Omaha daily bee., 1893-01-10
RESULT or i yENDETTI.
Bloody Battle of Indiana Roughs In
Country Church.

Country Church.
ANDERSON Ind, Jan. Especial Telegram
to THE BEE. Forest Chapel is modest
country church situated in the edge of a
forest of oaks, elm, hickory, ash, beech and
other natural forest trees, five miles south
west of this city. The community surround
ing it, were it not for the Lawson ,Swncford
vendetta, would be Il quiet and peaceable
one. The Lawsons are Kentuckians and
number fully score. They are long, writhy
and full of fight. The Swinefords, who live
in a community mile from the Lawson set
tlement, are clannish, and have been for
years deadly enemies of the Lawsons.
Irwin Lawson, who escaped half dozen
times from the Indiana house of refuge at
Plaintcld, is the leader of his faction AL
bert Swincford was the yomg leader of his
clan, and while no one has been killed before
yesterdays battle, a number of members of
the two gangs are carrying bullets in their
bodies and broken bones as u result of their
frequent hostile meetings
Since the November election bad blood has
been brewing, and yesterday the Swinefords
appeared in public places, wearing red rib
bons and with red paint daubed on the col
lars of their coats. The Lawsons knew that
their enemies We're after their scalps, and
they accordingly armed themselves for the
fray. which they knew must come sooner or
later.
RevoIvers and Clubs Used.
There were services yesterday at the
chapel. While friends We're greeting each
other after the services, there We're oathS
uttered in the room near the door.
My God" said one, 'thcy are lighting
The long expected fight had begun.
The combatants surged about the crowded
rooms. Slung shots and other weapons were
in the air. In an instant there was n panic.
Women screamcd men shouted and com
manded peace. There was crash A stone
| had knocked out n window.
Get the women and children out of this
| yelled a man with a stentorian voice. His
suggestion was quickly acted upon The
| women were soon going through the windows.
| The fight grew hotter. A man would be
| knocked down. the blood rushing from his
| wounds, but in II moment he was on his feet
| fighting harder than ever. BY this time
| more than half the people were on the out
| side of the building, thus giving the mob
| more room for fighting.
! Slug shots and cast knuckles gave way to
revolvers. Shot after shot rang out too fast
| to count. The Swinefords We're now press
| ing the fighting and the Lawsons trying TO
| retreat. Irwin Lawson, the leader. was
| stretched upon the floor, evidently lifcless
| His brother Robert. an aged man. lay by his
side bleeding from half a dozen wounds and
with one rib broken.
| Retrcated In Good Order.
sAt last the Lawsons rallied and dragged
| their wounded from the house and started
! to retreat across the woods. The Swine
| for1s followed but Il short distance, being
held off by the rapid firing of the retreating
! party. When the smoke OF battle had
| cleared away and order waspartially re
stored the following list of casualties were
| found as result of the fight;
! In the Lawson party: Bill Lawson, two
| cuts ON head, nose smashed and skull frac
tured; will probably die. Saint Manis
| bruised and cut about head and face; seri
ously hurt. Arthur Lawson, several bruises
and cuts and weak from loss Of blood Irvir
/ Lawson, seven bad cuts on the scalp; reported
| dead late this evening.
In the Swineford party: Joe Swincford
ear nearly cut off by "A slungshot; face
cut and severely hurt. Albert Swineford
cut on head and neck died today. Louis
Swiucford, black eyes, several cuts and arm
broken. Matthew Swineford was knocked
down and one ear cut completely off. Jot
Hartzcll, son of George Hartzell, skull frac
tured may die. The entire community il
greatly worked up over the bloody affair anC
proposes to take heroic measures to put al
end to the feud.