The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-08-21
THEY A M TO BLOWS.

A Lons-standing Quarrel Between Rival
Illinois Towns For Possession OF Head
quarters OF the Modern Woodmen Of
America Results In - Hand-t0-Hand
Conflict In Which Many Are Seriously
Injured.
FULTON, ILL.,, Aug. 14-Thc long
standing fight between this town and
Rock Island, Ill, for the location of
the headquarters of Modern Woodmen
of America, eliminated yesterday in .
hand-to-hand fight between scores of
partisans of the respective towns in
which a number of persons were seri-
ously injured.
The contest between the two towns
dates back several years. At the recent
convention of the order held at Du-
buque, Ia, it was decided to move the
offices and books of Head Clerk HAYES
to Rock Island. Then there was a lull,
but the factions were by no means re-
conciled. Those who are DESTROYS of
having the headquarters retained in
this city applied to the courts for an
injunction restraining their removal.
A temporary injunction was granted
and the controversy went over until
II al lcElu VI court 1nlS was not
the first time the courts have been
called upon to intercede between the
warning towns. The slow process Of
law was not satisfactory to the Rock
Islanders, SO they determined to take
the matter into their own hands.
Yesterday a party was made up in the
city by the Mississippi and plans were
made for a raid on the Fulton head
quarters with the object of forcibly
taking possession of the books, records,
etc, of the order and removing the
Office of Head Clerk Halves t.. Rock
Island.
A train was chartered, consisting Of
three coaches, a baggage a and two
box cars, and the invaders were soou
on their way to Fulton.
The inhabitants Of the latter town
were forewarned. however. and made
ready to give their unlimited guests a
warm reception. A fire alarm was
sounded and lines OF hose were laid to
the points where it was thought the
Rock Islanders would be most likely
to dIsembark.
The arrival of the special train was
the signal for the hostilities to begin.
There was intense feeling on both
sides and a great variety of weapons,
this combination resulting in the fol-
lowing casualties:
Will Bennett, city marshal of Fulton,
head cut; believed to be fatally hurt.
w. II. Flanagan, head badly cut
l.. d. Plank, Fulton; cut on head.
E.A.Stoneberg, Fulton; badly beaten
Albert Spencer, Rock Island; face
cut.
james Carrier, head cut.
Ed Barr, head and arms injured.
Chris. Miller, Lyons, Ia. stabbed in
neck.
P. j. Casey, Moline, Ill, 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 ard missiles OF
every description being welded IN
dustriously by the opposing forces.
The F~ultonites finally got the better
of the fight and Deputy Sheriff Farley
effected the arrest of Head Attorney
Johnson of the Modern Woodmen, one
of the Rock Island party. and a num-
Der of his companions. The railroad
track on each side of the cars that
brought The Rock Islanders was torn
up by the Fultonites, the latter evil
IDENTITY aiming to cut off the retreat of
their enemies.
The scene of the fighting>bears every
evidence of the liveliest warfare and
as there were a number of firearms in
both parties, it is a wonder the affair
did not result more seriously than il
did. A large force of peace officers
has been sworn in, and as the invaders,
OF most of them, are still in Fulton,
there is great difficulty in preventing a
renewal of the trouble.