The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-20
DESPERATE BATTLES
A SHERIFF'S FORCE
1unted Man Is Strongly Forti,
fled and Armed and Will
Die Game.
DRIVE is ABANDONED
Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company
Obliged to Release Men Owing
to the Trouble Vita
Dietz.

Milwaukee. Wis, May IA Sentinel
special from Hayward, Wis, says Dep
uty Sheriff Giblin returned from the
scene Of the conflict where the desper-
ado. Dietz, holds forth. Mr.. Giblin says
it is almost impossible to get Dietz
alive, as he is intrenched behind the
locks OF the dam with commanding
view of the surroundings. Dietz had,
he said. secured fresh supply of am
munition, thus enabling him to hold
out for long period.
The lumber company has abandoned
the work and discharged It's men. thus
taking quite u force away from the
siege. Sheriff Peterson and a few dep
uties only now remain upon the scene.
Mr.. Giblins story of how he and his
deputies We're ambushed by Dietz puts
the latter in desperate light. AS the
party. Including Elliott. was approach
ing the dam DietZ and another man dis
guised with blackened faces and hands
stepped from behind a tree and began
firing upon them. One bullet passed
through the hat of the driver, momen-
tarily stunning him, and he fell out Of
the wagon, While their team took fright
and ran.
Deputies Giblin and Elliott spent
The night ten miles below their objec-
tive point. but returned next day to
While they We're eating dinner with the
driving crew Giblin said DietZ fired
through the window of the camp, the
bullet striking n man named Tracy,
Shattering the bone of his left arm. A
few shots were returned by the depu-
ties. They also express the opinion
| that Weisenbach, the settler aiding
Diet, is seriously wounded If not
killed.
Twenty-four krag-Jorgensen rifles
and 720 rounds of ammunition sent
from Ashland by a militia officer are
at the express office here consigned to
Sheriff Peterson. The express agent
has been notified to hold the consign-
,nent until he receives orders from Gov
ernor La Toilette.
Big Drive ls Abandoned.
Minneapolis, Mimi, May ia spe
cial to the Tribune from Chippewa
Falls, Wis, says:
| The Chippewa Lumber and Boom
company has abandoned its drive at
Cameron dam on account of the Dietz
trouble. About 100000 logs lie high and
dry, as Dietz VIII not allow the gates
closed. The trouble may delay all OPP
erations of the large mill II continued
| long.
Dietz sent a note TO the deputies
| iefying them to capture him. saying 1t
will take whole regiment to do SO,
and may cost many lives should they
attempt it. He is now fortified in his
home in company with his wife, VAL
entne w. Eisenbach. and three chill
dren. They have six Winchesters, five
revolvers and plenty of ammunition,
and have made holes In the walls Of
| !he house through which to fire. The
aoors and windows are barricaded.
Dietz Protests His Innocence.
Barron, Wis, May 13.-John Dietz,
of Thornapple dam, who has sprang
into notoriety the past few days for
the reported holding at bay and shoot
Ing of officers while resisting arrest,
writes to his brother, w. w. Dietz
of Rice Lake, Wis, the following let
ter, which seems to contradict the pub
lished statement of reckless shooting
from ambush Of the Sawyer county
officers:
Thornapple, Wis, May II, 1904.-W
w. Dietz, Rice Lake, Wis.-Dear
Brother: The guerrilla band are here
from Hayward in full force, MAXI Ing
threats to shoot me and armed to the
teeth. They think they will get revenge
for the part I took in the election two
years ago. They claim to have a bench
warrant for my body, dead or alive
but have not tried to serve 1t. This Is
a nice state of affairs, for I have not
done a thing, only to post n notice fol
the company not to trespass.
J. F. Dletz.
A request from friends OF Dietz was
made tonight to Governor La Toilette
asking that he take u hand in the mat
ter and guarantee protection to the
hunted man.