The Washington times., 1909-06-20
THEY FIRED FIRST.
SAYS GRIM LEADER
Peace Pact Broken by Attempted Assassination of Noted
Feudist-Mountain Fighters Tell of Causes and
Training That Make Possible Feud.

like this. I just came in to town for
some freight. 1 have sent word to my
folks to meet me down at the foot of
the mountain tomorrow night. I'm a
marked man, you know, an my wife
didn't want me to come today, any
way. l amt been out of the house. not
lately. I Just lay around home, for ]
guess they're gOin ter git me-
The next afternoon. as we were re-
turning from the home OF Ed Callahan,
We met Willie Deaton and his body
guard proceeding slowly up the noun
tain side. His folks had met him.
Each man had his weapon and each
eyed us suspiciously until we came near
enough to be recognized.
Hello. it's you agin, is it?'' shouted
Deston- Turn aroun' and spen' the
night, he added, as he,again placed the
gun on the seat beside him.
The invitation was typical of the big
heart of these Kentucky mountaineers.
No worthy stranger ever was turned
away from their hillside homes. Their
last crust of bread is yours If you are
hungryi their bed. sometimes a pallet
upon the floor. is yours IL you are with
out place TO lay your head: all they
nave and whatever they have, Is yours
so long as You are open and above
board They ask nothing but fair deal
ing; they give nothing else in return
They may murder an enem- and suffer
never twinge of conscience; they
would not rob d stranger-or friend for
all the gold ever turned from the mint.
They are hospitable. kind, indulgent to
all those who are without the pale of
feudal enmity.
They are bitter. unforgiving. uncona-
promising toward those who have given
offense or who in the past have been
disregardful of the mountain code IF
honor. or OF the proper amount of
primitive courtesy considered due a
fellow-man.
"Brainy" Heads
of Smith-Deaton Clan.
At the isolated home Of Alfred HoI-
land came upon Govan Smith, called
the "brainy'' head of the Smith-Deaton
clan. His. it is said, has been the guild
ing hand since John Smith was fo reed
TO fee from Breathitt county following
his confession and his elopement with
the wife of Ed Callahan.
Grouped about this humble homestead
we found more than a score OF sturdy
mountaineers. Their faces were troubled;
they sat in the doorways and upon the
grass in the front yard: Saying little,
understanding much. For a long time
the meaning of 1t all was not apparent
to stranger. Then in broken SEN
fences. little a. time. they told the
story OF the gathering. Dsath had
come over night and had taken the wife
OF Alt Holland. She was good woman.
they said, and that afternoon she was
TO be buried. Under a dilapidated shed
some OF them were mailing together a
coffin.
IT hate not TO give you a picture. and
I hats not to talk to you" said ,Govan
Smith. reputed feud leader. wen slip
or while the others aren't looking. for
they are in trouble. you know
Mountain women cry but little. but
as we talked the sound of sobs came
TO US from within. It was amid such
surroundings as these that I talked to
Peter Gross. one OF the mourners, and
whom afterward regarded as the
mountain philosopher" Gross is not
feudist. strictly speaking. but he has