Evening star., 1900-05-26
WAR ON IN CHICAGO
Old Capt. Streeter Defes Polics With
Armed Band.
he is INTRfNCHED WITH ARTILLERY
Takes ForcibIe Possession of Prop
erty Worth. Many Millions.
BOY O.NLOOKER SHOT

! CHICAGO. May 26-With an armed body
| or twenty men, two rapid-fire guns and
some barbed wire for making entangle-
rtents. Capt. George Streeter today took
possession of 1856 acres of land here. After
hosting the United States flag, his men
threw up two intrenchments and planted in
| each one of the rapid-fire guns.
shortly before noon blood was spilled be-
fore Capt Streeter's stronghold. Pickets
| thrown out by the occupants of the
trenches discovered party approaching
from the direction of Lincoln Park. consist
| ing of Park Superintendent Rediesk and
Secretary Erby. reinforced by a policeman.
Calls of Halt failed to stop the park Off
| cials. who were bent upon finding out who
| was "encroaching upon their ground"
volley from the pickets rifles quickly
| put to flight the investigating party, how
ever, and one of the bullets struck a four
teen-year-old boy-Reuben Manly-in the
| right knee inf1icting severe wound.
ME park officials fled to patrol box and
turned in a riot call A force of twenty or
thirty policemen, armed with revolvers and
clubs. hurried to the scene from the Chica go
avenue station. When the officer in COM
mand saw the display of force, Gatling
guns being pointed his way over the en-
nchments. he ordered retreat The po-
lice Immediately returned to the Chicago
avenue station, where arrangements were
made to arm them with Winchester rifles.
| in an endeavor to capture the Streeter
forces.
Police Armed With Rifles.
Forty policemen were armed with rifles
and ordered to remain at the Chicago ave-
nue. station by Chief of Police Ripley,
pending a decision on the part of the city
law department as to the legality of an
attack on the Streeter forces. Up to /
o'clock the corporation counsel had not
reached an opinion on the matter, but was
expected to do so momentartly.
In the shooting which greeted the park
officials their attempt to enter Streeter s
alleged domain a bullet struck Secretary
Erby's carriage horse. and the animal died
an hour later Measures We're being taken
by the police department to meet what they
expect to be the greatest battle between
the police and opposing forces since The
Haymarket riot. In every section of the
city patrolmen We're called from their beats
wherever practicable and placed upon re-
serve in the police stations.
An extremely fine point of law is In
volved in the case Capt Streeter has
issued a 'declaTation of independence,
ting forth his alleged rights to the prop
erty and served copy upon the United
States marshal of the district The po-
lice felt that they Were amply able to wipe
| out Streeteris FORCES, and were bent upon
doing so. because of the fact that the men
N--''' 80
of the statutes of Illinois.
Chief kipley was in favor of Immediately
descending upon tEe Streeterites and plac-
ing them unqer arrest, regardless of con-
sequences. - -
Before this plan could be put into opera
ton, however, the city authorities decided
to take no rash step, and to lay the whole
matter before thei corporation counsel for
his Interpretation of the law.
Strectef's Claim to the Land.
cfof 70 tha Low
which. were the title clear would be worth
between thirty ana fifty millions of dol
lars. In 1885 Capt. -Streeter and his wife
were stranded on a little sand bar few
yards from the shore at the foot of Su-
perior 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 himself
to all the offices which he, in framing g
constitution. deemed the territory in
need of.
AS the years passed by the dumping of
all sorts of refuse and earth washed up by
the lake formed large tract, and Capt.
Streeter became of Importance With
his Importance and the increased value of
the land his troubles began. The tract be-
came connected with the shore, and owners
OF adjoining property resented the presence
of Capt. Streeter and the retainers he had
gathered about him. They carried the mat
ter into court.
Supreme Court Decision.
The Supreme Court of the United States
decided that the land was within the juris-
| die ton of the state Of Illinois. Streeter
| thereupon offered the district to the federal
| government A. year ago he organized,
| under the name District Of Lake Michi-
! gan" a territorial government and elected
| himself chief justice and to other offices of
| Importance. The police, however, descended
| ON him and his army of fifty men, and
| since ther up to today the captain had lived
! in another part of town.
The preparations to retako possession
| were made with great secrecy, and it was
| not until dawn today that the police were
| aware of the invasion. Patrolman O'Malley
| saw small schooner anchored off the
shore when daylight broke. From the boat
Capt. Streeter landed his men, and the pa
| trolman telephoned Inspector Heidelmeier
| Of the occurrence. The Inspector resolved
| to make move in the matter until after
| a conference with the law department of
| the city. and in consequence the invaders.
| or rightful owners. as they claim to be.
were left unmolested while the police were
trying to figure out campaign.