The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-07-19
CAMERON DAM WAR FARCE
NO SERIOUS EFFORT EVER MADE
TO CAPTURE AND BRING JOHN
DIETZ INTO COURT.
HE NEVER KILLED A MAN.
Expeditions Marched UP the Hill and
Down Again, Sawyer County and
Lumber Company Paying Cost.

RICE LAKE. Wis, July 1G.-tSpe-
cial. Am alleged dispatch to a Miwau-
kee newspaper printed last Friday
morning asserted that another effort was
made by Sheriff Gyland of Sawyer coun-
~ to capture the much-adycrtised John
Dietz, the Thornapple dam outlaw
This is probably an error. for 1t undoubt-
eddy refers to an effort recently made
whether final or not cannot definitely be
stated-whch ended as all previous Ell
forts have in bill to the county board
for expenses. This bill was presented to
the board the day the dispatch was sent
to the Milwaukee paper.
Never Killed a Man.
AS matter of fact, the entire sensa-
ton over the Thornapple dam contro-
versy is something of a farce, il the
stories told in this section of the state
are to be believed. There is contro-
vcrsy over the title to the land on which
the dam is situated between Dietz and
the corporation that owns the timber
above the dam. Civil suits have been in
sttutcd to Dust Dietz from the land, but
he continues to hold possession. This
controversy has been in progress for two
years or more and during that time
armed TO the teeth, thirSting for the
blood of the minions Of tie corporation
as well as defying the police power OF
the United States and the great and
sovereign state Of Wisconsin.
But John Dict2 has never killed
man. He has not even killed a child, lie
has not laid himself open to arrest on
n criminal warrant. He has refused to
be dispOssCsscd or driven from his farm.
lie has announced in firm manner that
he would resist any attempt to force
him to leave his property or the farm
he claims to hold under good title, as
he believes that possession is an impor-
tant point in the settlement Of civil
action And it is because he has com
mittcd no overt act Of violence that
would make him amcnable to the courts
under criminal charge that lie is still
in possession Of the Ihornapplc dam.
Material for Opera.
The stories told of the events that
have marked the progress of this con
troversy would furnish ample material
for a comic opera. Pinkerton detectives
have lowered around the humble log
cabin of the "outlaw" in droves; deputy
shcriffs have trampcd through the woods
in the ncighborhood Of Thornapple dam
in patO0ns carrying Winchester rifles
on their shoulders.
At one time twcnty-nne deputy Unit
ed States marshals with n supporting
force Of sixty lrreEulaTs, enlisted TO serve
during the war, with cighty-nlne repeat
ing rifles and enough ammunition to glut
the market in South American repub
lie during n revolution, Campcd on the
line of John Diets farm and sent Tor
ward Il flag Of truce by the hand of
courageous deputy who notlned Dlct2
that he must surrender on pain of suf
tcring an assault on his works. Dcn
replied that he would not surrender; he
expressed the opinion that ne might he
kIcH IN iue IHIlC"ilIuT u",t'I, Uul II
he aLle in do some little execution him.
self ana he was ready to die in defense
of his rights and his property. There
was some talk about this rock shah
fly from its firm has" rs soon as" and
so forth But, MS there is no known
provision in the civil code that justiiics
a United States marshal in shooting up
a man merely because he refuses to sur.
render property he claims to own, the
posse was withdrawn.
No Effort IN Seize
~, -. -.
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nuir."H 49, 49,, h az
"',ua"S ~, a,," i i'', Lee '''I, '',.,
Ioui n,,g 80" hn,t r' ',,'
LUZ tt'S INV "| .,Y' ~, no,,,ts "' o",
i,"a,',',',' ~ ',t,l u.I,aro biot, ,,,ms
Grod ,,,,o,i he, MAJ ~ mon hnILinr ~,
NJ 't,,,,i'.i,. ~ ,,,nnneaJ tn rnnrn
ea,,t tho InnnhnT cornrany., otbar stories
III H., b;",,y rrinr,lI ara tn tLo ofTnct
thot - cav and several sheen belonging