Evening star., 1909-04-22
MAY Be OPENED TO ALL
Legislature Considers ReeIfoot
Lake Question.
Committee REPORT SOON
Sheet of Water in Tennessee Cause
of Many Crimes.
ORIGIN OF NIGHT RIDING"
Earthquake Responsible for Almost
Unlimited Supply Of Fish.
Title to Property.
ORIGIN OF MIGHT RIDING
BY WILLIAM E CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The star and


nessee Only few miles from the bank OF
the Mississippi river is lake from If
teen to eighteen miles long. varying in
width from half a mile to five miles and
in depth from a lew inches to twelve feet |
in the deepest part. II covers super
ficial area of about 27.CnO acres. and is
one of the results of what is known as
the New Madrid earthquake of 1s11-12
Prior to that date that section of Tennes-
see was comparatively high land covered
by a dense growth of timber and trav-
ersed by two streams called the Obion
river and the Bayou de Chem The
courses of these streams can still be |
identified at the bottom of the lake.
Before the earthquake all of the area
nov covered by the lake was disposed of
hy the state of North Carolina to individ |
uals for settlement. The Oldest grant
bears the date of 1Iss. and the most re-
cent that of 1874 Since the earthquake |
the face Of nature has been so changed
tn the boundaries of these grants cam
not be identified, and it is contended by
.some authorities that the failure OF the |
grantees TO take possession prior to the
upheaval vitiates their titles. on the theory |
that grants issued by the state for land
cannot legally be applied to water. A
Tennessee court has already rendered |
decision on one claim and sustained the
title
1t is a curious situation. and has only !
recently assumed any interest or i'm |
portance. but for the last year has been
one of the livest propositions that the
involves might riding" murders, assas- |
sinations. military expeditions and mar
tial law and six men are now under SEN
tence of death for crimes growing out
Of it.
Named After Indian Chief
Reelfoot lake was named from an In
dian chief who dragged his foot after |
him. Before the great system of levees
was built along the banks of the Missis- |
sippi to protect the plantations from the
annual food the lake had q connection |
with the river. but the levees have cut
1t of. and only occasionally, when the
then an outflow. The lake is fed by a
large number of springs and rivulets
arising from them In the neighborhood
and is one Of the finest fishing places in
with black bass. crappie drum fish. perch. |
buffalo fish and other varieties equally |
edible and popular. The perch and black |
bass. which are served regularly upon
the tables of the hotels and clubs at
often shipped to st. Louis, are as fine |
as any fish in the world, and there is a |
great demand for them.
Until recently fishing was free under the
general regulations adopted by the legis-
lature and enforced by the game warden. |
which make 1t unlawful to use any
method or device except angling with |
hook and line Licensed fishermen were al |
lowed to take fish for the market in wing
nets and adjacent land owners were al |
lowed to set traps for fish for use on their |
own tables only and not for sale-except |
during the spawning season. These laws
have been very well observed.
The abundance of fish I'm ReeIfoof 1ake
has attracted about one hundred fisher
men who. with their families live upon
its banks and have engaged regularly
with wing nets. shipping to the neighbor-
Ing markets their catch, which has
amounted to about 100000 pounds per
annum. and could be increased one-half
as much more without injury. Besides
the regular fishermen sportsmen have
clubs have been located and the farmers
in that vicinity have been in the habit
of going down to the lake on Sundays
and whenever they could get away from
their tasks and have supplied their own
families.
Company Buys Up Titles.
Two years ago five men living in the
neighborhood-Judge Harris. r. z. Taylor,
Seid Waddell. J. r. Deason and W. A.
Pleasant-all very reputable citizens-
bought up all the titles they could dis
ty-five thousand acres Of water and shore,
and organized the West Tennessee Land
Company. They then proceeded to lease
the lake and the exclusive privilege Of
Tenn. for a term Of ten years for
a rental of $4,000 a year. Mr. Burdick
made few improvements. He built
two or three small and inexpensive docks
spend altogether more than two thousand
or twenty-five hundred dollars He then
gave notice TO professional fishermen that
they must come TO him for permits to
continue their business and must pay
him a royalty Of one-half cent per pound
upon their catch. Notices were posted
prohibiting all other individuals from
fishing In the lake without permits. which
could be obtained from Mr.. Burdick upon
the payment OF fees.
As no one had ever been called to pay
for hshing In Realfoot lake before. and
everybody. great and small black and
white. had been allowed the privilege
without restriction as long as they did
not violate the game laws. there was
. revolution In that vicinity. Indigna-
tion meetings were held. protests were
adopted, lawyers were consulted. the
sheriff and even the governor were ap-
pealed to. but the West Tennessee Land
Company showed a title to the owner
ship and Burdick showed by his lease that
he was paying $4,000 a year and must
get his money back from the men who
caught and sold the fish.
Fishermen Refuse to Pay.
Most of the fishermen refused to pay
the royalty or even TO take license but |
a minority Of them. having no other
means OF support. did so under protest |
rather than starve. They were admonish-
ed. entreated and threatened by other
fhsermen. who refused to pay, and finally
a band OF might riders was organized to
punish all persons who recognized the |
right Of Burdick and the land company. |
They began by burning docks, boats and |
warehouses: they whipped honest fisher |
royalty TO the lessee: they burned the |
houses and GOATS Of fishermen who would |
not join their association and created |
a reign of terror which eliminated in |
the assassination Of Capt. Rankin, a well |
known and highly esteemed lawyer who |
acte~ as legal advisor to Burdick and |
the land company. and prosecuted several
might riders for outrages they had com
mitted.
The situation became so serious that the |
sheriff OF the county and other officers |
Of the law were absolutely powerless. |
Several persons were whipped to death, |
and a number Of families burned out |
OF house and home. Finally Gov. Patter-
son, who is a man Of great energy and
ment OF militia. declared martial law and
took command. The result was an en-
tire suppression of the might riders
and the conviction In court OF eight reck-
less young men. who were leaders In the
outrages and disorder. Two Of them have |
been sentenced to imprisonment for twen- |
ty years. and six Of them have been con- |
demned to death. Their execution has
been postpond. however. because an APP |
has heAu granted tn the Suprena |