Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-26
GRIN VAR N CHICAGO
Claimant to Lake Front Takes Up
Position With Armed Men
and Gatiing Guns.
Police Defsd and Fired on When
They Approach Law Point
Involved.
Fifty Men With Winchesters Aiding
the Outlaw History
Of the Case


Streeter today took possession Of 1856
acres OF land in Lake Michigan at the
foot of Superior street and hoisted the
United States flag and with an armed
body of twenty men. two rapid-fire
guns and some barbed wire for making
an ENHANCEMENT defiied the authorities
to dislodge him.. Streeter claims Down
the land, which were his title clear
would be worth from thirty to fifty
millions. In 1856 Streeter and wife were
stranded on q sandbar a few yards
from shore He laid claim to the land.
AZ years went by all sorts of refuse and
earth were washed up by the lake and
formed a large tract, its Importance
and value increasing. Finally the ad-
joining property owners resented
Streeter's claim and the supreme court
OF the United States decided that the
land was in the jurisdiction of the state
Of Illinois and Streeter was driven from
the land by the police, and. up to today
has lived in other parts of the city.
Soon after streeter landed his forces
Park superintendent Rudieski and Sec
retary Erby, reinforced by policemen,
{ approached the land occupied by
streeter. Calls OF HALT" failed to
stop the park officials and volley
fired at them from Streeter's rifles
quickly put to flight the investigating
party. One bullet struck Ruben Man
ley. a boy, in the knee, intlicting se-
we're wound. The park officials fled to
q patrol box and turned in riot call
"a force OF twenty or thirty policemen,
armed with revolvers hurried to the
scene. When the officer in command
saw the display of force and gatling
guns being pointed his way over the en-
trenchment he ordered retreat. The
police then made an arrangement to
arm men with Winchesters in an en-
deavors toi capture the streeter forces.
An extremely fine point OF law is in
E volved in the case. streeter issued a
"declaration OF Independence" setting
forth his alleged rights to the property
and served a copy upon the United
States marshal OF this district. Shortly
after / o'clock the acting mayor and
corporation counsel. Walker, decided
In view Of the decision by the supreme
court, that the land claimed by Streeter
is8territory OF the state, the city police
could not legally participate in battle
with Streeter's force, which at that
hour had been Increased by the addi-
ton of fifty men with rifles. Wake.
expressed the opinion that the matter
could only be settled by the state au-
thorities, who control the park police
In case of collision Of the latter ant
streeter's men the city authorities vii
then lend aid.
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
At 2:30 300 police, armed with rifle!
and headed by Chief Kipley started fol
the disputed strip OF land. Sheriff
1iagerstadt accompanied the police ant
It was planned in case of refusal o
Sreeter's force to surrender that tn,
sheriff would swear the police in a
deputy sheriffs. The fire boat with ;
Calling gun aboard was dispatched III
Lake Michigan to make demonstration
from that side and cut of escape o
6reeter's mers by means of boats.
was arranged that the Joint demonstra
tion OF land and water forces shoul,
occur At 3:30 p. m.