Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-15
PITCHED BATTLE
IN STREETERYILLE
Police Charge Squatters' Place and
Demolish Joint After Big
Fight.
NOBODY KILLED IN MELEE

CHICAGO, Nov. 1L-"Streeterville" was
invaded. its ruler captured and its
citadel demolished today after a pistol
battle on filled-in-land on the shores OF
Lake Michigan, almost in the heart OF
Chicago.
The land, which IL claimed by Captain
George Wellington Streeter, is north of
the harbor and in the center of the
fashionable lake shore residence district,
Streeter and his wife came there years
ago when their vessel was wreckd on a
bar. The sand filled in between the
wreck and the shore until their claim
comprised property said to be worth
millions of dollars.
While the city has never admitted
Streeter's title. many purchasers have
preferred to make a settlement with him
to oblvate the possibility of his ques-
tioning in court their right to purchases
Streeter called the new-made land The
United States District of Lake Mlchi-
gan." and has refused to recognize any
authority but that of the United States
and has defied for weeks Mayor Thomp-
sons Sunday saloon closing order.
Since the Sunday closing order. Il n
said, Streeter has done a thriving business
in bottled beer. His shack. which he
christened THE Oasis" was but a short
distance from Lake Shore drive and easily
accessible to automobile parties.
He was often summoned to court and
numerous cases for selling liquor with
out license are pending. Last week a
jury found him guilty on one charge, but
he took an appeal.
The main force of invaders, consisting
or thirty-five policemen, two patrol
wagons, an ambulance and reinforce
ments from the fire department was sent
today to point within call, but Just out
or range of observation. Eight detectives
were sent to reconnoiter They found a
room with number of patrons, and.
atter being served, one of them walked
to the door and lifted his hat to a scout
from the invaders.
Down the street the patrol wagons and
hospital corps got into motion and de-
scended upon the building. Captain
Streeter, hearing the commotion seized
pistol, and according to the police
nred' but was overpowered by the detect
ives who were within the room. SevGFta
shots then came from adjoining bufld-
ings. the police say and in answering a
rifle fire from the home of John HolsI
one OF Streeter's tenants. the police are
believed to have injured Mrs. Hoist, but
not seriously,
After the battle the fire department
demolished the building. where 1872 cases
OF beer, six rifles, four revolvers and
three boxes Of ammunition had been con-
fiscated
streeter. his wife and fifteen others
were arrested.
Charges OF assault with intent to kill,
violation OF the state liquor law and of
Keeping disorderly house were placed
against streeter. Most OF the others were
charged with being inmates OF a disor-
deriy house. All were released on bond.
a number Of years ago while streeter
and several men in his employ were de-
Tending the Streeter home against the
police in a similar attack, a police Of
ficial was shot and killed. Streeter and
an employe served a term In the peni-
tentiary for that shooting.
On October ~ Mrs. Streeter shot and
wounded policeman who had arrested
her husband on a charge Of selling beer
without license.
Streeters title to lots in the district
are estimated to have netted him as much
as 10000. At one time a syndicate OF
capitalists is said to have invested $50 600
1 ntitles.
The highest courts have held that the
submerged lands lying along the shore
OF the lake belong to the state.