Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-30
A LINN COUNTY FEUD.
Remarkable Condition in Hills of
Northeastern Linn.

Berlin, Or, Dec. 20.--One of the
darkest chapters in feud which for
age and bitterness is as noteworthy
as any which have crimsoned the soil
of Kentucky or of California was
written after midnight Saturday,
when property worth almost $4,000,
belonging to the widow of Francis
Bellinger and her Ave sons was de-
stroyed by an incendiary.
Bloodhounds were put on the trail
of the perpetrator or perpetrators,
but too long a time was permitted to
elapse or the firebug or the firebugs
managed in some manner TO cover
their tracks, for after following them
for about four miles, Il is said, the
keen scented brutes became uncer-
tain in their movements and finally
showed they had been bafiled.
Having it's inception in the Hamll-
ton creek country almost 20 years
ago, the remarkable feud leading to
a long series of outrages has now
practically developed into guerilla
warfare. Incredible as 1t may seem,
within 100 miles of Portland Is a
large mountain district where many
prominent characters go armed con-
stantly in anticipation of attack by
their fellows; where men usually
carry rifles when rounding up stock,
visiting wood camps or attending to
business calling them back into the
densely wooded country or to points
any distance from their homes; where
men and even women sleep with re-
volvers under pillows or rifles or
shotguns loaded with buckshot with
In easy reach; where the watchdog
Is necessary and important pos
session, and where many barns are
as carefully guarded as are ranch
houses after night lowers her sable
curtain.
The series OF Incidents" as such
affairs are euphoniously termed by
these grim mountalneers, in whom
the sense OF honor Is always a con-
spicuous trait, include shooting and
cutting scrapes. the burning of barns
and sawmills. the cow-hiding OF men
denudod, stock rustling, the way
laying and brutal beating OF women
end children. In which the wives OF
ranchers have also figured as aggres-
sors; the cutting OF telephone wires,
and other events in the same cate
CORY too numerous TO mention.
Leading spirits in this continual
clashing have been the Bellinger
,boys-Jasper, Grant, Deb" and
sheer" Their brother, Nelson, has
never taken part in any of the Inn
broglios and has successfully es-
ecaped becoming an object OF the
hatred OF the enemies of his rela-
tlves. Grant Belllnger married Sarah
Fhzwater, the daughter OF "Old
Uncle Jimmy" Fhzwator, and as a
result the Fitzwaters, who are nu-
merous and cut n good sized figure
In Hamilton creek affairs, have In
certain measure been drawn into the
general strife.
1 Strange as IL may seem, however
Bellinger once turned against rela-
tive of his wife, VIII Fltzwater, and
induced young Jesse Mckinney Ia
try to thrash him at a dance al
Loftin's sawmill, on what Is called
the "swale," in the Happy Home dis
ltrict. In defending himself, Fitz-
water, then & mere boy, stabbed Me-
Kinney almost to death with a pocket
knife. Although arrested and i'm
prisoned for a short time, he was
never prosecuted, despite the efforts
Iof Bellinger, and to this day he and
his brother cherish intense animos
Iity toward. the husband OF theil
cousin.
A few months ago the aunt of Mrs
Bellinger appeared in court agains
lher as a witness when she was prose
cuted for waylaying two daughters
of w. NJ. Woolsey and severely beat
ling one with a club while her hus
band held the other. Mrs. Bellinge
was convicted of this offense anS
fined, the bill of costs aggregatin'
to large amount.
The bad feeling leading TO the feu'
had its origin about 20 years ago
when Grant Bellinger is said to hav
ridden a horse into a Methods
church in the Crabtree district. HI
was arrested and fined for this. Tn
bitterness of feeling did not manifes
itself except at infrequent times unit
after the death of Francis BellingeI