The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-01-18
ENEMIES CLASP HANDS
OVER FEUDIST'S COFFIN
DRAMATIC INCIDENTS MARK
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR
CAPTAIN HATFIELD.

LOGAN, w. Va,-Capt. Anderson
("Devil Anse") Hatfield, former con-
federate army officer and for many
wears famous feudist, who died Fri
day, today was buried besides 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
G1vandotte on the other The obse-
quies were attended by eleven surviv-
ing children, almost all of the forty
grandchildren, several great grandchil-
dren and about seyenty-five direct de-
scendants.
The funeral was characterized by
dramatic occurrences. Before the
march to the cemetery the hands OF
two of the dead mans sons, long es-
tranged, were clasped over the coffin.
These were cap" Hatfield, the tath--
er's namesake and feud lieutenant, and
DIR. E. R. Hatfield, of Charleston. The
reconciliation was followed by gen
eral demonstration of approval and
sympathy.
AS the procession moved the resto-
ration of good will between the broth
ers formed the chief subject OF discus
sion, and at the grave before the body
was lowered Cap Hatfield address,
ed "Uncle Dyke" Garrett, an old
preacher and friend of the family, and
told him he had made his peace with
God and was ready to be baptised
whenever the minister was ready.
81 will baptize you, boy" responded
the old clergyman, "in the hole where
baptized your pappy." To this Cap
Hatfield raised his hands above his
head in the attitude of one solemnly
vowing. and declared he was done
with fighting, that in his heart there
no longer ranked malice and that II
any man sought his likelihood he would
not resist.
There was no funeral sermon by
"Uncle Dyke" but Rev. Green Nc
Neeley. who by the elder man was
Familiarity referred to as my son Ill
the gospel" spoke briefly on the "les-
son of death"
There was mournful music at the
house, however. Gathered on the
porch and about the body laying in a
golden oak coffin men and women
sang old time camp meeting hymns
"Sim" Thompson, famed as a leader
in psalm singing, directed. So nuner-
Gus did the mourners become that the
multitude was directed to the rear door
of the house, where it formed in line
and proceeded through the hall and
passed the body of the dead teud1st.
The day was raw and ugly, rain and
snow falling alternately, while the
damp air was piercing. In this down
pour the crowd stood accomplishing
iy, but it was found necessary ire
Guently to hold an umbrella over the
casket to save the corpse from being
drenched.
Anderson Hatfield was born or
Mate creek eighty-one years ago las1
September, his family said. He served
in the Confederate army as member
and later as captain of company A
Forthwith Virginia infantry. After
the war ne was the leader of the Hat
field clan in the famous Hatfeld-Mc'
Gov feud, which continued over ffteer
wears and in which thirty-flve mer
and one woman died.
For years after the former feuc
| leader had taken up his residence or
the mountain crest and settled dowr
| in peaceful existence he was sought
There was price on his head, but
one governor after another refused tc
issue requisition for him.
"Anse" Last of Old Feudists.
Devil Anse" was the last of thu
old time feud chieftains. The Mccoy!
are all gone; the Tollivars and the
Martins of the Rowan county wal
have all died. Over in Breathitt coun,
ty Judge Jim Hargis and Deacon
Callahan have died violent deaths
down in Clay county the Towards anc
the Bakers are at peace; the Eversole;
and the French factions have buried
the Ratchet deep in Perry county
"Fult" French is dead, too-and tht
lesser wars" have passed into the
past.
OF course there are others, members
of the Hatfield and Mccoy families
who still live in he mountains; they
| Al.