The Forrest City times., 1902-12-12
Mud Lake in Dispute.

From present indications war seems in
eEiisbie between the members OF Mem
phfs fishing club and the residents q For
frsi City. Ark ard nsighboring vicinity.
and The pros poets point to a conflict that
siIl rival The famous Rec foot lske iitiga-
ton.
Some time ago a party of Memphisns
organizea a clab which has not a. yet
been chartered with title. and purchased
la large tract OF Arkansas land which In
Guided Mud Lake near Forrest Ciy. The
grsund Was purchased as = asking pre-
serve for the clBb members and consider
/ allie improvements were made in the vi
clnity. a bayou which Is included in the
/ tract was damned and the erection Of
clubhouse was started for the use Of the
members.
TIE improvements which were made by
| the club were not objected to, but trouble
came later.
Las, Thanksgiving Day a party of
NemphisDs. which included PAGE Patier-
son. Ivan Shelby and Frank Harris, Wis
tied the grounds Of the club and remained
for several days on a fishing trip The
party left without any incident
Not long after the departure OF The
MemphiaBs several Distinguished East
erners visited Forrest City aUd they were
invited 10 trip TO the grounds OF the
Memphis club. The party set out from
Forrest City and after journeying about
twenty miles reached tbs fishing CLUB
grounds. On presenting themselves at
the clubhouse they were told that the
grounds we're reserved for members OF tile
club exclusively and that they were tres
passers upon the premises OF ether par
ties. In polite aud hrm manner they
were ordered Of Of the preserves by the
lodgekeeper.
his provoked hostilities and the party
returned 70 Forrest City highly ineensed
and vowing revenge for the alleged
offense Considerable feeling was stirred
up over the matter and grim forebodngs
OF litigation that threatens to rival the
court records OF the famous ReeliooI lake
were evident on every hand.
The Arkansans claim the Memphians
are not owners of the grounds in dispute,
but that they hold only lease upon the
land. This lease, it is commended, was
given Oh condition that the grounds would
oe open to any resident OF Forrest City
" no might choose TO spend a few days
enjoying themselves upon the preserves.
Against this contention the Memphians
claim that the land is owned in fee SIM
pie by the club, and that they have per
feet right to say who shall fish upon its
premises. Furthermore. the Memphians
claim that the whole tract is posted, and
that any one who would use the land
without the permission of the CLUB was
guilty of trespass.
The three Memphians who visited the
grounds last Thanksgiving Day say that
they know nothing OF the dispute that has
been waged over the ownership OF the
land and the right of the new club TO ex
clude any one it chooses from it, pre-
serves. They say. further. that the own
eIs Of the grounds have not as yet effected
permanent organization as a club. and
that no name for the organization has as
yet been adopted. They claim that they
have heard nothing OF the visit Of the
| Arkansans TO the grounds and the refusal
of the lodgekeeper 10 permit them TO fish
| in the lake.
The reports emanating from Arkansas
are OF the tenor that war is Oh, and that
unless some satisfactory settlement can be
agreed upon between the Memphians the
courts Will be called upon TO decide the
ownership of the Mud Lake preserve
| Commerciai-Appeal.
The title to the lands acquired by the
club has never been questioned by any
body in St. Francis county, but the lake
itself is public property and the people OF
ST. Francis county claim a right to hunt
on it as much so as the members of the
| club, and unless some compromise is
effected, that right will be tested in the
| courts. An invitation lad been extended
| 10 Forrest City people and some invited
friends from the East, and on reaching
| the lake were refused access. This
breach OF courtesy and promise provoked
considerable feeling, and it is hoped that
seine compromise may bring about better
feeling with the club and Arkansans.