The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-08-24
Cameron pam-cause of the ~TroubIe
Dietz Not sIoodth1rsty.

But Dietz, if he is an outlaw, is not
so bloodthirsty man as that charge
would imply.
News of the expected attack upon
the Dietz stronghold had reached
Hayward, and it was expected that this
final attack on Dietz would mean his
capture A newspaper correspondent
started for the Dietz home about the
time that the sheriff was leaving CIV
ilization for the wilderness on the
other side. Dietz did not even show
gun at the arrival OF. the newspaper
man, four hours after the battle, but
was a simple, hospitable Wisconsin
pine slashing pioneer in appearance
and manner. The newspaper man was
given bed that night, well fed, and
told the story of the war of Dietz
against the lumber company and the
courts, and heard of earlier efforts to
At the end of the visit the entire
family accompanied the reporter to
the edge of the river. AS the newspa-
per man took to the woods, amid the
waving of hands, his ears were greet
ed by hymn sung by the entire out
law family, as they marched back up
the hill to again take UP the bitter
fight against the world.
The Dietz home is characteristic Of
the pioneer district of northern Wis
consin. 1t is a simple one-story log
hut, chinked with moss and clay, and
here Dietz lives with his family Of
crack marksmen-yes, and marks
women, too, for all the girls have been
taught from the cradle the use of
rife.
It is a case of poor mans war
against a lumber company which he
could not afford to fight in the courts,
and because Dietz has used the means
offered him he has been termed an
outlaw
All northern and western Wisconsin
is interested in his fight, and lately,
when the report became current that
Gov. Davidson would send troops to
help the sheriff effect a capture, it
was found that fully 1000 men in the.
counties of Gates, Chippewa, Barron
and Hayward would go to his help if
necessary to fight the national guards
men.
With all this notoriety theatrical
manager thought that Dietz would be
a good man to put on the vaudeville
stage, but none of that life for Dietz.
He refused the offer.
Not Shy of Strangers.
With the repetitions Of efforts to
capture him it would be supposed that
the Dietz family would be shy of
strangers, but this is not the case. A
deputy United States marshal went
into the farm to serve papers, posed
as sick fiserman and was kindly
treated. He was unceremoniously
kicked out of the place, however, when
he tried to serve the papers.
The family usually, however, seems
to recognize an officer by instinct. Sew
eral times have newspaper men been
able to get to the farm and chat with
Dfetz, but no officer except the United
States marshal who was given
hearty northern Wisconsin kick has
ever reached the cabin on duty bound.
Two sheriffs of Sawyer county have
resigned, after being unable to get the
man. One United States marshal
failed and his deputy was served SIM
ilarly. Sheriff Gylland has made his
fourth attempt, and he has failed.
AT first the effort was merely to
serve summons in a civil action to
force the opening of the dam. but
when Dietz successfully withstood
these efforts to get him off guard so
that the piled up timber could be sent
through the sluices of the dam. a
criminal charge was made of attempt
Ing to kill deputy sheriff, who was
wounded during the previous expedi-
ton.
This charge Is ridiculed by the
friends of Dietz, who say that if he
had shot to kill his target would never
have moved again. Dietz shoots
straight
The refusal of the governor to send
troops now leaves the case with the
sheriff, but he cannot decide whether
to send another posse in to shoot
down the family or not.
1T is a case of discriminating the
family, men, women and girls" he
says. THE girls shoot as well as the
men, and are less afraid of exposing
themselves. They know we don't
want to shoot woman