The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-13
WAR IN OKLAHOMA
Two Factions Striving for Con-
troll of the Town Of Enid.
Everybody Armed and Ready to Fight
OH the Slightest PrOyOcatiOn-
Two Men Shot Yesterday.

ENID, o. T, March ia new factor en-
tered the municipal war in this city to-day
and precipitated another desperate fight be-
tween S. f. Spencer, president of the o
County Bank, and man named Flaherty,
a notorious saloon loafer and all-round
tough Spencer has been identified with the
Moore faction, even going so far as to arm
himself in defense of Moore's action. Spen-
Ger was put in nomination by the Moore
crowd to-day for city treasurer, and be-
came involved in a quarrel with Flaherty.
Spencer was brutally beaten. but, manag-
ing to get his gun in position, commenced
an indiscrminate fusilade on his assail-
ants. Flaherty was slightly wounded and
a spent bullet struck woman in the street,
but did not seriously injure her. The Moore
faction is guarding the old city records in
one part of the city, with trusted squad
of armed men. The Gregg crowd climbed
over the ramparts of the Council chamber,
in another part of the town, and is trans
acting business with new set of records.
Col. John Virgins, who is in Washington
in the interests of the county-seat bill,
wired for money to come home on this
morning, and the Moore faction made
draft on the city treasurer for the money
to send him. Gregg and his followers i'm
mediately sued out an injunction against
Moore, restraining him from touching any
of the city funds, and it looks as If Wig
gins will have to either borrow the money
to come home on or walk The Gregg crowd
say they will never permit him to have a
cent.
Every man who Is out on the streets at
night is closely scrutinized, and watch
put on his track until his identity is well
established. No one is permitted to go near
either of the hostile camps without
pass from the leaders of the factions. The
feeling is so bitter tonight that 1t is feared
there will be blood shed before morning
and innocent persons will lose their lives.
The fight is for blood. No compromise is
offered or expected Either one or the other
side must make unconditional surren-
der. The arm of the territorial court, in
voked yesterday morning by the Moore ele-
ment has had no effect on the Gregg fac
tion ar,u it is defying the order issued by
Judge Bufford, of the federal court.
The county officers have taken sides. and
the desperate shooting scrape between
Commissioner Williams and Jailer Will
liams has embittered the fight, and it is
believed one or the other will be killed be-
fore the war is over. They met in an Enid
pharmacy, Jailer Williams declaring that
the commissioner must go under. They
commenced shooting at sight, and the for
mer was hit IN the head. His friends car
red him off the field in an ambulance. VIII
liams is desperate man, and it is certain
that when the two men meet again one or
the other will have TO go over the range.
The commissioner is said to be quiet, un-
assuming man. but has a good eye and
steady hand and his friends do not credit
him with being a coward by any means.
The conservative element of the city de-
plores the war. but 1t is powerless to do
anything. Mr.. Watson said to the corre-
spOndent tonight that many Of the peo-
pie entertained dread that a firebug would
set the town ablaZe, and the high winds
now prevailing would wipe every building
on the site out of existence. He patrols his
premises every night with a Winchester
to prevent bis property from being burned.
This is only what a score OF citizens are
doing. There is no insurance on a single
building in the town, and if a fire breaks
the leaders of the Gregg faction threat
ened to shoot the Associated Press repre-
sentative on sight if his crowd got the
worst of the report They claim they are
right, while the Moore men say they are
willing to fight for their cause.