Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-02-14
A PITCHED BATTLE.
1t Was Fought on the Lake
Shore at Chicago.
During the Melee n watchmen wns
Fatally Shot - Another Chapter
in thc History Of n Stubborn
Contest for Possession
or"Madeo Land.

Chicago, Feb. 12.-During fight
with Winchester rifles last evening
between the followers of rival claim
ants to property lying along tho
Lake Shore drive, the most aristo-
cratic boulevard in Chicago, Frank
Kirk, watchman for one of the
claimants, was shot through the head,
sustaining mortal wound.
The property in dispute consists OF
made land lying east of the Lake
Shore drive and between it and Lake
Michigan. Capt. George w. Streeter.
who has for many years been thorn
in the side of North Side property
owners because of his propensity to
settle on vacant ground and then
claim in the courts the rights of
squatter, has erected several small
shanties on this ground and claims
that inasmuch as it was not original
ly included in the government sur
veys of the state of Illinois, it does
not belong to the state, but was pub
lie property open to settlement. He
claims to be the first settler and calls
the ground 1.-The District of Lake
Michigan" and denies that the Of
ficials of the city of Chicago or the
on it.
Between Streeter and his men, and
the watchmen employed by the prop
erty owners along the Lake Shore
drive. there have been frequent fights.
Last night Henry Cooper, a lawyer,
who has been active in his opposition
to Streeter, accompanied by Police
man O'Malley went upon the ground
a.. l.,. ...tss nlynI
by Streeter, who knocked him down
with the butt of revolver.
Shortly after Cooper and OMalley
had left the ground pitched battle
broke out between three of Streeter's
followers, William McManners, Will
liam Blocki and John Hoeldtke, and
two watchmen employed by Cooper.
Frank Kirk and Samuel Portorus.
Kirk and Portorus were standing just
outside n small shanty OF their own,
and one of the first shots fired
struck Kirk in the top of the head.
Portorus entered the shanty and re-
turned the fire of the Streeter men
with Winchester.
4 riot call was sent to the East
Chicago avenue police station and
wagon filled with officers was sent
toward the place. When the officers
arrived Kinks body lay in the snow
just outside his shanty, while from
the window. Portorus kept up a
steady fire upon the three men in tho
other house who were returning his
fire with all the speed with which
they could work their rifles.
The firing ceased as the police ap-
peared, and a Gordon of officers was
at once thrown around the shanty in
which McAlanners, P.ocld and Hoeldt-
Ike were. They bag caded the door
and threatened to kill the first Of
ticer who approached. Headed by
Capt. Revere n squad of policemen be-
gan to batter in the door while the
others stood waiting with drawn re-
volyers for the first shot from with
in. Because of the entreaties of Mrs.
McManners, who had been inside the
cottage throughout the fight. her hus-
band decided not to resist the Of
fcers and the door was opened be-
fore the police had broken it down.
The three men and Mrs. McManners
were at once arrested and taken to
the police station.
Returning to the building the Of
ficers found that Streeter had barri-
caded the house once more. He was
summoned to surrender and after
some parley gave himself up. When
he came out of the house he carried
a rifle and four reyolvers. He claims
that he was not on the ground when
the fight was in progress. McMan-
ners, Blocki and Hoeldtke claim that
the first shot was fired by Kirk and
that he was shot when they returned
his fire. This is denied by Portorous.
who claims that the other side fired
the opening shot. All persons living
on the "District of Lake Michigan"
were placed under arrest pending the
death or recovery of Kirk.
Kirk died at the Passavant Me-
mortal hospital last night without re-
gaining consciousness.