The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-02

fourteen-year-old son, Sherwood Rey-
nolds, we're murdered by the Ku Klux
Khan First the outlaws robbed the
moor woman then dragged her mi
her night robe out into the snow ana
whipped her until she died. Her
Young son offered resistance and they
shot him dead on the ground. They
dispersed into the mountain fastness-
es, leaving the bodies alone the
snow.
At length it was suspected that
John Reynolds was the leader in the
depredations. and this was detailed
to Governor Beckham He likewise
placed reward of $1,000 each upon
the heads of two Reynolds and a Pot
ter, while $500 was placed upon the
remaining thirteen. A few days la
ter. and at the exact moment that
Senator William Goebel fell in the
capitol square in Frankfort, William
S. Wright prominent and wealthy
logging man. likewise fell from the
hands of assassins. as he was riding
along the public road near his home,
en- route to work on Boone's Fork
Greek, in the heart of the Ku KluN
Khan region.
Hundreds of other depredations
were committed throughout the coun-
ty, but the assassination of Wright
caused wave of indignation TO
sweep over the entire state, One
frosty night in November OF the pre-
vious year, George Sexton, blind
mail carrier, was called from his
home on the Camp Branb creek at
midnight and most horribly whipped.
A brother, however, rushed to the
scene. procured medical aid and
saved his life.
In the same month the band
whipped a dozen or more of helpless
women in the vicinity and made the
nights hideous by the constant fire
of their rifles. A few nights later
the home of Rowlett Hale, postmas-
ter at Rockhouse, was fired into, and
the family were given a close es-
cape. A steam grist mill and num-
Der of pretty homes were burned in
the neighborhood of Rockhouse
Creek.
Leaving that section the Ku Klux
Khan members moved to Boone's
Fork. in the upper part of the coun-
ty. where they were to renew hostili-
ties. On the second night after their
arrival at Boones Fork they entered
the home of John P. Craft a respecta-
BILE river farmer and whipped Mrs.
Della Craft and Sarah Cleek. a sery-
ant at the Craft home. Hickory
clubs were used until the victims
were half dead.
mob of enraged citizens was or
ganized. and went in pursuit of the
outlaws at Boone Hill at the mouth
of Boone's Fork, noted camping
site, and exactly at the midnight
hour, in the moonlight fierce, des-
perate, hand-to-hand battle was
fought.
Lead was pumped at both factions
for half an hour. In the terrible
conflict three horses were killed One
of them proved to be a fine steed, the
property of Blaine Combs, but he
was not believed to have been a
member of the band 1t will be re-
membered that Combs was killed on
the streets of Manchester, Clay coun-
ty, year ago.
Another murder in the Boone Hill
conflict was that of Louis Lucas,
whose death was kept secret for
several months. From trails of
blood that led into the mountain
Businesses it was evident that others
of the outlaws were shot and wound
ed. However, the extent of the work
accomplished in this battle will never
be known. Previous to this conflict
it was not known that any of the Lu-
cases were involved.
In April, 1901. the law-ablding ele
ment in every corner of the state de-
clared that lawlessness by the Ku
Klux Khan in the Letcher county
must stop.
Governor Beckham placed an am
pie reward upon the heads of all the
members of the band. A detective,
John W. Wright, a fearless officer,
who has landed more criminals to
justice than any other man in the
South, was the first to volunteer his
services.
At length an officers posse was or
ganized, comprising fifteen men. With
Wright in the lead, and with boun-
tiful supply of munitions, they went
into the Boone's Fork mountains.
bent on running the outlaw band to
earth at the risk of their lives. After
days of ceaseless search the band
was found in a fertilization in cave
on the leading mountain spur be-
between Milestone Creek and Boone
Fork.
However, when the officers posse
confronted the outlaws, the latter
opened fire. For half an hour des-
perate battle waged. A reputed lead
err Of the Ku Klux Khan was crack
marksman, having won many prizes
while in camp at Chickamauga Park.
Ga, during the Spanish-American
war.
When the smoke cleared away
young William Wright, 17-year-old
son of the Reynolds faction, lay dead
upon the ground, steel ball having
pierced his abdomen, To avenge his
fathers death young Wright had
Joined the officers posse. Isaac Mil
lard, of Pike county, the second vic
tim, lay dead. He was Of the officers
posse. John Henry Eikins, a deputy
sheriff of Letcher County, was des-
perately wounded. The fourth VIC
tim was dangerously wounded.
n, IyI,,,or Tobp paynn1ds wa q