Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-04-21
BLOOD BOUGHT.
OKLAHOMA STAINED CRIMSON.
A Terrible Encounter Near Purcell Yes
terday.
BOOMERS FIGHT WITH DEPUTIES
Two Men Killed and Many Wounded The
Rush Still On.

CHICAGO, April 2O-A dispatch from
Purcell, Indian Territory, regarding the
reported conflict between deputy marshals
and boomers, says thirty boomers were
taken prisoners, seven being wounded
One deputy marshal was slightly hurt.
For several days men on horseback and in
wagons have been seen fording the South
Canadian, north of Purcell, and disappear
Ing in the timber to the eastward. Men
who came in from hunting trips reported
having seen large bodies of boomers NOV
ing in a nOrtheasterly direction, and a
hunter who arrived last night, declared
that he found q man plOwing in q secluded
valley about twenty miles from Purcell.
Yesterday morning at sunrise, thirteen
prairie schOOners, we'll manned, crossed
the Santa Fe tracks, below the city, and
forded the river. The drivers urged their
animals with whips and clubs and the
many of the residents of Purcell were stir
ring. A citizen saw them, however, and
ne acquainted others who have staked out
claims and hope to occupy them.
The story soon gained general circuls-
tiOn, and before noon nesting was held.
1t was finally decided that the chief deputy
marshal be called upon to try to expel the
raiders In the af f,ernoon the chief deputy,
accompanied by thirteen assistants, rode
down to the river and took the same ford.
Toere was a fresh trail leading to the
northeast and the party followed this at a
gallop.
THE DEPUTIES SURPRISED.
Suddenly a shot was heard on the left
and bullet clipped leaf above the head
Of one of the party. A minute later
vOlley rang cut in front and the pony rid
den by one of the deputies sank to the
ground with a bullet in the head. The
chief Of the deputies called out for his men
to charge. f ,ch had unslung his Win
chester and all surged forward They
fred into the thicket and shouted like
mad men. There was no response for sew
eral minutes, and the men began to think
they had dispersed the assailants. They
soon discovered their mistake. A mans
gun popped from behind log aud fired at
them, and this was the signal for another
fusilade from his friends. He retreated
down ravine Just in time to escape the
fire of the deputies, who continued to sd-
vance and pump their repeaters Half
way down the ravine the deputies discov-
e ed a rough barricade Of logs and brush
across the entrance, and simultaneously
voice exclaimed, "Now give it to them,
boys
A SHEET OF FLAME
poured from ths face of the barrier and
another shower Of bullets spsd toward the
officers. They had been sufficiently
warned, however, and but one of their
number vas hit and his wound was not
serious. The chief deputy ordered re-
treat and gathered his men about him for
2 council Of war.
1t is evident that the barricade was
quite heavily manned and that direct
assault would prove disastrous, therefore
ID vas decided to divide the party and at
tack the ha0ks of the enemy. This move
ment brought the Deputies directly above
the barricade. At q given signal they BE-
gan shooting from the top of the ravine
right into the mi lst Of the boomers who
we're utterly unable to defend themselves
from such an attack. Ten minutes Of rap
id firing ensued and then cry for quarter
went up from the baTricade. We
surrender" shou ed man when
the firing ceased. The blood pouring from
a wound in his f-rehead showed that he
had enough. A hasty advance to the fort
was made, and the officers we're in charge
of thirty prisoners, seven of whom were
seriously wounded. Two of these, Thos.
Mullins and David WiDship will prob
ably die. Mullins has bullet in his leg
and Winship one in his abdomen. Martin
Fallen, of Gainesville, Texas, received a
ball in his left thigh. John I. White, OF
Fort Worth, was struck in the shoulder.
amuel Dodd, of North Carolina, has a
deep cash in his forehead Edward Frs-
beishy, of Texas, suff rs a shattered arm.
John Young, of Louisiana, is shot through
the shoulder. The prisoners, all OF whom
had rifl. and revolyeIs and plenty OF am
unition. were disarmed, the wounded
cared for as well as possible under the cir
cumstsnces. and the march to POrcell was
taken up The wagons and property OF
the boomers were destroyed. The gang
were all Southerners, mostly from Texas,
aud present forlorn appearance.