Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-09-25
ONE MAN is KILLED AMI -,
WOUNDED ON FARM NEAp
OWEN, WIS.
FOUR BROTHERS RESISrr
Fire on Federal Officers Sent II
rest Them-Three Fugtives MAXI
Escape From Farmhouse
sieged by 200 Armed Men

was hllleo ana hVe wounded duriD
a pitched battle between a noaaa
armed citizens and state euarda
four alleged draft evaders a. ~
krueger farm, two miles west of bo.
Harry Jensen, stationmastor
Withee was instantly killed wbno
loading his rifle 500 feet awav FRI,
the farmhouse. Emil Laino. of VIA
sustained five bullet wounds and rao
ly died from Ioss@of blood Ohio
jured are Angus Page. Frank Ubii
and Mattson. All are expected IN
cover.
Two special agents of the dADor
ment of justice called at the Kmerd
farm to arrest the four KnasI
brothers, Frank, Louis, Ennis III
Leslie, on charges OF evading tbA
lective service, and were fired nnos
by two of the young men. The oficeIs
returned to Owen and formed q moss
of 200 armed men who surrounded III
farm house, from which they were in.
mediately fired upon.
After an all night siege, durin
which hundreds of shots were ey
changed, it was discovered at dayIigb
that there was no one in the beess
uered house. Frank KRUGER one
the men the posse sought to arrest
surrendered after being shot througI
the leg. The other three brothers, FL.
mis-, Lewis and Leslie, who wers
known to be in the house when It'd
battle began, had disappeared durn
the night. 1t is claimed it would ID
impossible for them to escape frOul II
the premises through the Gordon d
guards and it is believed they are still.
in hiding on the farm.
Mrs. Kruger, mother of the foul
boys, was taken to Eau Claire and
lodged in the county Jail, while he'd
wounded son, Frank, was taken to 4
hospital at Chippewa Falls. Neither
would say anything. Frank is being
carefully guarded. Mrs. Kruger
near a nervous collapse. The whole
county and neighborhoOd are at fever
heat and it will be short shrift fOr
the boys when they are caught
Frank Kruger, who is being held
by the authorities, is Sc years old.
The other three brothers, who are be-
ing sought by the authorities, are;
Ennis, 20; Louis, aged 20, and Leslie
aged 26. Frank and Ennis are charged
with having failed to register on Sept
IL, while Louis and Leslie have taled
to obey summons from the Local
boards and are charged with deSeF
ton.
When the attacking party stoTmed
the house early Sunday they found y
had been struck by many bulleSI
There were bullet holes through ever!
wall, through windows and the FOOL
A search of the basement the Only
place where the boys could have MD
den, brought no clew to their Wnert
abouts. The house was stocked WIZ
food. ammunition and several hl8l
powered rifles, indicating 'n1I
the Kruegers had expected a SVs'
and prepared for it. Dead animals u
Guiding a huge bull, that had cOm0
within the range Of the tre' "'i'
found in the yard.
The huge barn on the Kruger la Iia
which was set abla2e after Iolni0's
hyde gas had been introduceu u ~
effort to drive out the men il tney NOV
hidden in the loft, proved to be a ,s,,
table arsenal. Hundreds OF calI" 90
popped during the blaze anu ,. u
corner a secret chamber was ul0C I n
in which the brothers eVlaen"s = a.
tended to hide on the approach g. Grior
Hcars An. accident caused the 1 ,Iis
of the barn, an explosion lesui an,
when the air suddenly came lnsD ,,tiop
tact with the strong gas DeS ,O tss
of the barn apparently dlssohs1 "a
theory that the men had hluu'-
the premises. .bo delaTt-
G. E. Marks, agent Of the ug Town
ment of justice at Madison ns s
Marshal Peter Rasmussen anu ca can't
United States Marshal JOSEF ,:as qbsn
barely escaped with their ives ssot hen
thew went to arrest the four Id DlV IN the
Harry and Frank Kruger To a,nnroach-
corn field when the officers @pg 70
ed. Marks told Frank be ~ nod not
speak with him, but was ~sl the boy'
to approach. A moment ia'0 18th sute
onened fire on the officers "i = bullet
matte pistols, it is claimed, = ,t tbs
tore through Marks, cost Rssnps
shoulder while others pTulSU1 retuna
sem and CAN'T, The officers .. ISte 10
the fire and the brothers ' Continued
the house from which they
to fire.
.-b ctanlev. 2-year-ola disI