New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
POSSES HAVE ALLEN
OUTLAWS CORNERED
Call for Men to Hurry to Noun
tainS to Help Capture the
HiIISviIIe MurdererS.
SURROUNDED BY PURSUERS
Attack on Their Refuge May
Take Place at Daybreak-
Fugitives Believed To Be
at Squirrels Spur.

Greensboro, n. c.. March ia long DIS
tance telephone message from Mount Airy,
\. c.. late tonight announced that mes
senger had arrived there asking that every
available man be sent to Squirrels Spur,
twelve miles from Mount Airy, and Just IN
side the Virginia border, where IT was be-
leved Sldna Allen and several of his gang
were surrounded by posse Of forty men.
According to the messenger. the posse had
formed a Gordon about Squirrels Spur at ~
o'clock, and the leaders were confident that
the outlaws were cornered. An attack OH
the place at daybreak is planned.
The officers came upon Wesley Edwards
a nephew Of Sdna and Floyd Allen, at his
cabin eight miles cast Of Sidna Alien
home at sundown. Edwards escaped by
back door leaving his rife and pistol be-
hind A sister Of the fugitive told the posS"
that Sidna Allen was at the house thlS
morning, badly wounded, and that he told
Edwards to come to Squirrels Spur to-
night The posse followed Edwards closely
and trailed him TO the rendezvous.
SQUIRRELS Spur is i'm the mountain range
extending past HiIlsvile II is inaccessible
except by foot. and Is said to be a natural
ltTIIGSS. ABOUT nan an dClc VI 'B'ii 'l''~~
on the mountain side Is inclosed by rocks.
Hlllsvile Va, March 1s.-Another days
chase of the courthouse murderers brought
the posses back to town weary and empty
handed with A suspicion gaining ground
that while the searchers have been beating
the bush the Aliens. with a good start, are
likely TO have got across the line to North
Carolina or Tennessee.
This possibility was recognized to-day but
Il may have been too late. The word was
passed over TO the sheriffs on the Tennessee
line to be on the watch. and the North
Carolina sherins started out to work over
toward the Ararat River country to head
tho outlaws Off
The difficulties of the search caused
call for tho state militia to be seriously
considered. but that plan was temporarily
abandoned. and Governor Mann issued a
proclamation increasing the total rewards
to 81 60 for the outlaws. dead or alive. and
sent their full descriptions to every store,
postoflice and crossroads for miles around.
Detective FeItz took a posse Off into the
hills early this morning up the road that
goes over Bartlett Knob and Elk Spur and
past Fancy Gap, near Devils Den, where
the outlaws were reported 10 he barrcad-
ed in an almost impregnable fortress Of
mountain rock.
Searched Houses OF Allen Gang.
The posse saw none OF the gang and no
evidence OF their presence, but kept on
over Gamers Creek and tho Lone Cedar
Fork to the Carolina line. and brought up
at Mount Airy Al least "A dozen houses,
the homes OF members OF the Allen clan
or their sympathizers were searched on
the way. but not trace Of the outlaws
was found.
Sidna Edwards. with n price Of 1900 on
his head is supposed 20 be somewhere With
an injured foot lie has had time to Join
the Aliens II he knows where they are.
Meanwhile the indictments for the murderers
OF Judge Massie, Prosecutor Foster, Sheriff
Webb and the two bystsnders wait TO be
served Some folk In this country declare
that no Allen was ever arrested while he
could fight and that none will be. The
posse believes that.
Floyd Allen. the outlaw whose sentence
by the court preclpitated the murders, lay
in the Roanoke jail to-day with wounds
and a broken leg TO fret him. and moancd
that he wished he had followed his wifes
advice.
''Ivc got a good wife" said the outlaw.
III I'd done az she told me I wouldn't be
here now" The men who found Mrs.
Allen at her home say she was distracted
The Rev. r. Clagget Skinner saw Allen
to-day, and later issued a statement, IN
which he declared Mr.. Allen was a much
better looking man than his published
photographs indicated.
Early to-day there was n report that
Feltz and his men were having pitched
battle with Edwards, who had been sur
rounded. Feltz denied that on his return.
The only catch was few gallons Of moon
shine whiskey
The pursuers hope for some action to-
morrow. The posses will get out again.
while the North Carolina officers are work
ing over to meet them. They hope to drive
the gang to cover between them.
The state authorities continued to pile
rifles and ammunition up into the troubled
country to-day. Two shipments Of rifles
and bullets were made from Roanoke. They
will be unloaded at Galax and brought here
in wagons. The posses are well armed with
state militia equipment