The Washington times., 1912-03-18

panies of militia to rush the gang and
surround them on all sides.
Some are suggesting that II wilr be
necessary to dynamite the mountain
citadel of the outlaws.
The arraignment of the Aliens, in
Guiding the three who have been cap
tured and are now In jail at Roanoke,
has been scheduled for March Is, but
the date may have to be postponed. If
the Allen henchmen who escaped are
behind the overhanging precipices of
the bend, they may hang on Just as
long as ammunition and food hold out.
And the Aliens are said to have plenty
Of both.
Hillsville In a Ferment:
ITillsvile has not yet recovered from
the awful experiences Of last Thurs
day. Business Is practically at a stand
still, detectives with cleaning Win
chesters come in and out Of the town,
the streets are filled with curious
mounta!neers who will discuss nothing
except the outtawry of the Allen rule,
and this entire little mountGin town is
in state of ferment.
Tie single telephone line leading out
of the town has been busy day and
night since last Thursday, when the
Aliens shocked the world by wiping out
a court of justice.
Newspaper torrespondents--a small
army of them-are furnished the
widest sort OF ruInors, ano every man
who comes down the mountains has a
new story to tell of the probable hid
ing place of the Aliens.
Hillsville, the capital and court
house seat of Carroll, is n little more
than a hamlet. 1t is twelve or four
station. Most of the roads are fearful
In the winter time, although winding
through SUGGESTIONS of picturesque and
beautiful wild mountain scenes. It's
CEly direct communication with the
outside world during bad weather is
through mail carriers and one telephone
line built and managed by a local or
caniHat'on, with willing hut unframed
operators, and a wire, chcaply estGb-
lishcd in the first place and SUI iect to
many Interruptions in bad weather
incidentally this last fact accounts for
the confused, fragmentary, and fire.
nave come since the little town became
the center of the horrible interest of
the entire country and the attention of
the newspapers.
Central Office Small.
The central office at HnlsvilIe is a
room in a private residence. Remote
and unprotected. Hillsville has no char-
ter of Incorporation. no local govern
ment, and no police protection. The last
census gives 1t AS inhabitants. From
outward appearances 1t hardly seems to
have so many. 1t stragglcs along much
ground, most of 1t strung on one street,
unpaved except In the immediate neigh
borhood OF the court house and without
the slightest sugge stion of roadway eX-
cept the ordinary mud of the country
thoroughfare.
There Is no symptom OF a street light,
and people who must go about at night
use lanterns or feel their way. 1t mas
the usual equipment for towns of its
size, a few stores a livery stable or
two and comfortable, seemly looking
| but unpretentious dwellings,, two or
three frame churches and two hotels,
one adjoining the court house yard, and
the other very small
1t is easy to understand how in d
| community like this a few determined
men like the Aliens and their kin ard
| friends could take possession and hold
| full sway whenever they chose. They
| could ride and shoot about the streets
| fight their enemies in the roadway CT
| on the court house green. and feel safe
| from interference. AS is usual every
| where. peaceful merchants and residents
were only too glad to avoid trouble with
| invaders so formidable and to keep clear
of antagonisms with them. Through
| ten or twelve years the Aliens have
done as they pleased
They learned to feel that they were
the cocks of the walk Of Carroll coun-