Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20

in the many years that the vendetta ragged but
the McCoys would not be driven from their
mountain homes, despite the steady depletion of
the active members of the clan that became
extinct few days ago with the peaceful death
of Uncle Jimmy"
After one desperate battle between the feud-
lists, Coy. Simon Boliver Buckner of Kentucky
demanded from Gov. z. w. Wilson of West Viz
ginia the delivery Of certain members of the
Hatfield clan who had committed q crime In
Kentucky. The West Virginia governor de-
clined, and there the matter stood for quite
time. Meantime the warning families continued
to take pot shots at each other.
Perhaps the worst tragedy of the feud was
the execution Of three young McCoys by .
the Hatfield clan. A Hatfield had been shot In
an ambuscade, so the three McCoys were seized
one night and held prisoners in lonely cabin
awaiting the outcome OF the clansman's wounds.
The mother Of the McCoys said Of the tragedy:
MY boys Tolbert, Phamer and Randolph are
dead, killed on the night of August ., 1852.
saw them before that at Floyd Hatfields,
where they had been captured. The next time
saw them was on Mate Greek in Logan Coun-
ty, w. Va. It was at schoolhouse. when
got there Val Hatfield was sitting by them with
shotgun across his lap.
IT heard Val Hatfield say that il Ellison Hat
field died he would shoot my boys full Of hOles.
He did. They rugged up some saplings and
brought my boys home on them. We buried
them in one CONN"
The Hatnelds, living In West Virginia on the
east side Of Tug River, and the McCoys on the
other side in Kentucky, were among the most
extensive land owners in that mountainous re-
gion. The head of neither family could read
or write. Before the Civil War the two clans
had very close relations by marriage and
through business dealings. During the war they
were organized on both sides In what was
known IS the Home Guards" But the Hat
fields raided and plundered in Kentucky and
the McCoys did likewise in West Virginia and
the, Interests Of the two families often FLASHED.
Aside from the tradition of the clash over
the ownership Of the razorback SOW and shoats,
the 6rst bloodshed occurred IN 1853, when Har-
mon Mccoy was killed by Anse Hatfield. IKE
cepting IN occasional killing attributed to the
bitterness between the two families. the feud
smoldered until 1882. In that year developed
the love affair between Jonce Hatfield and
Rosanna Mccoy. daughter Of Randall Mccoy.
chieftain Of his elan.
Jonce was married at the time his infatuation
for ROsannR developed. One election day I'm
Pike County. Rosanna came to the county seat
riding pillion fashion behind one of her broth.
ers. Jonce made violent love to her. and RIOS
anna rode away that evening at sunset behind
Hatfield. They lived together year or more.
Meanwhile the sordid romance Of the couple
further embittered the families <<
sAs44a-.st 5
WHILE the killings were going on Rosanna
Mccoy returned to the Kentucky side Of
the river, the stronghold Of her family. Joaice
Hatfield continued to visit her. This further
enraged her kinsmen, who for one Of the few.
times In their career went to law" and got
a warrant for Hatneld's arrest on the. charge
Of carrying concealed weapons, although the
McCoys themselves at that time were loaded
down with weapons.
Jonce was captured that night by nine men.
who started with him for the Pike County tail
Rosanna was with Hatfield ct the time, but soon
eluded her relatives sei2ed q neighboris horse
and rode miles to arouse the HatneIds.' she