The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-19
THE STORY OF A DESPERATE.
DEEDS THAT HAVE MADE FRANK
PHILLIPS NOTORIOUS.
A Fierce Fight for Life In Mountain Gap
KILLING 81 Man Who BcgRcd for Mcrcy-A
woman's Implicitly and Its Edcct Him
-Rll.s.,inr mud Is.,s-s.led hv Mrfea.tixes.

ITom hSHlHUu pTinten IN NE GUN VI Zee. We
saying that Frank Phillips had not been killed
In Lawrence county. as reported. but was hid
ing out waiting to recover from wounds re-
ceived in u recent fight. referred to one OF tho
most interesting despcradoes In the noun
tains OF eastern Kentucky. And eastern Ken
lucky is a region where the woods arc full OF
interesting desperadoes.
In the fall of 1897 the noted Hatfield Mccoy
feId was approaching n climax. Not only had
many lives been sacrificed. but the news
papers OF other portions Of the United states
had been calling attention to tho lawlcss con-
dition Of affairs in the mountains until the
Governor OF Kentucky. the home of tho Nc
Coys. and the Governor of West Virginia. the
home Of the Hattlelds. had been aroused to
action. Gov. Wilson Of West Virginia was con-
sidering tho application for the arrest and
transfer OF the worst OF tho Hatfield gang to
Kentucky for trial. The McCoys wero only
waiting the action OF Gov. Wilson to serve his
papers. or. failing to get the papers. to substi-
tute their own might in getting the vengeance
denied them by Gov. Wilson. The liatflelds.
to prevent tho Interference OF Gov Wilson.
we're riding up and down the trails and passes
of Logan county. West Virginia. and with
ready rifles compelling every man they met
to sign petition to the Governor asking MIN
to keen his hands OIL.
In October Wilson yielded to tho demands
Of justice 50 far as to write to County Attor-
Les r I S nsy h te y"
agent who had investigated the condition OF
sa.s amo n Gt hs od a snss ,2e
o anf M fsas; p and sT Tom Wallace
three Of the MsSoy boys to the p9rnW; y, bushes
on the bank Of Tug River. and had deli bsnt,
| lad Of Ii. who had never harmed any one.
1t was Mt this point that PhilliIs,s career be;
M sSer
| Frank Phillips appointed agent OF the state OF
Kentucky to receive the prisoners an. anu , to
done Phillips was unknown beyond the con.
fines If Pike county. Ky. and even there he
m MOI farm on one Of the branches OF
Beaver Creek. His official duties had never
because he had Lacked oprGir n1 ,lat SHOW
ne pst shes his ser did IN the dis
four.iifths OF the So Gov. Wilson had demand.
the the ext extraiition Of four Of the Hatfield gang
tint were !" be ois fft se eSn
e oId.time Yanks" can n Phillips had the 81.
he 9t 4 s3Hs to yvs n at five
men we're wanted. For the present papers
or but four were wanted and 50 HnIy i9 M
too eager for adventure to wait for the arrival
Of the papers. lie determined to get the nen
first. and serve the papers on them On Men,
% On nj the night of Dec. o 1887. with Jim and
county. ". VA. and at II O'clock ut night
reached the house Of Tom ChaWner , whom ,Gan
v w.re se Thors was bright soft-eoai fire
in the fireplace within the house and very
large sized bulldog without: Chambers vas vas
window by the light of THO fire. Sam McCoy
stood guard at the front door while r., Jim and
grip on the thigh Of Phillips, and cham nsrs
fhrs WAS .s e SSu to the
one revolver he SHOT tho dog dead. and with viii
| render. lie was safely carried to the llie
On Dec. 20. the same year. Phillips We went NJ
| County. w. Va. where two Of the Hatfield gang
were staying. They were found at cross
The success Of these raids reused the Hat tt
loving Ss New Years night they in return made
nraid on the home Of old Kandr MfGo ;bd in
Tpn IN eoa bsoa
Allaphare Mccoy. shot Calvin Mccoy IN the
course Of the fight. and sertously wounded I'D
a revolver and break INK two ribs with the butt
Of a gun. The murder Of woman reused
since since the the war. and Hundreds Of noun;
taineers were ready to Ioin in raid
rel as a ian Killer. Tor, which frank
Phillips had waited. was at hand .c, .,o
Ths ksd fhs G oy o" on the
tt;thh Frank Philips led twenty three pick ed
men. all well armed. toward Iug h Ky and IN
old Bad Anse. Opposite tho mouth OF Peter
Creek. But only the women and children were
ing before continuing his search. for the rea;;
son that he did not know the country well "nd
u uSt the Virginia Iank Of tho river to the home
q Jim Vance who 1t had been ;,f Learned ear was
ra 1T Of S he
had been followed from Randl' McCoy's house
to Tug Rives was picked upby the party, on
the Virginia side and traced directly to Jim
Vance's house was found empty-not even
the way up a small branch Of Thacker Creek.
to 60 oyer n Ms
path u tS steep cuch; and they were Obliged
TO 60 single ille. At the head OF the stream.
S s ii hS Tn pa
breakfast e her husband and !rla Car Hatfield:
saw tho mob she shouted:
How ,many" asked Jim Vance from up in
w.: About forty. reekon T.. ro,.,,,, .,-.,
a ySsya nat
boys! Tally. boys. and charge 9Is, en-, e. The
one with him was Cap Hatfield, and he ran for
life without firing a shot and got away.
But UNCLE Jim was too old to run. and must
needs fight or surrender. He chose to fight.
Dodging behind q locust stub eight inches In
diameter, he fired with Winchester AZ. Phil
seem. Phillips dodced, tho bullet By falling 70
fire Then he jumped to his feet ran forward.
fired as he ran. and again drorpeed as tho old
behind big oak. and almost lost bis life Try
ing to peer around It. Uncle Jims bullet
threw shower Of bark in bis face as he drew rev
could throw In another cartridge Phillips fred
square at the locust STUB. The bullet went
clear through it. struck Vance on the cartridge
belt and knocked him clear Of the shelter. Be;
fore he could recover Phillips fired again. and
shot him through the body. and he fell head
| long to the ground.
Then Phillips came from behind the oak
and ran forward. supposing Vance was killed.
He was. indeed. mortally, wounded. but he was
dying game as few men dis: He h I,ti,i drawn q
taken three steps old Vance's head rose above
the log and big revolver was held before !!
pistol shot in Logan county and ,nI,, Phillips i,
lin made the mistake Of ducking down be-