Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-13
M'COY-HATFIELD FEUD.
The Celebrated Family Wnr Rr-
viyed-Frank Phillips shot.

4 dispatch from Matewan, W. Va.
says: The report Of a killing on Ben
creek has been explained. Henry Chaf'ln
and a man named cutler had difficulty
on Marrow Bone creek. which resulted
in the death OF Chaffin from a blow on
the chest with a chunk of coal Tbs
trouble was a personal one, and had 10
reference to the fight over the Wilder Or
King land.
There was also n rumor of trouble at
one of II. r.. Whites camps, which
proved upon investigation to be without
foundation. Mr.. White is prominent
lumberman. living in Matewan and opH'
rating several mills in different places.
At none OF these has there been any
difficulty, but two weeks ago there was
a renewal or rather an act In continual
tion. Of the Mccoy Hatfield feud. which
has not been mentioned i'm any dis
patches. and which gave rise to the re-
port on account of '1}ad Anse" Hattel1
and Bad Cap Hatfield, living near one
OF Whites camps and selling him timber
Matewan Is on the Tug river. which Is
here the dividing line between Kentucky
and West Virginia. Just across the river
from the town three Of the McCOys were
tied TO bushes and shot To death by
members of the Hatfield family.
Frank Phillips is the husband Of the
Mccoy girl whom Johnson iiatnsld stole
from her family. creating a great deal OF
bloodshed and Is now the leader OF the
Mccoy faction. He visited Matewan two
weeks ago. in company with friend.
whose nlme cannot be Earned. Both
We're shot ani badly wounded. supposedly
by their Cd antagonists. the Hatfields.
Twenty-Five lives have been lost in this
feud. and its revival has created "A great
deal of excitement. especially as Frank
Phillips. who was wounded. Is one of the
most daring men In the mountains Tne
day before election h was shot seven
times. and the 1-xt day his friends car
ried him on litter seven miles over the
hills IN order TO vote.
T-pon reaching tn. polls he was pre-
vented from voting by the Australian-bal /
lot-law. which docs not allow more than
ore man in booth at "A time. He then
swore vengeance upon the Democrats VINO
had passed the law h being a Republi-
can The Hatheids are Democrats, and
his election experience and the wounding
two weeks ago combined to revive MS
hard.
Trouble is. Therefore. expected at any
moment. but it has no connection with
tn. threatened bushwhacking war brought
on by the litigation over the Morris
grant
e. f.. McMasters. a Chicago timbermar
on Ben ere K. was stopped on Monday
and made 70 Prov his IDENTITY. lie was
then advised TO leave the disputed lands
which he did and crossed over into Ken
lucky. No violence was u. but he
stated that the men who stopped him
were very much In earnest
Cutting and hauling are still being done
in defiance of the United States Court 5
nijunctions, but no intimstion has yet
been received that the violation OF law
has been brought TO the attention or
the authorities. and no attempt al any
arrest has been made. The situation Is
a peculiar one. Along siXty-fiye miles OF
railroad. and back Of the railroad for a.
many miles. every on Is vitally inter-
ested and Yet no one talks about II.
There are no groups Of men discussing
the matter: no meetings no organizations.
Everything Is quiet and peaceful, and
even should the war against the marshais
or surveyors be started there would be
no demonstrations Every man would
quickly get his gun. 20 to the protection
Of his home. and what he believes 70 be
his rights.
When man is asked as 10 what he
thinks will be- the outcome when the Nor
ris grant claimants try 10 dispossess the
occupants Of the land or - enforce the
law. as to the violation Of the injuncuons.
the person addressed will say. There will
be- trouble"
But Il means with these mountain peo-
ple more than was ever said in mass
meeting or resolved with long string OF
paragraphs marked "Whereas.'
The absence OF those who represent the
Morris grant claimants renders II M
possible 10 learn what they intend 10 no.
and upon that depends what the occupan nts
OF the lands or the loggers will DO. The
logic OF the situation would seem to COM
pel them TO enforce their claims, as they
have proceeded 80 far and ii they adopt
this course there viii be a bloody con-