned
Judge Lewis and fly well-arIned men
took dinner near the camp Of J. P. Meyer
& Co. on the Louisville and Nashville ex-
tension, about 30 miles below Cumberland
Gap, last Friday. Men who spoke with the
Judge say that he IS determined and will
never quit the chase until H0wari and his
gang are all killed or driven from the
country.
PISEvILLE, Ky, November The ru-
mors that a conflict had taken place, Tues
day afternoon between the warning factions
in Harlan county have been fully confirmed
to-day. The fight was another surprise to
Howard and Jennings, and, as before, was
begun by the Law and Order party from am
bush, and was a we'll planned and successful
execution of stratsgem on the part Of
County Judge Lewis, who with sixty men
recently inspected the rendezvous Of How
ard and Jennings, and who, being Of the
opinion that an attack on them by his party
there would be too hazardous, Withdrew 10
Harlan court house. There he received new
accoutermenis for his. command and was
fully equipped for the expedition. which has
just been made He led his command to
Briarfield Gap, in the Cumberland noun
tains. twenfy-three miles from the Harlan
cour1 house, two days marching from this
place. They descended Cumberland noun
tain into Lee county, Virginia, and marched
up the valley TO Sulphur springs, which is
just over the mountain from the head Of
Martins Fork. and is the seat Of the largest
m0onshine distillery in the mountains
Here Howard and his men. when off duty,
hold high carnival with old LoDgford, the
king Of noonshiners. From this locality
Howard received his supplies and recruits
when necessary. The appearance Of the
Law and Order party in these parts caused
CONSERVATION throughout the entire valley.
The Howard sympathizers we're axed at the
determined bearing Of The invsders. All
communications with the other side of the
mountain we're cut of and preparations
made TO surprise the lawiess band when out
Of their entertainments Not beirg familiar
with the routes Of travel freqlenied By
Howard, Judge Lewis took Jack Sarzant, a
noted individual there, prisoner. and made
terms Of his release contingent on piloting
the party along the route usually travelled
by Howard when crossing the mountain.
First refusing. menace of life brought con-
fession. The party ascended the mountain
TO Pocket Gap. From this point the mean
derings Of Martins Fork for twenty miles
could be seen and passes and mountain trails
traced. Following Sargant, the party Of
sixty-fve or seventy men began be descent
cautiously, and after a distance Of three
miles had been covered mountaineer was
met, who informed them that Howard and
Jennings were only a short distance away,
coming in tha; direction. Leaving the path
the party found concealment in the head OF
cave, some seventy-five yards from the
road. and there. with Sargant and the
mountainser under guard. awaited the sp-
proaeh Of the desperadoes, whose appearance
was soon made With deliberate aud stimuli
taneous aim two volieys were 6red by Lew
is men. resulting in the death Of six Of
Howards men and the founding Of several
Others. the names Of whom have not been
reported here Neither Howard nor Jen-
nings was Lif, - no. with the remnant Of
their. men, escsped by Wsy Of Pocket Gap
into Virginia. There the NATIVES, feeling
themselves outraged by Lewis. made war
fare. and ogid0ne by bis unsuccessful inva-
sion Of "Lell for satin, the revenue officers
focked 10 Hoxard's standard. Twenty
tough ehararters at one OF the railroad /
camps in this locality abandoned their work !
and joined Howard, who, st the head of |
seventy i've men, some If whom were Fore
ed into service. returned through pocket Gap /
in hot pursuit Of Lewis. After The fght /
Lewis and his men marched rapidly toward 1
Harlan court house and reached there with |
OG; The loss Of man yesterday Nothing I
has been heard Of Towards movements 4
since he passed over the mountains. He |
sill not hazard another stack or The town. 1
and il IS thought that he cannot keep his
present foroes together any great length Of 4
time without trouble among his own men,
who are drunken, quarrslsoms SET. The
exterminaiion Of the entire gang Is now the
only basis on which predicaies cessation Of 4
bosiilities. The accomplishment of this will \
require ume, great expense and The proba-
bililies Of considerable loss Of life on the part
OF tie Law and Order party.
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