The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-31
Fate of a Posse of Six
Brave Officers of
the Law.
AmbuShed and Shot in the
Mountain WiidS of
Arkansas.
Reward Offered by the Govern
ment for the c. pture of
the Assassins.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK, Aug 30.-Six
men were probably massacred in the n lids
of the mountains of Pope County yester-
day afternoon. Two were killed outright,
two were fatally wounded and lett tor dead
and two have mysteriousy disappeared
and are either dead or are being held cap
tive by the bloodthirsty bandits who com.
mitted the awful crime.
The killed are Captain B. F. Taylor Of
Searcy County, a deputy United States
Marshal, and Joe bod son OF Stone County
deputy marshal. The fatally wounded are
two brothers named Renfrow 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 officers, deputy
marsnals and deputy sheriffs. and the
men who did the awful work of carnage
are NJ CONSUMERS of the boldest and mos,
desperate class. The scene of the bloody
crime was gulch or ravine in the noun
tains of Pope County, an isolated spot
thirty-ive miles from Russellville, the
nearest telegraph Office, and ten miles
from Will Springs.
Il
made in tho same locality, in which a
dozen moonshiners were captured and
brought 10 Little Rock. One OF them told
TIE Off, ers that at least fifty large dis
tillers were operating in the same neigh
borhood.
Taylor with his posse, located q large
moonshine outfit Saturday night and de-
cided to make the raid Sunday in day.
light.
81; ~, 3 =,
men, Taylor was within thirty feet of the
distil.ery when he was suddenly fired
upon from ambush and nslantly killed
As Dodson ran up to Taylor he was also
shot dead in his tracks. Pistols began to
crack in all directions and terrible volley
was poured into the remaining officers
The Renfrow brothers fell mortalIy
wounded and lay by the roadside until,
later in the day. traveller named Pack
CHANGED by. All traces OF the bandits lad
disappeared, as we'll as two of the Deputy
Sheriffs. The latter have NOT since been
heard from, and are believed either 10
have been killed or wounded or taken
away captive by the moonshiners.
The traveller rushed 10 Russellvllle with
the news. and the Coroner, with Sheriff s
posse, started for the scene. No news has
been received since they departed. Pack
thinks the Renfrow brothers will be dead
known by whom the murders were COM
mitted, but the Off GERS believe the gang is
composed OF desperadoes, headed by Hor-
ace Bruc. and John Church, TWO Of the
most dangerous characters IN the locality.
The United States officers were to-day
asked TO offer reward for the arrest OF
the gang, TO which the State will contri-
butte. and a determined If )rt will be made
10 capture them. 1t is verv probable the
effort will lead TO further bloodshed.
Captain Taylor was an ex-captain in the
Federal army. He had served two terms
in the State Legislature, and was noted
for his bravery.
Marshal Corser this afternoon received
the following telegram from the Attorney
General:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 80
Expense of posse, subject to executive ap
prevail, not to exceed $1,000, is authorized, and
5000 reward is authorized tor the capture and
delivery to the Marshal of all persons impl
Gated in the murder. McKENNA