El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-22

Press dispatches tell a wonderfully
| interesting story of a typical Kentucky
| feud, in which three Thousand mer
have already lost their lives. The
story runs thus:
A state of terror exists in Clay
county. The people of Manchester
are accustomed to shooting, but they
are net accustomed to such prepare
tions for warfare as are going on
among the Towards and Whites, while
out on Crane creek the Baker clans,
aided by the Philpots, are assem-
bling.
A report was circulated here tina.
James Howard was shot, but it Is uu-
true. No Baker could enter Manches-
ter unless the whole clan rode in, and
that is what is expected. Neither can
the Towards or White leave Manches-
ter unless they do so in force. The
Towards and Whites are now on the
defensive.
The Bakers have Manchester sur
rounded, having, it is said, placed a
few men at protected points on the
several roads. What is now expected
is the entrance of the Bakers into Man
chester. Then there will be serious
bloodshed, but it is more than likely
that bushwhacking will continue to
be the plan of warfare.
calling a special session of the legisla-
ture for the relief of citizens where
''retgns of terror" exist. such as has
recently been caused by the Baker
Howard feud.
Petitions have come from many
counties for radical action on such
feuds as those in Harlan, Bell and Clay
counties, but the governor has no pow
err to declare martial slaw or to proceed
until called by the local authorities,
who generally belong to one of the con-
has been considering today, not only
the conditions in Clay and other coun-
ties. but also his inability to take radi-
cal action. and has about concluded to
appeal to the legislature.
A private letter from Manchester
states that the most intense feeling is
aroused against the Whites all over
Clay county for the killing of Tom
Baker. Baker was a Master Mason in
good standing, and it is said the order
is determined to run down his murder
ers. Baker was considered good
man, so the letter states. and If he kill
ed Will White, he was led to do so by
the oppression of the Whites and How
ards.
The feud which resulted in the Kill
ling of Tom Baker traces it's origin
back to 1S43, aud 1t las ragged, n some
form or other, almost continuously
from that time in some of the noun
tain counties. 1t is estimated that
since it began ffty.six years ago, no
less than 5000 men have fallen IN the
lights that have enSued.
Prior 10 1913 There was no blood
she'd in the mountains. But in that
year Thomas Baker, promising
young physician, who hsd come from
Virginia, became jealous of one John
Bates, VINO was closely allied to the
Whites, and 10 d jealous lit killed
Bates.
In his death Bates cursed Baker ana
called upon his friends, the Whites, to
Ivenge his death. This they promised
o do. Baker fed, whittier no one has
ever known, but he left an infant son,
who became the father of Tom Baker,
LIST killed. The Baker family has
been augmented by immigration from
Virginla and from natural sources,
While the Whites have continued to |
pread out. until today portions of the |
antilles exist in more than thirty |
counties.
They are peace-loving people. |
they are honest, sturdy and indus
rlous. but they seem to think they |
must avenge their own wrongs, and
no condition will they allow the
aw to take it's course if they kill their
nemy.