The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-20
BATTLES
A SHERIFF'S FORCE
hunted Man Is Strongly Forti,
fled and Armed and Will
Die Game.
DRIVE is ABANDONED
DRIVE is ABANDONED
Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company
Obliged to Release Men Owing
to the Trouble With
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 a fresh supply Of am
munition. thus enabling him to hold
out for long period.
The lumber company has abandoned
the work and discharged its men. thus
taxing quite n force away from the
siege. Sheriff Peterson and few dep
ut1es only now remain upon the scene.
Mr.. Giblins story of how he and his
deputies were 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 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 were eating dinner with the
driving crew Gibin said DietZ fired
through the window of the camp, the
bullet striking 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
killed
Twenty-four kragJorgensen rifles
and 72O rounds of ammunition sent
from Ashland by 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 Is Abandoned.
Minneapolis, Mimi, May IA spa
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 10000 logs lie high and
dry, as Dietz will not allow the gates
closed. The trouble may delay all OPP
erations of the large mill If continued
| long.
Dietz sent a note TO the deputies
aefying them TO capture him, saying 1t
will take a whole regiment to do so,
and may cost many lives should they
attempt 1t. He is now fortified in his
nome in company with his wife, VAL
enttne w. EiSenbach, and three chill
dren. They have six Winchesters five
reNolvers and plenty of ammunition,
and have made holes in the walls of
The house through which to fire. The
a2ors 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
| |ished statement of reckless shooting
from ambush Of the Sawyer county
officers:
Thornapple, Wis, May II. 19O4-W.
| w. DctZ, Rice Lake, Wis.--Dear
Brother: The guerrilla band are here
from Hayward in full force, making
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 bench
warrant for my body. dead or alive,
but have not tried to serve 1t. This Is
a nice state of affairs, for l have not
done a thing, only to post a notice for
the company not to trespass.
| J. F. DIetz.
| A request from friends OF Detz was
made tonight to Governor La Toilette
asking that he take hand in the mat
ter and guarantee protection to the
hunted man.
|