Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-19
THE LAND OF FEUDS.
Pen Pictures of the Simple People
of the Kentucky Noun
tain Region
WHERE VENDETTAS ARE COMMON.
Factional Differences Extended Even to
the Courts of Law and
Statutes Disregarded.
WHERE vENDETTAs ARE COMMON.
DISPUTES SETTLED BY THE SHOTGUN.
An Explanation Of the Causes Of the Periodical
MurderOus AfrayS

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcH.1
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 1S.-The news
now and then of another mountain vendetta
has almost ceased to elicit comment, and
uuless of a very bloody character causes no
excitement whatever. The recent feud at
Harlan is fast becoming memory, although
it has cost the State of Kentucky thousands
of dollars and blackened its reputation as
law-abiding community almost beyond re-
pair. The local authorities are unable TO
cope with these factions, and in a number OF
instances are partisans themselves.
1t tisaweI known fact that Sheriff in
one of the mountain counties declared that
he would not arrest a noted desperate, upon
whose head the price had been set, if be
stood before him, claiming that that indi-
vidual was his friend, and that he would
die for him if it was necessary. The Judge
of the same county has done everything in
his power to arrest the same outlaw, lot be-
cause he feels that it is his duty, but be-
cause he hates him as intensely as his
brother officer loves him. They are, In
truth, members each of the factions that
have rendered their country plague spot
on the face of this State.
LAwLEsSNEss SUPREME.
o. course, with the County Judge and the
Sheriff arrayed on opposite sides the despera-
does cannot be arrested. To impanel an lm-
partial Jury in this county in case OF an ar
rest would be as impossible as changing the
course of the Cumberland river. The few
law abiding citizens that live in this COM
munltv are overawed and bulldozed BY the
more turbulent element, and are in such
hopeless minority that they dare not utter
protest or suggest remedy.
The law is always lax in isolated COM
munities, and the character of the Kentucky
mountaineer leads him to take advantage o;
this fact. The most of these feuds can be
traced to intermarriage. These mountaineers
are descendants OF people who have always
Stunned civilization, who always seek the
solitude and wilds of new country. They
are type of what Boone and Kenton were
Their lie is as free as the air they breathe.
They are simple, modest and honest, and
know nothing whatever Of ambition.
LAW UNTO THEMSELVES.
They are content to live and die in the
shadow of the hills where thev were born,
and are restive only when trammeled by
civilization under the garb of the law, of
which they have an utter contempt. They
seldom appeal to law for redress for wrong,
but believe in settling il man to man, which
often ends in the death of one or the other,
and the first thing one knows another
mountain feud is in full blast.
1t is well to draw a picture of the indi-
vidual who has brought this State to such
disrepute. He is lengthy, as most Ken
tuekians are, slim and supple. His head
is usually surmounted with homemade
chip hat, generally OF battered appear
ance, through which his light tow hair can
be seen. His eyes are gray and keen, and
naturally fair, but generally very much
tanned, contrasting strangely with the light
greenlsh hue of his beard. A hickory
shirt, collarless and open at the breast, a
suit of butternut jeans and brogans COM
plete the costume.
THE MoUNTANEERs.
These people are easily amused. The
violin and banjo are their favorite instru-
ments of music. They will sit and listen
for hours to one of their number, who is
generally wit as well as musician, play
on d cracked fiddle or drum or tuneless
banjo. The country that these people in
habit is unsurpassed in grandeur by any
portion of the Union. Take for instance
that part of the State in which the Cumber-
stream alone is rich with memories and rem
lsiscences of that fraternal strife thar ap-
Scared at one time to rend a continent and
strangle republic that led the world in sci
ence, though scarce a hundred years old.
UpoB its dancing waves have hoated the
gunboats of the Government and its vine
covered banks has ielt the thunder shock of
battle.
Blood from the Northland and blood from
the Southland has been mingled together,
and the souls of the dead have foated out
into the unknown realm as the blood drifted
out to the sea. Liberty must have knelt in
saekcloth and ashes in those troublous
times, and her head must have bent low
when the sullen gun at Sumpter awoke
peaceful country to war.
EFFECTS OF THE WAR.
There are many things that remind one of
the war in the solitude of these mountains
During the recent visit of the State troops
to that section, one day an old man came
into camp, vino eyed them curlously for
awhile, and then after a bit he seemed to
have screwed his courage up little. He
approached the sergeant OF the guard, and
asked him ii he knew anything of his son,
who had left him years, ago to !ollow
"sojers" like they were. HE was but a
LAD" the old man said, land he has never
come back" He thought probably some of
the "sojers" could tell him something of his
boy. This boy, as was afterward learned.
had gone down in one of those awful charges
at Stone river, and was numbered among
the unknown dead that are gathered from
every battlefield.
There are many like this old man that
have ielt the cruel effects of the war.
Widows who have lost husbands, and chill
dren who have lost fathers. Many of them
know not when the war commenced nor
when it ended-knew not what great Ques-
tions were involved and cared as little.
ARCADIAN EXISTENCE.
Their life upon the hills and in the val
ley of the Cum mberland had up to that time
been truly an Arcadian one. The sound of
the bugle and drum awoke this slumbering
paradise, nor left it until that Unsuitable
monster, war, had drawn into its embrace
the flower OF its people.
While the State guard were among them
nothing seemed to delight them as much as
the sound of a drum. Its martial tones
seemed to fascinate them as nothtng else
could. 1t could be plainly seen how easily
their feelings could be swayed, and how
easily they could be Influenced to right or
wrong. They would cluster around the
drummers, and give vent TO their enthu-
siasm by frequent shouts and expressions of
to them who, nothing 10th,
would beat the different marches and calls
for these simple people hours at a time.
One day corporal was accidentally shot
and mortally wounded, and in a short time
there were several women at the side of the
dying boy, and they stood over him with
streaming eyes, and ministered to him with
untiring care and pity.
A PREACHERS BRAVERY.
Now such a scene as that is common
enough with them, but that divine pity that
,as a seat within every woman's soul. led
mem to the couch OF the dying stranger.
Tnis BOYS body was taken that night over
road to a distant station, full: 35
niles. to be sent home. 1t was accompanied
.,- ILL.,. nnd n r,,nnr.+ni- 49,