The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-06-01
STREETER'S INVASION
Shows That Number Thirteen Ia
Fatal to Those Who
Trust Therein,
PERHAPS; WAS IN THIS CASE, SURE
Some Hundreds of Chicago Police
with Various Artillery In
timidate the Invaders.

Chicago, May 2S.-Chicago was in
vaded at l o'clock Saturday morning
by the army Of hostile state, number
ing thirteen men-the District Of
Lake Michigan" The invasion ended
in farce comedy, but came near to
being finished in deadly earnest. The
casualties include one boy shot in the
leg by the pickets and one horse killed.
Five of the invaders were arrested
and the balance were allowed to eS-
cape. The trouble was precipitated by
Captain George w. Streeter, a squat
ter, who has from time to time Gre
ated much trouble and litigation by his
efforts to occupy land along the shore
of Lake Michigan. The land consists
of made land on the lake shore south
of Superior street, and is 1856 acres in
extent.
Invaders Effect Landing.
Streeter organized the force which
made the descent upon the land,
but was not with them in person. The
transport containing the troops" ar
rived off Lincoln park soon after mid
night, and without difficulty they made
a landing at the foot of Superior street,
and formally took possession Of the
land. Streeter had issued a proclama-
ton declaring that he had right to
occupy the land and that no one had a
right to prevent him.
Rapid-fire guns, it is alleged, were
on the transport decks ready to cover,
If necessary, the landing Of the
troops, but the shores were unpro-
tected and without opposition the
men made their way through the
surf, rallied around their leader.
''COmmandant" William Niles, and
hOiSted an American flag in the cen
ter Of the invaded district.
Proceeded at Once to Fortify.
Immediately on landing, a line of
Notifications was marked out. A line
of plank was laid along the western
edge of the claimed territory and
barbed wire was stretched about a foot
above it. Two forts each about twelve
feet square and formed of an embank-
ment Of dirt and piling about five feet
high, were hastily thrown up on either
side of Superior street. Sentinels were
detailed to patrol a picket line just
inside the barbed wire. The com
mandant" gave orders that no one
should be allowed to cross this line,
and then, establishing his headquar-
tiers within one of the forts, ordered
his men to stack arms and rest them
selves III preparation for a struggle
when he said he felt was inevitable.
Police Force Gets Its Guns.
Because policemen and others tried
to cross the picket line was the rea-
SON for the shooting. The only per-
son hit was the boy, who was hit be-
cause the bullet missed some one else.
Niles did all the shooting and ap-
peared to have aimed to miss, as
though he shot at close range at sew
eral police officers he hit none. There
was great commotiOn in police circles
when it was known what was going
on, and to disiodge the thirteen men
in Fort Streetor the following forces
were mobilized: Police officers in
uniform, 524; detectives in citizens
attire, 100; Lincoln park police, %;
deputy sheTiffs, IS; patrol wagons, 10;
police ambulances, 8; officers On tug
under Captain Revere, 40; police riot
rifles. 100; police artillery, Calling gun
and two smooth-bored cannons.
And the Coon Came Down.
When the invaders heard what was
going on the commotton extended It.
self to their ranks and 1t was not long
before it was determined TO surrender,
which was done to Captain Baer, Of
the police force. Then the mob made
it's appearance. OF course, the sur
rendered men-fve In all; the others
got away were disarmed. While
Niles was on his way to the station he
was struck several times by men in
the mob that pressed around him. Once
he endeavored to snatch a rife from
the officer who carried it, intending to
shoot a man who had just hit him,
but he was quickly subdued by the po-
lice. The result of the subduing was
that Niles was not pretty when he ar
rived at the station.
All is quiet at the late seat OF war
at this writing.