The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-08-27
MEN WITH BLACKENED FA.
CES KILL A BAND OF ONE
THOUSAND SHEEP.
Herder Is Overpowered, Bound and
Blindfolded-Lone Witness
Closely Hid-Desperadoes
Shoot for Two Hours
Other News.

Antelope, Dr., Aug. 23.-Mob law
reigns supreme on the ranges of Gen.
tral Oregon, and as an added evil
dence to the Silver Lake Slaughters
of last spring, over 1000 thorough
bred sheep belong to Morrow &
Keenan,, of Willow Greek, Crook
county, were killed last Friday ev-
ening at Little Summit Prairie, 40
miles east of Prineville. This fact
was announced last evening by tel
ephone message from young Kee-
nan, a son of one of the owners of
the massacred sheep, who has been
acting as camptender for the four
bands OWNED by his company and
grazed in the Little Summit region.
Young keenan, states that while
the herder was alone and occupied
with the care of his flock during the
late afternoon. he was accosted by
three unmasked horsemen, who de-
parted after a short conversation.
Almost Immediately following their
disappearance band of about 20
horseman, with faces blackeued,
emerged from the timber unobserv-
ed until they had approached with.
In short distance of him, when a
command to throw up his hands
was given and complied with, after
which he was bound haad and foot
and bindfolded by means of a grain
sack being tied over his head.
Leaving him near tree, and be.
hind it for protection from the bull
lets. general fusilade with Win
chesters was commenced by the
. mob, which lasted nearly two hours,
or ultil Sundown, by which time
;;tths satire tand had deither been kill.
ed or scattered in every direction.
Young keenan, had heard the fir.
ing in the meantime, and ciawled
through the underbrush to safe
distance, from where he was an
| eyewitness to the work of the mob.
! He made no attempt at retaliation
although it is understood that both
/ he and his herder were armed with
the latest automatic rapid. firipe
Colt's pistols. No clue has been
Obtained of the guilty parties, AND
owing to existing conditions in thai
section, apprehension and convic
7 tion is considered almost an impcs
sihility.
Morrow & keenan,, who suffered
I the loss, which will amount to sew
eral thousand dollars, and repre-
I sentative sheepmen of Crook coun'
ty, owning about 10000 lead o
= sheep, which, up to the present tim
! they have always ranged withou
trouble. Their headquarters arr
Il on Willow Creek, Is miles north o
: PrineviIle, and comprises severa
thousand acres of decided land.
The shooting follows an attempt a
a compromise between the two stool
factions which was made about tw
months ago and which with th
sanction of the representativ
CT tile and sheepmen. and tn
slaughter Of last FRIDAY is re regarde,
ss the work of irresponsible pattie
who had no other purpose in vie,
than the wanton destruction of prop
elty.
Much surprise has been evince
on all sides that the slaughter shoul
occur among what has been terme
''home sheep" as it has general
been supposed that whatever fee
ing may have existed was directe
at the outside sheep, and principa
, ly those owned by the members {
, the Antelope Wool Growers Assoc
alton, whose efforts to establish
foothold in Crook county met wit
the agreement mentioned. Th
agreement was followed by the sent
! ing of an anonymous letter to II
b secretary Of the association, in whic
!, not only the mem bers' stock WI
z threatened, but their lives also
y case they ventured to presume upe
D any agreement granting lange pri
u ilegea, and it was made plain TIL
Il the public range of Crook count
d would be conserved for individu
use at any cost,