Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-05-29
SEIZE LAKE FRONT.
Capt. Streeter Takes FOrCible
secession of 1876 Acres of
Land in Chicago.

Chicago ILL.,, May 2e.-At 2:30 o'clock
this afternoon 800 police officers, with
repeating rifles, marched to the foot OF
Superior street, where Capt. George
Streeter had fortified himself on strip
Of land created by the washing up OF
soil from the bed of Lake Michigan, and
which Streeter claims as his property by
right Of discovery. In the entertainments
were about seventy men armed with
rifles and two Gatling guns. Earlier in
the day party of Lincoln park officials
had been fired upon by pickets around
the improvised fort and boy IA years
old had been severely wounded in
the right leg. This shooting
resulted IN call upon the city officials
for the arrest of the occupants of Street
ers fort, but the city authorities declined
to take the initiative, owing to the fact
that the Supreme court of the Unied
States once declared the land to be a
part of the territory of Illinois. 1t was
finally decided to mobilize 800 police of
ticers under the leadership of Chief Kip
ley and to march against the Streeterites
and to demand their surrender. Sheriff
Magerstadt went with the chief of police
and it was planned that, in case of refus
al to surrender, the sheriff should
Immediately swear in the 300 police Off
GERS as deputy sheriffs, again demand the
surrender of Sueeter's forces on the
ground of riot and disorderly conduct
and proceed to arrest the occupants of
the fort regardless of cost.
a hreboat with Gatling gun aboard
was dispatched up Lake Michigan tC
make demonstration from the side and
to cut off the escape of Streeter's men
by means of their yacht.
1t was arranged that the joint dem
onstration of land and water forces
should occur promptly at $3.50 o'clock.
Land Worth $3O,OOO,OOO.
Capt. Streeter claims to own the laid
which, were the title clear. would be
worth between $30,000000 and $50 00.-
600. In 1885 Capt. Streeter and his wife
were stranded on a little sandbar few
yards from the shore at the foot of SUI
perlor street. The spot was not down on
the maps and the doughty navigator laid
claim to the land and declared his right
being the whole population, to elect him
self to all the offices which he, in franz
ing constitution, deemed the territory in
need of.
Streeter's Declaration of Independence
An extremely fine point of law is in
yolyed in the case. Capt. Streeter has
issued Declaration of Independence"
setting forth his alleged rights to the
property, and has served a copy upon
the United States marshal of the district.
The police felt that they were amply able
TO wipe out Streeters forces and were
bent upon doing so, because of the fact
that the men were apparently bearing
arms in defiance of the statutes of Hi
nois.
Organized Government.
The Supreme court of the United States
decided that the land was within the ju-
risdictiOn of the state of Illinois. Streeter
thereupOn offered the district to the fed
eral government. A year ago he organ
lied Il territorial government under the
elected himself chief justice and to other
offices of Importance. The police, how
ever, descended on him and his army of
about fifty men and since then, up to to-
day, the captain has lived in another part
of town.
Gov. Tanners View.
1t was reported that Gov. Tanner, who
is in the city, had been asked to call out
the state troops to arrest Capt. Streeter
and his men. Gov Tanner when seen.
however, said that he had not even heard
of the matter. Acting Mayor Walkers
ruling III regard to the jurisdiction of the
city police seems rather peculiar to me-
he said 1.-The city authorities have nov
er heretofore allowed a technical ques
ton Of jurisdiction to interfere with the
crossing of boulevards to quell riots and
put down disturbances. They did not in
1893 at least. When. however the city
and county authorities report TO me that
they are powerless III the matter, / may
take some action.