The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-09-18
FORGET OLD FEUD TO SERVE FLAG.
Sons Of kentucky Outlaws Enlist in
Navy Together.

Philadelphia, Sept. 1.-Two boys
who, at birth, became principals in
ore of the bitterest ieuds the lawless
mountaineers of the South have ever
known-two boys whose families for
a decade have been involved in a
merciless war-have buried their
hereditary hatred to become com.
rades in Uncle Sans navy.
These lads, Perry McCoy and
"Anse" Notwithstanding to the
code their families cherish-should he
seeking each other with guns or
knives in the mountain businesses
around the West Virginia and Ken
lucky boundary-hut instead they
have hammocks slung side 10y side
on the training ship Minneapoli at
League Island.
II they were faithful to the precepts
they have heard since babyhood Me-
Coy and Hatfield would utilize Uncle
Sam's weapons of war to eXtermin-
ate each other. but instead they are
learning together how to fight for the
stars and stripes.
They are the first Of their clans
thus to admit the supremacy OF the
government. For 20 years at least
the McCoysand Hattields have ignor-
ed all law in order that they might
wipe each other from the earth.
We're League Island navy yard I'M
der the jurisdiction OF either the gov
ernor of West Virginia or the chief
executive OF Kentucky, the militia
would be called out if n Mccoy or a
Hatfield approached so closely as do
Perry and "Anso.'
One of the hard and fast rules OF
tomity between the two states is that
the McCoys shall remain within the
Kentucky line and the Hattields in
West Virginia. When it is violated
death ensues.
CIRCUMSTANCES FORCED THEM TOGETH-
Err OFTEN.
Knowing all these things, however,
Perry Mccoy and "Anse" Hatfield
have developed a strong friendship
they are brothers, though they hate
utterly each others stock.
About II week ago they signed for
four years service ms sailors at
Huntington, Ky. On Sunday they
became proteges OF Gunner Morgan
aboard the Minneapolis, at the
League Island navy. And in the few
days they have been there the boys
have made remarkable progress.
They are inseparable companions
when they are not learning some
trick OF the sailor trade. A person
familiar with their antecedents would
hardly believe that they were trained
in childhood to be enemies as men.
Each, however, feels that the frater.
nal feeling between them may some
day be broken by the discordant
notes echoing from the past.
Therefore they say nothing of the
folks back in the West Virginia and
Kentucky mountain country.
"Anse and are fast friends now"
Mccoy said yesterday. "Pd do any
thing for him, and l know l could de-
pend upon him were | in trouble.
"Once in a while-a very great
xhile-these friendships have existed
between the families. 'Anse's' moth
er, for instance, was my fathers sis
ter. But at the same time that was |
not thought OF when 'Anse's' uncle |
wished to kill my father.
"'Anse's uncle, known as Cap |
Hatfield, ambushed my father and
put him out OF the road.
"But 'Anse' and | nre trying to be
Just as dear to each other as we can,
and | shouldn't mention these old
troubles We never do among our
selves.
"We refrain from any mention OF
the past because we know that al
though we are close to-day it would
take but spark to set us at each
others throat.
HE is A HATFIELD AND IN A Mccoy.
"For friendship or not he is Hat
field, and I'm Mccoy.
"Ii We got started once the fact
that we were sailors for Uncle Sam
would make no difference. 1t would
be fight to the death-it's in the
bl11I -