New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-27
CHICAGO'.S SQUATTER WAR.
FORCIBLE POSSESSION OF MADE LAND
IN LAKE MICHIGAN DISPUTED
By POLICE.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

early hour this morning till late this afternoon
Then the body of armed men which had taken
forcible possession of some made land the title
to which is in dispute quietly surrendered to
the police. and the trouble settled for the
time being. In the course of the excitement
one small boy shot in the leg and several
other persons roughly handled. being
beaten with the butts Of rifles and clubs Thou
sands witnessed the struggle for possession of
the disputed land, and about five hundred po-
lice upheld the supremacy of Chicago in carry
ing out the orders of the authorities to clear the
tract of the squatters. who term themselves
citizens of the District Of Lake Michigan"
Several times in the course of the day it looked
if a serious encounter would result, the
citizens were determined and used their rifles
and revolvers promiscuousy. They drove off
the first detail of police but when surrounded
by five hundred custodians of the peace they
surrendered-that is five of them, the other ten
having escaped by water. The five were taken
to the Police station and will be held on the
charge of bodily assault, with intent to do
murder.
Frownng intrenchments and uniformed senti-
nels pacing the Lake Shore Drive. at the foot
of Superior-st were revealed by the first rays
of the sun to-day. Captain George Streeter's
army of invasion had come in the night by
way of the lake, and had again taken possession
of the District of Lake Michigan" The men
were armed, rrovisioned for months siege.
and the determined look of the garrison indi-
Gated that this mere sortie, but mill
tary movement carefully planned and executed.
QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.
Corporation Counsel Walker advised the city
that it had authority oust Streeter's forces,
as they were occupying park property At a
conference of officials held az the City Hall it
was decided that Sheriff Magerstadt had power
to act in the matter and he requested to do
President Wickersham of the Park Board
was of the opinion that the Park Board had
power to act. and he himself went to the park
to take charge of affairs While these confer
ences were going a breach of the peace oc-
CURED. and the city authorities decided to act.
A fourteen year-old boy, Reuben Manley, of
No. 214 Rush-st.. was struck in the knee by one
of four bullets fired into the crowd by Judge
William Niles commander of the Streeter forces.
Captain Baer. chief of the Lincoln Park Palice
had driven to the scene at the request of Secre-
tary Erby, of the Board who had appeared
early in the morning, and had been uncermoni-
ously stopped by the sentnels. Captain Baer
accosted by Niles, and upon attempting to
argue with him over the obstructing of the
Lake Shore Drive, the latter raised his repeater
and fired several shots at the police captain at
a distance ~ thirty feet. but missed.
POLICE OFFICERS HORSE KILLED.
The captain lashed his horse to full speed and
escaped although his horse was shot ard .dted in
about hour. The harness and buggy were
damaged Detective Hiatt. of the East Chicago
ave. station, also fired at by Niles, and es-
capped unharmed the bullet passing through the
lapel of his coat The commander then turned
the rifle at the crowds surrounding the deadline
and emptied the magazine, hitting the boy.
All this time one lone municipal policeman
was present at the trouble. Captain Revere. of
the East Chcago-ave. station, and Captain Baer
ordered no move to be made until Inspector
Heidelmeir gave the orders. The inspector was
awaiting instructions from Chief Kipley and the
Chief was in conference with Corporation Coun-
sci Walker. The police chary about taking
hold of the matter. owing TO the outcome of the
case last summer when Streeter was not held
by the justices after his arrest. AS as
shots were fired by the Streeter forces however
every available man the beat ordered to
the East Chica go-ave. station and ordered 10 be
in readiness for move.
A riot call took patrol load of officers to the
lake Shore but the officers gave up the job as
a bad one, and returned without accomplishing
ANYTHING. Captain Revere then called the men
together. read the Riot act to them and ardered
them equipped with rifles
LARGE FORCE OF POLICE.
Between five hundred and seven hundred men
were prepared for the assault; some of them
marched to the scene. while others were taken
In all the available patrol wagons of the city
Twenty men were behind the intrenchments.
and Commander Niles said he expected fifty
more All were armed with Springfield rifles,
and each man had thirty rounds of ammunition.
Behind the forts were seven hundred rounds and
seventy-five additional rifles. The police said
the invaders had a machine gun, but this was
denied by the commander. After considerable
narleVin2 while the police were preparing TOT
the assault the invaders decided TO surrender TO
an overwhelming force
The sloop Ickelberg put out from the foot or
Fifty-eighth-st. late last night, carrying the
Streeter cohorts. Niles acted admiral and it
was not until l o'clock that landing was made
a the foot of Superior-st Twelve sentlnels We're
detailed guard the approaches on Lake
Shore Drive and SuperiOr-st. The remaining
men We're detailed 10 throw up the uehChes, ana
bv daylight they were in readiness The forts
were holes in the ground about sixteen feet
square, topped with heavy stone slabs. and one
occupies each of the corners of the street inter-
section having been constructed in the parkway.
The fort the south side of the street flies the
American flag. Just back of the fortification
Temporary shelter was erected for the provisions
AS the morning wore away and crowds OF
spectators began 10 arrive to witness the strange
sights of armed men in the uniform of the
United States Army stopping people on the
highways. the sentinels rapidly lost patience
and many acts of brutality We're seen.
TAKEN AS A JOKE AT FIRST.
The North Shore residents and visitors were
at first inclined 10 take the aHalr as JOKE ana
to laugh about the army of invasion and the
tin soldiers A few who tried TO pass through
the lines were obstinate when told by the SEN
tries that they could not do So Many received
fierce prods with bayonets. and a driver OF
buggy by the name of Murphy. with little girl
beside him. struck on the head with the
butt end of a rifle. Secretary Erby. OF the Lin
coin Park Board drove TO the scene OF the
trouble and attempted TO pass through the lines
His horse almost ran down the sentry and IT
Was not until the ominous click OF the trigger
on the gun was heard that the buggy was
stcuped Secretary Erby then turned and made