Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-01-20
CLAIM JUMPING
NOT THE CAUSE
Ross Family Removal Result
OF Falling Tree on Cabin
OF Mrs. Vanderpool
ALLEGED TO BE ACCIDENT
J. N. Howard, Pioneer Set
tier Gives Signed Statement
To Raymond Review

Later information tends to show
that while the Ross family was dis
liked by some neighbors on North
River because of their claim jumping.
their forcible removal was due to an
other reason. The following, from the
Raymond Review, giving signed
statement of an old settler in North
River valley, from which paper we
quote:
"Following her announced inten-
tion of having her masked visitors
of last Sunday night arrested Mrs.
Margaret Ross arrived in South Bend
two or three days ago and on Thurs
day swore to warrants before Justice
Rhodes charging ten we'll known and
respected residents of North River
and one John Doe with having driven
her and her two sons out of their homo
and later burning it. Word has beeG
sent to the accused men and they will
their appearance.
The men for whom warrants were
issued are:
A. M. Maybury, II. L. Blaine Verge
Dolan, Enoch billiard, Ernest Burke,
Walter Burke. W. T. Twidwell, j. n.
Howard, Ralph Howard. Clarence
Vanderpool and John Doe, whose true
name is not known.
Deputy Sheriff Foster went to
Brooklyn upon hearing of the trouble
there and returned yesterday without
having made any arrests as he had no
warrants to serve and found every
hing peaceful.
1t is reported that the trouble arose
out of indignities heaped upon Mrs.
Vanderpool who was lying i'll in her
cabin, the climax arriving with the
falling of tree across the cabin &C.
cupied by the sick woman. Miss Neva
Howard and Claude Vanderpool. 1t
is charged that this last inhuman act
was carried out with design while OF
the other hand this is denied and the
occurance laid to accident. The true
story and facts will no doubt be
brought out in the trial of the eleven
men.
The following story under Brook
lyn head line is given:
BROOKLYN, Jan. ia ripple on
the general quiet waters of the upper
North River was caused last Satur-
day evening, when it was reported
that the two Ross boys, Earl and
Frank. had wrecked the home and
barn of Mrs. Vanderpool by falling n
big fir tree, about feet inches on
the stump. on the hillside above the
house, directly toward the house in
which Mrs. Vanderpool, Claude
Vanderpool and Miss Neva
Howard were at the time. 1t is evi-
dent, as anyone now stands and looks
over the wreckage, that only the pro
tecting hand of God ever saved the
three from death. The roof from a
part of the house, was torn away
above their heads. a big piece of the
tree-top about 16 feet long and II in
ches through at the top end, going
through it and on down the hill, also
passing through one side of the roof
of a small barn, taking out nearly the
whole lower side of the barn, and go
ing on some distance below and stick
ing up in the ground. The house is
quite badly wrecked and many OF the
dishes were broken. The lighted lamp
was upset, setting fire to the table
cloth, and in a few moments, nc
doubt, would have completed the work
of destruction. had it not been for the
cool. but hasty action of Claude Van
derpoo and Neva Howard, who seized
the lamp and burning articles and
threw them out. Mrs. Nanderpool
who has been sick for the past three
weeks and confined to her bed, was
very badly frightened.
The object of the falling of the tree
is evident, as the tree was partly cut
down and left and completed after
uark, Wnen no one Couiu see 'Hohi VI
off the upper corner so that it woult
not have to follow the small under
cut.
The news spread on Sunday, so thai
about or 10 o'clock Sunday evening
a crowd of masked men gathered al
the Ross shack and ordered them out
They were made to wade the mut
down as far as my place. Then was
aroused by masked men. and ordered
TO hitch up a team and haul them ou
of the country. I could then realize
what had been done, as I could see
the glare of fire where once stood thu
shack Of Mrs. Ross. Horses were de
Continued on Dage ~.