The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-19
rnE kENrrcKY FEuns.

THE hENIlNhN EELDS.
The Governor OF Kentucky is consider
ing the ACCESSIBILITY Of calling a special
session of the legislature 10 provide means
for breaking up the deadiy feuds which
have caused a reign of terror in Harlan,
Bell and Clay counties. He has no power
60 send troops TO the scenes of the trou-
bles until called upon by the local au-
thorities, and II transplres that many of
the local authorities are themselves par
tisans in the deadly quarrels. In the Clay
county feud. for instance, Tom Baker was
killed from ambush by the sheriff Of the
county, while Baker was in custody ana
awaiting trial His life was but one OF
about half dozen snufred out since
the original dispute arose over the value
of a raft of logs. How many more victims
the feud win claim depends upon circum-
stances, and whether or not the Governor
finds some effective means OF. disarming
the parties to it and forcing them 20. obey
the law. Without the Intervention of the
state authorities-for the county au-
thorities could do little or nothing even II
they wanted to-other killings win be sure
to occur on both sides. One Mrs. Baker,
the mother Of large family of sons. has
sworn that she will educate each one OF
them to believe that his highest duty Is
70 kill a Howard or a White; and these
sons will be true to their teachings, un.
less the matter should be settled or its
prosecution be prevented by the strong
arm of the law.
Those who are unacquainted with the
character of the Kentucky mountaineers
find it difficult TO understand how it is
that they kill each other with so little
eompunction, in family quarrels, and are
apt to form the idea that the mountaineers
are a auarrelsome, trouble-making class
of persons. but little better than outlaws
and desperadoes. That is far from the
truth. Generally speaking. they are quiet,
Woodworking. home-loving and inoffen-
sive They are hospitable TO acquaintance
and stranger alike Notwithstanding their
isolation and lack of education may often
lead them TO be a bit suspicious of the
latter Whatever property they come
into possession of they guard jealousy,
and it is with respect to property
that the greater number of their quar-
rels and fights occur.
AS noted above, il was dispute relative
to the value of raft of logs that started
the Howard White-Baker feud. After
blood had been shed as a consequence of
the quarrel then it became a matter of
honor with the family of the victim that
blood should be shed in return. In the
mountains the Mosaic law, an eye for an
eye and tooth for a tooth, is generally
adhered to. family would feel Itself
disgraced IL it neglected TO take revenge
for the killing of one of its members, or
waited upon the process of the law to
aveuge the homicide. The highlanders
are clannish, they are fearless they are
good shots, and they believe in the prin-
cipal of personal revenge; that is why the
feuds run TO such terrible lengths. They
are wrong, of course, but it is a hard
matter to convince them of that fact
That is a point upon which they must be
educated. Meantime il the Kentucky
feuds are to be stopped there must be a
resort to jails and peace bonds, until a
friendship can be patched up between the
contending factions.