The New York herald., 1921-01-10
DEVIL ANSE'S SON
TAKES PEACE VOW
Standing at Fathers Grave
He Asks Preacher to Bap-
tize Him.
WHOLE CLAN GATHERED
Funeral Of Feudist in Keeping
With Traditions of Pie
turesque Family.

| LOGAN. w. Va, Jan. Capt. Ander-
Confederate army officer and for many
years thereafter one of the most fa-
nous and picturesque feudists in the
mountains Of West Virginia, who died
Friday, was to-day buried beside his
two sons. Troy and Elias, in the family
plot 800 feet beneath the mountain
range which sheds its water into the
Big Sandy on the one side and the
| Guyandotte on the other.
The obsequies were attended by
eleven surviving children, almost all of
the forty grandchildren, several great
grandchildren and about seventy five
direct descendants.
| The funeral throughout was charac-
terized by a series Of dramatic occur
rences which those present considered
httingly consistent with the burial Of
Devil Anse.' Before the march to the
cemetery began the hands of two of the
dead mans sons. long estranged
brothers, were clasped over the coffin.
These were cap" Hatfield, the fathers
namesake and feud lieutenant, and DR..
e. r. Hatfield OF Charleston, The recon
ciliation was attended by general dem
orlDtration of approval and sympathy
among those at the funeral.
| AS the procession moved the restora-
tion OF good will between the brothers
formed tho chief subject Of discussion,
and at the grave before the body was
1 - II ....I
Uncle Dyke" Garrett. an old preacher
and friend OF the family. and told him
that he had made his peace with God
and was ready to be- baptized whenever
the minister would say the word.
Il will baptize you. boy" responded
the old clergyman. lin the very hole
where I baptized your pappy." To this
Gap" Hatfield dramatically raised his
hands above his head In the attitude 1f
one solemnly vowing and declared that
he was done with fighting. that In his
heart there no longer ranked malice and
that IL any man sought his life blood
he would not resist
| There was no funeral sermon 'Sby
Uncle Dyke" but the Rev. Green Nc
Neeiy, a companion preacher, and who
by the elder man was Familiarity referred
to as my son n-in-the-Gospel." spoke
briefly, not on the life OF Devil Anse"
but on "the lesson OF death"
There was mournful music at the
house, however, before the journey to the
place Of burial was begun. Gathered on
the porch Of the Hatfield home and about
the body. lying In golden oak coffin. an
assemblage OF men and women consumed
the time with the singing of old time
camp meeting hymns. "Sm' Thompson.
famed throughout this mountain region
as a leader IN Psalm singing, directed
the music. 80 numerous did the mourn
ers become as this unusual service con-
tinucd that the multitude was directed 10
the rear door OF the house. where 1t
formed In line and proceeded through the
hall and passed the spot where the dead
feudist lay.
The day was raw and ugly. rain and
snow falling alternately. while the damp
air was cruelty piercing. In this relent-
less downpour tho crowd stood uncom-
plainlngly, but Il was found necessary
frequently TO hold an umbrella over the
coffin 10 save the corpse from being
drenched.
Anderson Hatfield was born. on Mate
Creek. Logan county. eiRhty-one years
ngo last September. according to mem-
bers Of the family. Mate Creek IL now In
Migno county. He served In the Con-
federate army as captain OF Company A.
Forty-nfth Virginia Infantry. After the
war he was the leader of the Hatfield
clan I'm tho world famous Hatheld-Mc-
Coy feud, which continued over fifteen
years and In which thlrty-hye men and
one woman died.
For years after the Former feud lead
err had taken w his residence on the
mountain crest and settled down In
peaceful existence the Kentucky author
tiles sought him. There wns a price on
his head, but one Governor OF West
Virginia after another refused to honor
acquisitions for him and finally the ef-
fort was abandoned.