The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-07-26
BIG BATTLE AT BONESTEEL
Citizens Put Down Disorder by
Force Of Arms.
STATE TROOPS BEING Modified

Four Policemen and a Dozen Gamblers
Are Shot at Bonesteel, 3. D.-A Train
load Of the Latter Deported TO Kan-
sas * Blood Marks the Pathway of
Conhict--LawIessnes Finally Checked
Bonesteel, S. D.-Four special POI
Iicemen and twelve gamblers were
shot here In an all night battle between
$50 grafters and criminals on the one
side and the decent element on the
other. The elimination of long series
of sensational events came with the
deportation of trainload Of the worst
characters which had gathered from
all parts Of the country Nearly 100
men of this stripe were loaded into
freight cars and taken from the town
They were dumped into Nebraska, sew
enty-fiye miles away.
State troops are being modified at
several points, according to kilograms
from the Lieutenant Governor of the
State, and several companies will soon
reach Bonesteel to protect the people
during the drawing and filing of lands.
Open warfare began when two graft
ers were arrested for beating and rob-
bling landseeker in open daylight. 1t
required the entire police force to jail
them, and then confederate confront
ed the officers and demanded their re-
lease in five minutes or the whole town
would be burned and every man killed.
Before five minutes passed the jail
doors were thrown open and f0ursc0re
crooks bore the two men triumphantly
down the street. Police officers were
disarmed and reign of lawlessness
followed. Men were beaten and robbed
without ceremony.
In one instance a Kansan asked his
change at gaming table. 1t was re.
fused. The gambler covered him with
gun. The Kansan contrived to get
the drop on him, and thus they stood,
revolvers pointing at each others
hearts. Then the gambler laid down.
The other put up his gun and at once
a gang of crooks pounced upon him
and beat him brutally. Chief of Police
O'Brien looked on without stirring.
The Town Board notified Patsy
Wagner, of Sioux City, and Tom Stan
ton, of Omaha, concessi0naires, that If
the grafters did not stop, every citizen
would be armed and ordered TO shoot
them as fast as they could be found.
Wagner and Stanton controlled the
situation fairly well until Stanbro and
Harrison, policemen, were assaulted
before the Pike saloon, and the shoot
ing began. Both were wounded.
Wagner was shot shortly after, as was
Merriville. Then 100 special police
Were called for
Hardware stores were stripped OF
their weapons. The army of volun-
teers, helped by the better gamblers,
began driving out the grafters like rab-
bits chased from bushes. When pos
sible, they were arrested. but many
fell back until out Of the town limits.
Then the grafters, Infatuated by their
defeat, turned upon their pursuers.
They charged, hundred strong They
had only revolvers, and were soon
swept back by volleys from shotguns
and rifles Of the police. One after an
other they were carried away, and
blood trails marked the courses taken.
After over 200 shots were fired they
were completely routed and the special
police turned back with the forty-five !.
prisoners whom their fellows had tried
unsuccessfully to rescue.