The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18
THE -MIDDEBORo BATTLE.
Five Men known to be KiIled-Other
Casualties ProbabIe-Turner Men
Patrolling the Mountains.

Niddlesboro, KY, February 13.-Al-
though III scene of the fight yesterday
between the sheriff's posse and Lee
turner's. men is less than four miles
from his city, it is still impossible to
ascertain the a casualties on the
Turner side. 1t is known that nine men
Ill told, are dead. but it is not yet
known definitely how man. men were
In the log cabin when the officers made
the attack and burned it, and 1t may be
that several were killed Or wounded
and were consumed in the flames. Those
who escaped into the Cumberland
mountains are still defiant.
The dead are: Deputy Sheriff Charles
Cecil, posseman John Doyle n the
following mountaineers: Charles Dye,
negro Marsh Wilson, Perry Watson,
Frank Johnson. bartender; Mike WEIGH,
Jim Prado and Joe Hopper.
There are reports of wounded Turner
men being cared for in the mountains.
Numerous murders have for years
been reported as having been commit
ted in n about the noted log house,
which was surrounded by a barricade
forty feet high, and there are general
tApIGSSIO1S VI Satisfaction ofCI ~ w
struction.
A month ago some mules owned by
Turner were levied upon because OF a
debt due Giles Colson. A week g
Turner. with a body guard, went to VIZ
ginia. where the mules had been taken,
and regained them. While escaping,
Boore McCreary, one Of Turner's aids,
was MORALLY wounded.
Yesterday afternoon Deputy Sheriff
Thompson. of Bell county. swore In a
posse of fifty citizens of Middlesboro to
arrest Turner and the men implicated
in the Virginia raid. Turner heard of
this and gathered the mountaineerS into
his fortress for his defense.
When the posse arrived a demand for
surrender was refused and firing began
at once. Deputy Sheriff Cecil was KILL
ed in front of Turner'S gate. John
Doyle, a member of the posse. e~ndeavcr-
ed to secure the body and was shot
dead.
Enraged by this the posse set fire I"
the wooden fortress. The flames spread
rapidly and a steady stream of bullels
was poured into the barricade. result
Ing in the known deaths of seven other
men. Finally a number OF Turner men
fed to the mountains.
Trouble is expected, however. BEFORE
any arrests are made on the charge o.
numbering Cecil and Doyle.
Lee Turner, with his brother the
general" and a large force are patroll-
ing the district around the ruins of the
Quarter house" today and will allow
no one from MiddleSboro to pass TO tiS
Mingo' mines or elsewhere. Meantime
the officers are reticent as to their naSf
move:
1t was reported here tonight that Lee
Turner, propIi lie or Of the burned Quar-
ter house." who escaped from the party
with his brother the general" during
the battle yesterday afternoon. mad
been all day securing the mountains
to sether round him r:loush men Ia
come against the Midd]esboro officers
who burned his fort and killed his
~ktaunchest supporters. The Mlddies-
boro men are greatly alarmed n nave
mustered into service all who are await
able. The band that went after turner
yesterday has remained tose her all
day. Ten coal miners from Excelsior
went to Mingo mines. where Iurncr
was staying last night. and offered MN
their services.
Mrs. Turner. Lees wife. who lives
here. said tonight that she had nor
heard from her husband sincc the bat
tie occurred, excepting once when Lee
telephoned her that lac was safe. but
she is of the opinion that Turner viii
remain in the mountains and rebuild
his place. She also said Turner Is a
: man who does not know what defeat
is. and. If it shall be necessary. he will
put a standing army Of 500 mountain
GERS in bis fort.
Knoxville. Tenn, February ia
special from Middlesboro. Ky. says: