El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-19
If This Is a Sample, Is Al
most Up To That Of
Africa.
A TERRIBLE FEUD
The Largest Ever Known, In
Which Hundreds of Men
Lie In Wait to Kill
Each Other.

LONDON, KY, July 19.-The situa-
ton in Clay county has assumed huge
proportions. The present feud is the
largest ever known and is composed OF
the most desperate men that ever
fought in mountain feuds.
| Mondays slaughter proved to be the
beginning of series OF battles. The
news of the battle spread rapidly over
Clay county.
Runners were sent out to inform the
friends of both sides. The Philpots
came to the support of their kinsmen
in numbers of ten and fifteen from dis
tant parts of the country. Two of their
horses fell dead under their riders from
overhead. so eager we're the Philpots
to get to the scene of battle.
They are reported to number one
hundred, in arms ready for another
attack from the Morris and Griffin
and Chadwell clans, who are reported
two miles away with fifty armed men.
The Louisville Courier Journal says
that five men lost their lives In this
feud Monday, Robert Philpot, Ed Fish
er. Aaron Morris, Jim Griffin and
Hugh Griffin. These fatalities result
ed from q pitched battle fought near
Little Goose creek, three miles from
Manchester.
The feud dates back nearly two years.
On Christmas, 1897, James Philpot was
killed by Aaron Morris. but before he
died he shot and killed VIM. Bundy,
friend of Morris. The Morrises and
Griffinsswere closely affiliated. Since
then the feeling between the two fac
tions has been very bitter, and
it has been aroused recently by
the White Baker hostilities. The
Ph'lpots, who are the strongest
faction in the mountains, numbering
about $50 voters, openly espoused the
cause of the Bakers, while the Griftins
took sides with the Whites.
The story that reaches here from
Manchester is to the effect that Bob
Pbilpot was arrested this morning by
Deputy Wash Thacker. While very
circu m stantial in other respects, the
report does not show clearly
the origin of the trouble. nor give
said that while Thacker was taking
Philpot's bond the latter WAS shot from
behind by q member of the crowd that
had gathered. This precipitated q
general fight with winchesters and re-
volvers.
The battle began at about O'Clock
and ragged fercely for ten or twelve
minutes. When it was over 1t was
found that the five men mentioned
above had been killed outright, three
of the belligerents were seriously
wounded, while Peter Philpot was the
only one on either side to escape In
jury.
Granville Philpot is said to be one
of the most seriously wounded. He is
q union veteran, having lost leg at
Stone River. He is an ex-member OF
the Kentucky legislature and is said
to have killed three or four men. Ed.
Fisher was man with several nicks
on his cane. He was but % years of
age, but was said to have killed three
men.
An effort was at once begun to secure
deputies to 90 to the seat of the trouble
and attempt to restore quiet, but up to
a late hour in the afternoon there had
not been enough responses to make up
q force that would command respect.
The situation at Manchester is de- |
plorable. Since morning the place has
been in a state of terror, scarcely any
one daring to venture out of doors.
Business Is suspended, and the resi-
dents are momentarily expecting re
newal of hostilities.