The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-04
A MOUNTAIN FEUO.
IL Started in Nothing and Ended Ia Quar-
reis, Hatred and Murder.

1t Started In Nothing and Ended In Quar-
reis. Hatred and Murder.
II is a hamlet of twenty houses
eighty people-nestling against the
side of a mountain whose tree-covercd
crest is almost hidden from sight by
the dark blue vapor which has hung
there for centuries To 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 h I'M
self wondering if the two crowds were
strangers to each other, and. if So, why
the ma jority of the men should mutter
and scrowl as they looked across the
narrow street
At 1 o'clock p. N. the crowd at the
inn moves up the street to the school
house. Ten minutes later ii is followed
by the other. Now we know what has
brought these men froEl their homes
Here are the lawyers, principals, and
witnesses in lawsuit. The justice of
peace takes his seat with becoming
dignity, though his countenance be-
trays anxiety, and court is opened. 1t
is the ease 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 strong
est families in the county. They have
been friends for three generations
They have borrowed and lent. set at
each others ia bles, attended the same
church, looked upon each other as rela-
tives. Farmer Rives' mule goes astray
and brings up among Farmer Whites
corn. 1t is large field. and the corn
is scarcely worth hauling away TO
market. The damage, therefore, is not
worth mentioning. Farmer Rives
comes and demands his mule. Both
men were close friends up to that mo-
mept. Human nature has its 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
which runs back for almost a century
is broken b. a word. Rives and White
fought side by side at Stone river.
Chickamauga, Franklin, and on other
fields of battle. Their grandfathers
fought side be side at Cowpens and
Kings mountain and Yorktown.
Their grandmothers fed the troopers
the rough riders of Tarleton. All this
is forgotten as the case is opened and
the witnesses take the stand.
There is no jury, though the justice
doubtless ferventlv wishes that there
was, that the responsibility might be
shifted from his shoulders. The wit
nesses exhibit bitterness of feeling to
you The question at issue is:
Who struck the first blow? There is
rank perjury on both sides, and il is
with considera bic reluctance that the
justice gives his decision To. an out
slider carefully following the case it
seems just and legal Farmer White
is adjudged guilty Of the charge of as
sault and battery and fined nominal
sum. He is chagTined 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 room.
The lawyers advise that the fine be
paid and reconciliation effected, but
their words are wasted. There is no.
tice Of appeal and angry talk aud the
serious look on the face of the Justice
is proof that he realizes what his de-
cision may result in
The factions do not mix as they go
out The witnesses feel all the hatred
and animosity firing the hearts OF the
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 storexeeper has sold shotgun,
two revolvers, and half dozen boxes
Of cartridges to-day. This Is the be-
ginning OF the Riyes- White feud.
Twenty years passes away. Farmers
Rives and~ White have passed The age
"a NAAAka at[F Gtf +AsAS SAafA "a III
.vrinkIed. The one limps from bui-
ct hole in his thigh; the other has but
little use of his left arm because OF a
spiintcred bone. Both shots were re-
,eived from am bush and meant 70 kill
There hare been other shots fred from
behind trees and rocks. but the bullets
7ew Wild. bingham was witness for
RiveS lie vas aubushed and killed
urinv the first three moataS Thstch-
p was . witness for Whist. lie Fgas
.mbuShsd and killed week after the
iestb Of Bingham Stcobins~ Carson
Psrsloe. Williams. Brown Bebse-all
witnesses and al dead kives had two
-ons. and thcy were shot dovs while
- WORK IN the held White had a son
md daughter. The son disappeared +
,ne day and his bones have never been +.
'0n1d. The daughter vvas shot os her I.
lorse while riding hone from town
Twenty rea-a have not added a dozen
souses "a the hamlet The ina stands /
here Just the same, and across the i