The San Francisco call., 1897-11-13
VICTIMS OF AN
OREGON FBUD
One Man Murdered and
Another Wounded
Near ChetCO.
Strife Between the CooIidgeS
and Van PeltS Breaks
Out Anew.
Members CT One Of the Warning
Factions Ambushed and
Fired Upon.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

CRESCENT CITY, CAL, Nov. 12.- z
state of lawlessness, which has long been
terror to the better element of society oi
the southern border of Curry County, Or,
was made signally outrageous by the
Ireachercus killing several days ago et
Al Coolidge and the wounGing OF w. w.
Smith.
Ill feeling has existed between two
clans known respectively as the Van
Pelts and Coolidges since a time, five years
ago. when an effort wa made to boom
Chetco a a desirable location for a city
and the open sea in front as an important
harbor.
Thomas Van Pelt and Coolidge, faith er
of the man just killed. became associated
with the Initiating enterprlse-which, by
the way, was a dismal failure-and the
two men and their respective hench me
have ever since been blaming each other
for the lack of success and complaining of
encroachment by the adverse party upon
their rights. After about month had
passed two shooting affrays were INDUCED
in, the latter of which resulted in the
wounding OF E. c. Huthes, son-in-law of
Van Pelt. The shooting vas acknowledged
by the Coolidge party.
The Curry County authorities have
long previously given up the hope of
maintaining peace in that section, but a
citiZ MS meeting was held and after an
arbitration of the claims of the contend =
ing parties, the difficulty was for a time
thought to be settled. 1t subsequently,
developed that the armistlce was but a
blind.
Coolidge and Smith had been TO the
house of John Cooleys, two miles I'D the
at about o'clock in the afternoon, and
when near the summit of hill, they
were fired upon.
Three rihe-shots were discharged in
quick succession and Coolidge fell shot
through the heart. A sudden turning of
the team overturned The wagon-seat and
threw Smith upon the ground. He had
been shot through the right side, and
knowing that his only hope of safety was
in getting distance between himself and
the enemy he hobbled away as best he
could and at length again reac ached the
house of Coolys. With Coolys he returned
to the scene of the tragedy, finding the
wagon and team unharmed and the body
CT Coolidge yet in the wagon.
The team was driven 10 Chetco, where a
brother of Coolidge wa waitinc, having
but an hour previously arrived from Sll.
verton with the avowed purpose of trying
TO get Al Coolidge to abandon his location
and get away from the trouble and danger
that threatened him. His brother came
only 10 find that he was too late and that
his fears had been too we'll founded.
The remains OF Coolidge were mbalmed
and sent overland to-day TO be inferred at
S lver,on, where his parents and other
relatives live.
The lawful authorities seemed powerless
to prevent the outrages of such frequent
occurr nee at Cnetoo, or to bring any of
tue offenders 10 an accounting. The COM
mon lear Is that the feud is only in its
inception.
Coolidge upon examination was found
to have second wound in his side and
his heart was literally torn into shreds.
indicating that the shooting had been at
close range. Smiths wounds are not con-