The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-07-01
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Sheriff Harris Slayer Nearly at Bay in
Swamp Near La Crosse.

Swamp Near La Crosse.
La Crosse, Wis, June 20. - In the
marsh lands within fifteen miles of La
Crosse the haggard fugitive. Lon
Smith, the murderer of the sheriff Of
st. CroiX county, is crouching in a
desperate fight for life and liberty.
surrounded by hundreds of farmers
heavily armed; on the river side a
score Of steam and gasoline launches
are patro.ljng determined to preve.:t
his escape into Minnesota. 1t is feared
he will get over the river and tn stats
line during the night
An encounter mean a bloody fight,
perhaps death 20 IT, murderer or the
pursuers. Two compani IS of militia
are assisting in The search which is ex-
pected to bring to justice the murder
er Of the officer and of his family in
the West. Nc trace of Smith had Eeen
found last night, but the police OF this
city have been informed that he was
Seen by a Far.nsc
residing ten miles north Of La Crosse
at a late hour yesterday afternoon. He
q CpStuihS III q otOjC1 Iol oS lo"alN
the marshes, where he is now in hid
ing. In many ways the fight of Smith
across the state pursued by posses,
militia and ~bloodhounds resembles the
short career of Tracy. 1t is expected
he Will de more game IL escape be-
ONE impossible. Sheriff Lins of Wi
mona county is now securing the ter
ritory with a large posse. Sheriff
Leuth of La Crosse is prepared to call
together a heavily armed body of men
upon a moments notice. Several
farmers have beer held up by the
posses and it is feared some may have
been killed by mistake.
Winona, Mimi, June Calculations
in the man hunt across the river from
this city in Wisconsin are practically
unchanged since Sunday night. The
police here are of the opinion that the
murderer is
Not Near Winona.
1t was reported to Agent Dooney of
the Green Bay road at this place that
he had beer seen yesterday morning
about two miles south OF Taylor, Wis.
AS this is fifty miles from here it is
evident that all the searching and
guarding in this vicinity has been to
no end. At last accounts, however,
Smith was headed this way, SO there is
the possibility that if he thinks Wig
lance is becoming lax he will make a
dash for Minnesota. For this reason
the guards are being continued on all
the roads and bridges leading into
!Winona, and the river is also being
carefully watched.
The ~bloodhounds from Superior
were brought to Trempealeau yester-
day and started off north, but the ex-
act destination was not given out. 1t
is thought that they were to be taken
to a big tamarack swamp near Arcadia
and an effort made there to place
them on the trail of the fleeing maa.
All Sorts of Stories
are being circulated here, and if ru-
mors were believed the hunted man
has been cen by dozens of people in
as many places at the same time.
Across the river in Wisconsin every
thing is at fever heat, and if the muir
derer is there it is certain he will be
captured soone or later. Every
stranger is stopped and questioned,
and the lines are now drawn so closely
that it will be practically impossible
for a suspect to get outside of the
guarded zone.
The white heat axrifompnt which
prevails throughout Trempealeau ard
Buffalo counties in Wisconsin cannot
be imagined. The farmers are sleeping
with revolvers under their pillows or
guns within reach of their hands. 1t
is dangerous for a stranger to walk or
drive along the roads. Four negroes
were driven away from near Marsh
land yesterday for no other reason
than that they were strangers.