The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-11-23
THE RIVES-W HITE. FEU d

s. 81 - - - IpTYY LII j LIS II EU IL
TELLING LIN PICTURE OF A FARM
ER FAMILY WAR.
Z Besun In Trife It Proves the Fatal
scourge of Little Country Town
The Passion for Revenge and How 1t
L. Notwithstanding It's Course.
E - IS q hamlet of twenty houses
eighty people--nestling against the
: side of a mountain whose tree covered
crest is almost hidden from sight by
the dark blue vapor which has hung
there for centuries. 10 the ratings
on the north and east side of the
humble inn are hitched score of
horses and mules. About the inn
are twelve or fifteen men, on the
steps of the general store opposite
are as many more, non-residents of
the town, but living in the country.
A stranger would find himself won
derlng ii the crowds were st hangers
to each other, and, if so, why the
majority OF the men should mutter
and scowl as they look across the
narrow street.
At l o'clock p m. the crowd at the
inn moves up the street to the school
house. Ten minutes later 1t is fol-
lowed by the other. Now we know
what has brought these men from
their homes, five, ten or fifteen miles
away. Here are the lawyers, prin-
clpals and witnesses in a lawsuit.
The justice of the peace takes his
seat with becoming dignity, though
his countenance betrays anxiety, and
court is opened. 1t is the case of
Rives VS.. White, both small farmers.
Each has secured the best legal
counsel he could, and the number of
witnesses are pretty evenly divided.
Here are two of the oldest and
strongest families in the county.
They have been friends for three
generations. They have borrowed
and lent, sat at each others tables,
attended the same church, looked
upon each other as relatives. Farmer
Hives mule goes astray and brings
up among Farmer Whites corn. It
is large field and the corn is
scarcely worth hauling away to a
market The damage, therefore. is
not worth mentioning: Farmer Rives
comes and demands his mule. Both
men were close friends up to that
moment. Human nature has its s.off''
days. Farmer White is nettled and
asks for damages, and two minutes
later the men are ready to kill each
other. A crowd bound for town rides
up, and blows are struck and the
law is appealed to- A family friend
ship which runs back for almost a
century is broken by word. Rives
and White fought side by side at
Stone River, Chickamaugua, Frank
lin. and on other fields of battle
Their grandfathers fought side by
side at Cowpens and Kings Noun
tain and Yorktown Their grand
mothers fed the troopers of Marion,
the Swamp Fox. and defed the rough
riders of Tarleto ton. All this is for
gotten as the case is opened and the
witnesses take the stand
There is no jury, though the JUS
tiee doubtless fervently wishes that
there was, that the responsibility
might be shifted from his shoulders.
The witnesses exhibit a bitterness of
feeling to surprise you, says the Chi
cago Times The question at issue
is: Who struck the first blow?
There Is rank perjury on both sides,
and it is with considerable reluctance
that the justice gives his decision.
10 an outsider carefully following
the case it seems just and legal.
Farmer White is adjudged guilty of
the charge of assault and battery
and fined a nominal sum. He is
chagrined and indignant that the
case went against him, while the
other faction is displeased that he
was Let off SO easily. Men mutter
and glare at each other across the
>oom. The lawyers advise that the
.:ne be paid and d reconciliation ef-
fected, but their words are wasted.
There is notice of appeal and angry
talk and the serious look on the face
of the justice is proof that he realizes
what his decision may result in.
The factions do mot mix as they 90
out. The witnesses feel all the
hatred and luminosity firing the
hearts of the principals, and they
avoid each other and look sullen and
vindictive. One crowd rides away,
and after half an hour the other
takes the same road. The store
keeper has sold shotgun, two re-
volvers and half a dozen boxes of
cartridges to-day. This is the be-
ginning of the Rives-White feud
Twenty years have not added a
dozen houses to the hamlet The
inn stands here just the same, and
across the street is the same store,
though they may have changed pro-
prize tors two or. three times. There
are no loungers at either place. 1t
is peaceful summer day and the
struggling street is clear of all life
when two old men ride into town
from opposite directions and meet in
front Of the inn. It is an unexpected
meeting. Both seem little furried
for q mo ment Int 4hop +bo1, ,,;ao