The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-10-14
DE|TZISCAPT
BRAVE DEFENDER OF CAMERON
DAM GOES DOWN BEFORE
SUPERIOR NUMBERS.
ONE DEPUTY MEETS DEATH
Which Ragged Around the Lonely For
est Clearing For Eight Hours
Deitz Has His Hard Shat
tered BY Bullet.

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Thorbin the man who is his own
sworn enemy, John Deitz, the defend
ed of Cameron dam, surrenered at
3:20 Saturday afternoon to the law
and will stand trial.
I A bullet wound in Deitzs right
hand hastened the surrender
! Oscar Harp, a deputy, was killed.
Deputy Nonpomerlo was with Harp.
Both men made run for the lumber
! pile He fell dead with a bullet in
his mouth.
The terms of the surrender were
unconditional, other than a request
from DeitZ that he be protected from
violence.
Helen Deitz, the 14-year-old daugb-
ter OF the prisoner, represented the
family side in the final peace nego-
tions; the other side represented by
Sully Hettelfinger of Minneapolis, the
man chosen by Sheriff Madden to go
in and makeszarrangementS with DeitZ
and promise him absolute protection
from violence to either himself or his
family
John Detz, his wife, his eldest son
Clarence, and his son Leslie occupy
cells in the county Jail at Hayward
while his eldest daughter, Mary, al
though under arrest, is still confined
at the hospital at Ashland as the re-
suit of the bullet she received in the
back from Thorbins pistol a week
ago.
The log cabin which Deitz has de-
Tended on Cameron dam for the last
six years during his fearless defiance
of the law and the authorities, is rid
died with a thousand shots.
Rev. Father Pilon Enters Cabin.
Rev Father J. A. Pilon was the
first TO enter the cabin since the pro.
gress of the earnest seige.
While Helen, acting as her fathers
emissary Of peace, was asking the
deputies for protection from violence,
the brave Catholic priest, learning
that there were wounded in the shack
took advantage of the truce and with
the permission of Sheriff Madden
crossed the clearing to the bin
where he lent assistance to the
wounded father.
The interior of the Deitz cabin is
one mass of bullets. Every log is
rtppled and daylight peeks in at every
angle.
During the shooting, Mrs Deitz and
Helen and John, Jr, occupied posi-
tons of comparative safety, behind q
barricade OF boxes, chairs and the
organ in the living room floor.
To Mrs. Deitz is given the credit OF
the surrender with the loss Of only
one life With Helen and Johnnie al
either side, the mother sought in every
way to shield his young from the
merciless deadly rain of steel and
lead.
Although bleeding profusely from
the nasty bullet wound in his right
} hand, Deitz would only grit his teeth
and return the intermittent fire wher
the bullets continued to pop inside the
shack.
The pleadings Of the mother and
the frightened. yet silent set faces
of the two children, especially Johr
f. Deitz, Jr., his fathers pride, fnall!
: softened the heart of the man who fol-
six years has defed anyone and every
one, law or no law The hardships o
war We're soon softened by Fathel
Pilon who IN all kindliness and trutl
complimented Deitz upon his Drawer,
in surrendeling
Deitz received his wound as HI
placed his hand to the cabin doc
about to enter after he had covered
the retreat Of his son from the hil
early in the day. Leslie had just RAJ
) into the barn-had ran a full 800 yard
through perfect hail of bullets iron
every direction.
There was an affectionate reunion
when John and Leslie Deitz wer
brought into the county jail at Hay
ward where Clarence Deitz has beel
confined since the shooting of tn
children several days ago by the shel
ifs posse.
According to Mrs. Deitz, the treat
ment of the prisoners on the way t
the Jail was most inconsiderate an
even cruel. They were roughly haI
died by the sheriff and his men, de
spite the fact that Mrs. Deitz is i
delicate condition, expecting soon t
become mother.
: John Deitz, in an interview here
soon after his arrival declared tha
: he did not fire the shot which cause
= the death of Deputy Harp. He say
:, that Harp was either deliberately she
: by some Of the guards, or that b
: got into the crossfire and was kille
by one of his companions.