Kansas City journal., 1898-02-06
BLOODIEST OF TEXAS FEUDS
SINGLE BATTLE IN WHICH SEVENTY
MEN WE'RE KILLED.
SuttOn-TaylOr Strife began Over the
Right to Ranges-Remarknbl
SuccessiOn of Tragedies Re
called by StOckman.
From the Denver News.


A big stockman, with griZZled beard,
hair tleached by the SHOWS of many win
ters and the general appearance of a man
of varied Western experiences. in time
WheE 1t required men of nerve TO maIn-
tain their position on the border paid his
bill az the Brown hotel last night and left
for his home. The stockman l!mped as he
crossed the rotuuda of the hotel and his
tall fern gave the evidences of privationS
such as are unknown at the present time.
The history of that man." remarked
friend of the stranger. would make one
of the most interesting volumes ever pub
lished. Perhaps You have heard OF the
feuds of kentucky. You have heard OF the
yendettas of Sicily, but l doubt II you have
ever heard Of the troubles of Southwest
ern Texas. l was born in the region anu
from my earliest recollections the scenes
and Incidents have been impressed upon
my mind. Two or three counties of South
western Texas were settled in an early day
by Iutch Immigrants. Later accesslonS
came from Tennessee and Kentucky ana
other Southern states. and mixed poPu-
lation grew up which contained type
peculiar TO the West. Braver men never
lived. and if those people had any reiS-
iCn. j. was to stand by relatives and iIlenas
the country contained many cattle, but
settlers paid little attention 10 cattle, 'ts
they were worth nothing except for 1000
for the family. The Southwest mad no
cattle market. a foreign syndicate came
along, established a port of expectation on
the Gulf. cattle became worth 50 to 81 apiece
and settlers discovered that brand was
valuable; so they began to brand cattle
or the range. gathering the al1erent
brands at such times as they were best
adapted for the market.
Origin of the Feud.
"Gradually two parties developed. aft
erwards known as the Taylor and Sutton
gangs The man who just left the hotel
was leader in the Sutton gang. Each
side In the controversy claimed certain
public ranges and finally the dispute broke
out in open warfare.
The war started and is in progress to.
day. although in 4 comparatively mud
suse. In the course of the troubles more
than 500 men lost their lives. A person
travelling by night in any one OF two or
three counties of Texas even at the pres
ert time. would not dare to knock at the
door of farmer or ranchman He would
probe bilities are that there would re 4
uulet burial in the cactus the next day.
My advice to belated travellers in South,
western Texas is to so into camp and cail
at the farm house the next morning.
"This habit OF shooting people who are
prowling about in the dark grew up from
self-pre servation. The feeling between tne
two gangs was so intense that when TWO
men of opposite sympathies met there was
a killing Men often travelled in parties
CT twenty-five or fifty and meeting party
of equal size belonging to the opposite
sentiment. a pitched battle was usually
the result. Every man went armed and
among the combatants were some or the
finest shots in the world. l could give Il
score of thrilling incidents. Here Is one;
Greed Taylor had two sons. Doboy and
Hayes Hayes Taylor had the reputation
Of killing more men than any other OF .,, me ,,s
fear and was a dead shot He began by
killing soldier with a bake oven: The
oven was made Of sheet iron and one
blow on the head sent the soldier into eter-
I.ity Hayes then shot another soldier with
the gun of his first victim and escaped in
the bush. He was a terror for years. took
desperate chances in every kind of scrim-,
mage. was an acknowledged leader; and
one day sent word to the sheriff at Helena
that he would visit the town. naming the
6ate of the visit several days in advance.
The sheriff. a Sutton man. prepared FOR
his reception. He had the town barricadec
placed men on the roofs of the houses and
behind breastworks.