The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-08-14
A HAND TO HAND FIGHT
Citizens of Fulton and Rock Is
land. Illinois. Scrap.
LONG STANDING QUARREL
Rock Islanders Forcibly Attempt to Re-
move the woodmsn Headquarters
They Fight With Rocks and
Clues Many injured.

Fulton, H.. Aug. l3.-The long
standing fight between this town and
Rock Island. ~. FOR the loclfion for
the hsadquari rs ~ the Modern Wool
men ~ America. eliminated to-day IN
hand 10 hand tight between sores
Il paItisans of the respective towns,
In which a number OF peraons were
seriously injured. Al the recent con-
vention IL was decided to move the Of
fees and books of Head Clerk Hawes
OF Rock Island.
The citizens Of Fulton ihereupon APP
Piled 10 the court for an order ~
strainng the removal The temporary
injunction WAS granted and the con-
tToversy went over until the fall term.
The slow process of law was not setls-
factory 20 the Rock Islanders. how
ever. and they determined To tale
matters into their own hands. To-day
party was made up in the city aud
plans were made for a raid on the
Fulton headquarters with the object
Of forciby taking possession OF the
books, records. ete.. Of the order and
removing the Office OF Head Cisrk
Hawes To Rock Island.
A train was chartered consisting Of
three coaches. "A baggage car and Two
box ears, and the invaders were soon
| ON their way " Fulton. The inhabi-
tants of the latter town were fore-
warned. however and decided to give
their uninvited guests a cordial re-
ception. A fire alarm was sounded
and lines OF hose were laid to points
where IL was thought the Rock Island
| ers would be most likely tO stop. The
arrival of the special train was the
signal for bostilities to begin and the
scrimmage which followed resulted In
/ she following casualties; Will Ben-
rett. city marshal of Fulton. head cut,
believed To be fatally hurt; w. III.
Flanagan. head badly cut; James
Carrier. head cut; I'D Barre. head and
arms injured; Chris Miller. Lyons.
Iowa. head cut: l.. j. Casey. Moline.
H.. head badly injured.
A score Of others were more or less
bruised and cut. The free fight lasted
for an hour or more. rocks. clubs and
missiles OF every description being
| welded industriously BY the opposing
forces. The Fuitonttes finally got the
better OF the fight and Deputy sherin
Farley effected the arrest Of Head At
torney Johnson OF The Modern Wood
men. one of the Rock Island party
aud a number OF his companions.
rhe action of the Rock Island people
was prompted by a decision OF Judge
CAST, rendered at Cambridge to-day.
dissolving the injunction. which had
prevented the removal OF headquarters
from Fulton. The Rock Island dele
CATION arrived at 6:30 with 515 men and
Immediately proceeded to the offices OF
the woodmen order. Though they met
with desperate rsistance from the start.
the Rock Islanders succeeded In get
ting the bulk OF the records out 10 thss
train. The Fultonites. In the mean
time, had called out the fire depart
ment sounded general alarm. ana
with the augmented crowd. succeeded
in tearing up the track in front OF the
locomotive. II was then attempted to
back the train. whereupon the Fulton
people tore up the track In the rear
BY this time the Fultonltes were re
inforced by crowds from Clinton ana
Lyons. and having this advantage. and
with Il the use Of the arms OF the
Lyons company OF the Illinois state
militia, a guard was formed about the
train. In the meantime. inJunctions
were secured and the sheriff swore In
200 deputies to assist in enforcing them
The Fulton people showed fight nom
the moment the Rock Island crowd ar
rived. They began hostilities by tear
ing up the walks about the depot ana
assaulting the invaders with the loose
planks. At the door of the head office
the village marshal. William Bennett.
stood with a drawn revolver. A brick
from one OF the invaders felled him TO
the ground. The Rock Islanders then
made a rush into the Office and cap
tured the records. At the depot. which
is hall block distant. the night was
renewed and here Il took the nature or
a riot. during which $50 OF the Rock
Island people were placed under arrest
II was at this time that large NUM-
Der on both sides were injured.