Republican farmer., 1919-08-22
ANSE HATFIELD FEUD SURVIVOR
 TO DIE IN BED
Belief That He Would Die in Pistol Fight With Foes,
 Unlikely.
HE IS 84 YEARS OLD
 AND SERIOUSLY ILL
Lead Band That Shot Three Enemies-His Son Killed
 Mccoy Girl.

Old timers in Kentucky and West Virginia and the thousands who have followed the famous Hatfield Mccoy fued in the newspapers are wonder ing whether Devil Anse" Hatfield, one of the most famous of the fight ing mountaineers, is to die in bed. Recent despatches from Whitefield, Ky, says he is entering what Is like ly to be his last illness at the age of 84 years.
 Devil Anse'' led his four sons in defying the authorities for many years. Long ago, when the fued was at its height, 1t was predicted that some day Devil Anse' would die a violent death. In the years which have intervened the feud has died down, and now it seems likely that the famous leader will die with none to disturb his last days save per haps his memories.
 Start of the F'eud.
 A few days after a pistol duel at Canneltown, w. Va. October, 1911, in which two of his sons,, Troy and Elias, were shot and killed, Anse Hatfield embraced religion and was baptized declaring that he wished to lead an upright, Christian life.
 The Hatflold-McCoy feud, known as ehe most bloody of all the Ken tuclCy mountain vendettas. began in 1880 when Floyd Hatfield. who liv- cd on the West Virginia side of Tug Fork, a tributary of the Big Sandy River, drove half a dozen hogs out of the woods into his pen in String town
 Randolph Mccoy. from the other @1d nF hn rronL hannPnnd tn lido through Stringtowp one day and rec ogniztng the porkers ss belonging to the McCoys, accused Hog Floyd of stealing thom. Bad feeling was caus- ed, but the affair was settled peace ably in the court.
 Another Killing.
 Some months later members of the rival factions met by accident and after the passage of a few heated remarks a skirmish took place in which Sam Mccoy killed Stanton Hat field. The case came to trial and Mccoy gained his acquittal.
 Little by little bitterness and hat red grew until 1882, when a friend and relative of both clans ran for office in Pike County, Ky. Hatfields and McCoys gathered on election day to boost their candidate.
 
 "moonshine" flowed without stint. Suddenly a Mccoy walked up to a Hatfield and demanded payment of an old debt.
 Fight at Election.
 Dark an threatening glances pass ed between the enemies. In one in stant pistols gleamed and a pitched battle ensued. Ellison Hatfield was fatally wounded.
 Devil Anse" taking the law in his own hands captured three McCoy's, and assisted by a gang of followers made off with them to an old hut safely hidden in the woods. Here he held his prisoners awaiting report from the bedside of his wounded kinsman.
 When after three days news came of Ellison's death a mock trial took place and the helpless defendants, none of whom was really guilty, were taken out, tied to paw paw bushes and made the targets of twenty-three rifles.
 After this occurrence a Mccoy was prepared to kill a Hatfield on sight and the feud ragged furious fy. Matters were by no means inn proved when Gov. Wilson of West Virginia refused to honor requisi- tfons made out for the capture of Hatfield and his sons of Gov. Buck ner of Kentucky.
 'tSix feet of devil and 1S0 pounds of hell" was the description given the eldest son of old Anderson Hat field by his enemies. It was Cap who, at the instigation of his father, burned the Mccoy house to the ground and killed old Randall Mo Coy's daughter.