The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-25
A BATTLE IN THE DARK
Ludwig Perrin Attacked by a
Band Of Assassins.
A PERFECT RAIN OF LEAD
His Horses Were Wounded, but He Es-
capped Without Injury-Trouble
About and the Cause
OF the Fight

DR.. John d. McGregor. the veterin-
airy surgeon. is authority for a story OF
a sanguinary battle in the darkness Ut
night which took place about four
miles east of woodville last Tuesday
evening between Ludwig Perrin, a JEFF
ferson county rancher. and IN unseen
foe, who, he thinks, sought to take his
life 20 pay of an old grudge. About a
dozen shots were fired on each side,
but Perrin escaped uninjured. n so
far as he knows his assailants got OF
equally as lucky. but half a dozen shots
took effect in PERKINS, horses, and his
W escape seems miraculous. The
takes OF his wood rack were literally
riddled with lead.
DIR. McGregor was called to extract
the bullets from PERKINS, horses. He
learned the story from Perrin n re-
peated il yesterday to a Standard re-
porter.
Perrin told DR.. McGregor that on
Tuesday he came to Butte with a load
of wood, which he sold. and started for
home about 6 o'clock in the evening
He drove leisurely. and by the time ne
| reached woodville 1t was dark. When
he reached a point about four miles
beyond woodvilie. where the road
makes a sharp tur around the noun
tain, he pulled mp his team to avoid
accident in making the turn, ana as
he did so he was startled by a shot
\ coming from the bushes at the side OF
the road. One of the horses rearing
and plunging WILDLY told him the shot
had been intended for him and that the
animal had been hit. Almost Instantly
a second shot followed and the bullet
vhizzed past his head. The p~lunging
of the horses, which were now thor
ouahly frightened. occupied Perrins
attention, as he had difficulty in hold
ing them, but he managed to draw ms
revolver and reply to the fire. The mr.
ing continued until Perrin a emptled
his revolver and reload and emptied II
again. when his assailant ceased firing
and Perrin whipped up his horses and
drove for home, about two miles furth-
er on, as fast as he could go. IN
reaching home he found one OF his
horses had been hit five times IN the
legs and the other once in the shoulder
When he examined the wood rack ms
hair literally rose on end. as he dlscoN-
cred what a close shave he had had.
The stakes, close beside where ne
stood. were simply riddled with no less
thar five rife bullets, and two others
we're filled with buck shot. The bui'
let's were Of different caliber, indicating
the enemy had been numerous ah'
that both rifles and shotgun had beer
used. Perrin could only attribute hi'
escape to the Spanish craftsmanship
Of his murderous assailants. As II wal
dark and the villains kept to the bush
es. Perrin neither knew who fired tn
shots or whether his own did any dam
age. The horses were not seriousi,
wounded and DR.. McGregor had ~
difficulty in extracting the bullets.
Perrin lives FIVE or six miles IRON
woodville up the valley in Elk Parl
on a piece of land he took up a rev
years ago, which had formerly beef
used for a free-for-all p~asturage 70
the stock of a number of milk ranch
ers. When Perrin took up the land n,
ACQUIRED valuable water rights, whicl
restricted the advantages some OF hi
neighbors had formerly enjoyed. an
he has had considerable friction VIII
them since. He attributes the murder
on. assault to these difficulties, but de
clines to designate which OF his enemle
he suspects. II is evident he was no
greatly surprised. from the fact tina
he carried a gun and was prepared 10
such an by being provided
with an extra supply of cartridges. ii.
has reported his experience to the Jet
ferson county authorities.