Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-01
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Duff returned on
Sunday from their brief visit to Balti-
more. W.
FIGHT WITH MOONSHINERS.
Terrible Tragedy in Arkansas Mountains
Last Sunday.

Last Sunday.
Six men were probably massacred in
the wilds of Pope county, Arkansas,
last Sunday afternoon, says Little
Rock dispatch of Monday. Two were
killed outright, two were fatally
wounded and left for dead, aud two
have mysteriously disappeared and
are either dead or being held captive
by bandits.
The killed are: Captain B. F. Tay-
lor, of Searcy county, deputy United
States marshal Joe Dodson, of Stone
county, deputy marshal.
The fatally wounded are: Brothers
name Renfrew, of Searcy county.
The names of the missing men are
not known but they are supposed to
be deputy sheriffs from an adjoining
county.
The victims were all deputy United
States marshals and deputy sheriffs,
and the men who did the work are
moonshiners of the boldest and most
desperate class. The scene of the
crime was a gulch or ravjne in the
mountains of Pope county, at an iso-
lated spot thirty-hve miles from Rus
sellville, the nearest telegraph office,
and ten miles from Witt Springs. The
region is wild and isolated. 1t has for
wears been the favorite rendezvous for
counterfeiters and moonshiners, and is
district in which no law-abiding citi-
zen can live. The officers for a long
time have been trying to break up the
lawlessness iu that vicinity, and many
battles between them and the despera-
does have occurred.
Captain B. F. Taylor, the richest
man in Searcy county and man OF
much prominence, determined to aid
the officers in putting down crime. He
secured commission as a deputy
United States marshal and led the
posse in the raid that resulted in his
death. A few days ago a successful
raid was made in the same locality, in
which dozen moonshiners were cap.
tured and brought to Little Rock.
One of them told the officers that at
least so large distilleries were opera
ting in the same neighborhood. Tay-
lor, with his posse, located a large
moonshine outfit, Saturday night, and
decided to make the raid Sunday.
Proceeding slightly in advance of his
men, Taylor was within 80 feet OF the
distillery when he was fired upon from
o,,l l. iIlaI
AS Dodson ran up to Taylor he was
also shot dead. Rifles began to crack
in all directions, and volley was fired
into the officers. The Renfrew broth
ers fell mortally wounded and lay by
the roadside until later in the day,
when a traveller named Pack came by.
All traces of the bandits had disap-
peared, as well as two of the deputy
sherifs. The latter have not since
been seen or heard from. Pack hur-
ried to Russellville with the news, and
the coroner, together with sheriff's
posse, Immediately started for the
scene. No news has been received
since they departed. Pack thinks the
Renfrew brothers will be dead before
the party reaches them. 1t was not
known by whom the crime was com
mitted; but the officers believe the
gang is composed of desperadoes head
cd by Horace Bruce and John Church,
two of the most dangerous characters
in that locality.
The United States authorities were
today requested to offer reward for
the desperadoes, and determined et-
fort will be made to capture them
1t is very probable that the effort vii
lead to further bloOdshed.
Captain Taylor was all ex-captain in
the Federal army. He had served two
terms in the state legislature and was
noted for his bravery.
The authorities at Washington have
offered reward of $500 for the capture
and delivery of the moonshiners, and
have also authorized the expenditure
of a sum not to exceed $4,000 in the
organization of a posse to hunt them
up.