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VOTE FOR YOUR PAVORITE IN THE COURIER' POPULAR LADY CONTEST. S4QO PIANO PREE
THE HieKMAN COURIER.
ml
iivwo
A BLUB MARE HERE
meana that your atib
acrlptlon haa expired.
Item promptly if you
wont the paper to come
to ynu after tliU month
tf jt .turn,
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4 . I. ewa J1""1
, h i",ky 1
the Team that Pulla the Commercial Wagon up the Hill of Success, ThB Courier has n Spankin' Goad Team. Crease the Mxles of Your Uagon, Old Man, and Let's Hitch Up
vmUUi: 60 NO. It
0 mr ntn ln western kchtdokt
HICKMAN, FULTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1908.
WHOLE HO. 3418
ESTABLISHED IX THB TEAR 1M9
TRAGEDY AT LAKE !
Might Riders Take Two Prominent Men
From Hotel One Murdered, One
Escapes. State Troops Hurried
to Scene of Trouble.
iof offers $10,000 Reward For litters
Aged Attorney Tells of Standing by and Seeing His
Friend Put to Death; Story of Hit Escape. History
of the Reelfoot Lake Troubles.
t Kl!i MURDERED.
News was received In Hickman
tit., T..esJay morning that Col. R.
Tivl about 60 years old, ana
,-ipt Linton Rankin, about 45
tears c.J who paned through
H.krtan Monday enroule to Reel
Like both prominent lawyers of
TrtaUn, Terni,, were taken from
Ward's hotel Monday night at 12
oV.:rk by a band of masked night
rden
AnrJing to repcrti, about 12 o'
.ck P C. Ward, proprietor of the
tj'tl, was awakened and told to come
to the djcr Ed Powell, a reildent
;t the neighborhood, who had been
tna in charge for the purpose, was
LrccJ to awaken Ward. When
Ward responded, the band of mask
ed cea (all wearing long black
r.ietj tcld Ward to show them to
the r.sm assigned to Taylor and
Rickio Of course he did not refuse.
,'jit what was done after the rid-
iMwn.tutt I. uiancnard. a vouncn
i "
ia from Martin, Tenn., occupying
sr the nders entering his room and
" - o" -r '
CI Mid "he'i nnlhlnrr hut 9 H
y . we don't want him." One of
th(3 tV.tn ailced htm whn he w.is
lid where he wr.it frnm. When thru
Mabftn Informed theu tnht hlrri in
uay W W
Ztt back in bed and stav there ad-
iag that he was welcome to stay
inj f.lh ai tnniT n he rann In An mn
Woen Interviewed Dv a Courier
iifthice of the kind, alihnnirh the.
I... . . ' "
uccr r.i..n ik. .
- ... -kill uic iwu IUUIHI Wi
staniicg open, and he could see oc
aurally the figures of the masked
s is they moved about the- room.
"Inch was dimly lighted by a coal
oahmp He said what conversa
"a be heard between the Intruders
'fcmselves was in a pitch of voice
toanuue verv miirh in,. ....
fc'f woman All were clad in blacV
r reaching nearly to the feet,
h no openings other than two
ii cut fonhe eye. Ai they left
' hotel, Blanchard heard no strug
?' or words,
Capt. Rankin's bodv (.11 fnnnrt
n.t.u..
- nigimilir near a hrdne.
IbCUt One mlt il. t .
- "niu uuiiii hi I nnr.i
Mnme, cr rather
rope around his neck and
s'veral BjnVm i. .1 . ;t
n . wuumiK unni I in.
w v. ...v.
id anil hn,i.. fii- . .
wyii, Ann nftflw was fnl-
u J... . i
' rui evn to collar and lie.
TAYLOR ESCAPES.
Taylor made his escape, but was
not located until Wednesday morn
ing. He showed np at Slough Land
ing, about 13 miles below this city.
He tells of his escape ai follows :
1 'About midnight there was aknock
on the door, and without awaiting an
answer, it was opened and several
masked men stepped in.
I was awake at the time.but Capt.
Rankin was asleep. The men point
ed guns at me, then aroused Mr.
Rankin and told us both to dress fut-
ly.
'We took in the situation and very
few words were said. After dressing
we were taken from the hotel about
half a mile down the road, near the
banks of the lake.
"We walked between small bands
of men and I had no chance to talk
with Capt. Rankin.
"I had no idea that great violence
was intended, but supposed that 'we
wculd be whipped and turned loose
with a warning to leave th: country.
"The men said little to us as we
walked along, but told me we were
too closely associated with the West
Tennessee Land company and that
they did not want us around there.
"The party, of which there were
possibly 25, masked and armed with
shotguns or rifles, haulted under a
tree' and a rope was brought forward
and one end placed around Capt.
Rankin's neck and the other thrown
over the limb of a tree. I did not
think even then that they intended to
kill us, and I do not think Capt.
Rankin thought so either.
"They strung up the captain, and
when be began to choken and grasp
for breath, he cried out:
" 'Gentlemen, you are killing me.'
"The answer was a shot, followed
by everyone of the night riders level
ing his gun and firing into the body
of my poor friend.
"It was brought to me very forci
bly at that moment that the men in
tended to murder both of us. They
had made no demands of any kind to
me and I am certain they did not to
Capt. Rankin.
"My most natural thought was to
save myself. As soon as I thought
that the men had emptied their guns
I leaped into a. sluggish bayou, on
the bank of which we were standing,
and started swimming and wading
across.
"The stream was about 30 feet
wide and abefut 10 feet deep at its
greatesfUepth. I was half way
across before the men could reload
and begin firing at me.
Hejt Time in the Year To Paint Your House
Mastic Mixed Paint
The Kind That Lasts
J What You Should Use. Our Mr. Swayne
"as Been Selling this Brand of Paint since
1884. We GUARANTEE it to Give
Satisfaction in Every Particular.
Hickman Drug Co., Incorporate!
SMsSMStfMB9. - SS HSi? "-"-OSS HOMSl filfJMKvSJI BHBSflB JBSSBSflB Hi HSBHl HI
THB''Sjlsaiir'3VT1' -"TlH'sBfcWsssHssB
bbbbhbbbb3hbhsQRhNVs
WARD'S HOTEL
From which Taylor and Rankin were taken by Riders.
"There uerc a number of logs in
the Slough and the men could not sec
me very well, for although it was
moonlight the stream was darkened
by overhanging trees.-Maysk
"Possibly about JOtTsnots were
fired at fne before I reached the op
posite shore.
"Instead of climbing the bank, I
hid behind a log which afforded ex
cellent concealment. Hearing no
noise in the underbrush, the despei
adors thought I was killed and short
ly afterwards left.
"I remained behind the log for
possibly ten miautes-and then hid in
the underbrush until daylight.
"The water had stopped my
watch, the hands showing that it was
1.05 when I leaped into the water.
"At daylight I struck out and
walked until night, stopping once in
a while to rest. I slept all night in
the woods and this morning came to
Slough Landing, where Luther Ran
kin, a foreman for Judge Harris,
gave me shelter and telephoned of
my safety to Tiptonville.
"I. would not be able to recognize
any of the men in the party which
killed Capt. Rankin. I am sure that
I never saw any of men the before,
and they would have been safe from
detection even it they had not worn
masks.
HISTORY OF TROUBLE.
As stated in the Courier the first
of the year, the contention as to the
ownership of Reelfoot Lake has
brought about the present trouble.
The lake, as most of you know, was
formed by an earthquake In 1811,
and since has been one of the most
famous fishing lakes in the country.
Several years ago, individuals set
up claims to exclusive rights in fish
ing on the lake, and from that time
on the courts have been filled with
lawsuits to gain possession of it.
Finally the Reelfoot Lake Fishing
Co. was organized and then leased
the fishing privileges from the West
Tennessee Real Estate Co., said to
be the owners of the lake. This
lease was held to be valid.by Judge
Harris, of Obion county, who held
that the fishermen on the lake must
sell their catches to the Reelfoot
Lake Co. This naturally aroused
the bitterest feeling on the part of
the old fishermen, most of whom
were born and reared on the lake,
and knew no other vocation than
that of fishing for a living. Follow
ing this, an efforf was made to drain
the lake. All this put Judge Har
ris and the members of the land
company in a bad light so far as the
lake people were concerned. Har
ris has been shot at twice, and is
said never sleeps under his own roof,
fearing assassination.
The last trouble in the lake dis
trict was in the spring. Masked
men rode up to Samberg, a small
postoffice In Obion county, near the
lake, April 15, and at the point of 're
volvers, lorced John Shaw, keeper
of the Reelfoot Lake storehouse, and
his helper, Walter Pleasant, to car
ry coal oil several miles distant.
Here they called on the guards to
come out, and they were stood in
line, with hands stretched heaven
ward, while the mob forced Shaw
and Pleasant to set fire to the store
houses. The masked men stood by
until the houses were burned to the
ground, and then told the shopkeep
ers they had five days to leave the
country. The two men said one
day was sufficient, and struck out
and have not been seen since.
It seems that previous to the above
trouble, the fishermen had a lawsuit
with the men who claimed to own
the lake, or rather contended for its
possession. In this case they are
said to have employed, by raising
among themselves S800, Col. Tay
lor and Capt. Rankin to represent
them In their suit ; that after they
lost their case, they learned that
Rankin and Taylor were members of
the land company, an 1 had not given
them a square deal. This caused
the fishermen to make demands on
the company, followed by threats of
vengeance.
Col. Taylor desired the protection,
in some form, of the State, and he
secured the passage in the Legisla.
ture of an act regulating fishing on
Reelfoot Lake. This act made it a
misdemeanor to fish in the lake with
out first paying a heavy penalty or
fee. This only served more
thoroughly to arouse the fishermen.
Fearing trouble, Capt, Rankin
and Col. Taylor have remained from
the vicinity of the lake for some time
Recently, however, they heard that
the feeling against them' had some
what substided. There were some
legel papers at Walnut Log which
needed attention, and (he attorneys
went there Monday to see about
them. Before they left Hickman,
they were told that it was a hazar
dous undertaking.
fir .
'4
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BPlfMSsl
lEwrvB? J J 'Sttlsff SSBSSSSSSSH
s&sWMissH ' ssssssssssssH
People
tO 118.
They don't come to
us though because we
are nice fellows or be
cause we hatfe a fine
store that is handy but
they do come here be
cause we have the
gcods of a different
quality to what can be
purchased in most
towns.
Helm k Ellison
Their presence was soon made
known to all of the fishermen, and a
band of men was quickly formed.
It is not known whether the men
were from Obion county or from
Lake county. They lost no time,
but proceeded to the hotel, after the
guests had retired for the night, and
quietly accomplished their purpose.
TROOPS SENT.
Under command of Col. W. C.
Tatum, of Nashville, 114 men-of the
Third battalion, First regiment, Ten
nessee national guard, left Union
City yesterday morning on a march
overland 22 miles to Walnut Log,
the scene of the night ridersV raid of
Monday night.
The men arrived in Union City
from Nashville at 6:40 yesterday
morning, and after breakfast made
ready for the march at once.
The companies camped one night
enroute to Walnut Log and reached
there this morning.
Gov. Patterson, of Tennessee, has
offered $10,000 reward for the man
or men who killed Rankin.
VIEW OF LAKE
Th fishing privileges of which is the cause of the trouble
The body of Rankin was taken to
Trenton, his home, Tuesday for
burial. He was one of the most
prominent lawyers in Gibson county.
Big Cut Price Sale still going on,
and better everyday. Crowds fill
our houses every day getting bar
gains. Why not you come and make
yourself happy. Naifeh.Bros. D. G.
Co.
John Dunn Killed.
Last Friday afternoon, John Dunn,
who carries mail from Three States
to East Prairie, was found dead in
the wheels of his buggy at his
home in Three States. He had
been drinking heavily, and it is sup
posed he fell from his buggy. His
clothes became tangled in the wheel,
in such a way, that with every rev
olution of the wheel his body
struck the ground. It is not known
whether the horses became frighten
ed and ran, or how many miles he
was dragged in this way, but when
found, he was in an almost un
recognizable condition, being so bat
tered and crushed. He is a man of
family, and well known all over
that part of the counjty.
Notice of Application
For Pardon.
To whom It miy concern)
Notice. 1. hereby given that we the under
ilffneclcltltenantKl riMlclenUof Mfulrlit Henil
Precinct. Fulton County, Kentucky, will
with convenient ped petition nnd requent
III Excellency, Hon. Auguntu K. Wlllton,
Governor or Kentucky, to portion unci' n
itoro to hlni lil liberty, tlflbert K. Fergu
toil, now confined In tho Branch IVnlteii-'
tlnry.nt Eddyvlljc, KyM for the killing of
It. I.. Wntaon, nnd notice ln!io gtveii.tlmt
wo will nk HI Honor.Judge.lt. J. llugg,
(the trinl Judge) It. II. Heater. Prmecutlng
Attorney, fortho Uommonwcnlth, nnd tlm
otflclnh of the court nnd each member, of
tho Jury t lint tried lilm, to endorun unld pe
tition nnd request.
Wltneat our tiandi till theMh day of Oc-
tolior, WH.
HnttleOodnln
A. V. Scott
J. I. Adnmn
Will Woods
II. Hi HurrenK
1. M.Lovlnin
It, T.Adnma
F. I.. Olark
Oeo. Ilagndnte
II. D.Hmlth
J.O.HnwkltiK
Jim Pntterton
O. W. Young
O.M.HutT
TnlmnKe Wood
Will Hrown
Jim Jonet
Will Poe
Frank Wooda
Snm ltagadnle
Oaky Olarlc
Tlioa. F. RumcII
J. I,. Lnatlter
J. A.Oroas
M. L. Hnrrlaon
I). M.Young
Otto King
Jim King
W. M.Hmltu
It. II. McKlmmon
Will Sweeney
Itobt. Ixilrr
HnbMeekM
Hen Wbltson
Orrle Smith
Lester. Young
Jlmmle nickey
It. L. Groom
Alex Adam
Dr. Jno.D.Adama.
Wlllard Oodnle
J. F, Adama
J. W. Burma
John Itunuael
W. O. Vp.ukm
Kd Groom a
Will ilealiear
Act Laaalter
H. Q. McOreary
Illley Young
T.uther Young '
Tom Laailter
G. II. Wllllsma
Ira MeDoniu-ll
I. oge Wilson
John MoHaney
F.J.Oroaa
Io Carter
Clem Carroll
Jim Whit ion
W. II. Lasriter
It.T. Hendrlx
John Shanklln
Oacar Young
Jeasle Armstinng
WlllClianey
Tom Bowden
J no. M. Hawklna
Willie McOreary
J. A. Laaalter
JetT Smith
Will Whltaon
Earnest Smith
Brent Vaugn
W. It. Oarrlgan
Jno. McGreavey
The Best
of all remedies for chapped hands
or rough skin is Fortune's Witch
Hazel and Almond Cream. Kid
gloves can be worn immediately af
ter using, as it is not greasy or sticky
like other remedies of its kind.
Pripe 25c. For sale by your local
druggist.
A Landslide.
I. DeLeon, the merchant and post
master at Bayouville, at the mouth of
Dry Bayou, came down to town Mon
day morning, to get J. N. Thomp
son to go up to his place and move
his house out of danger of a land
slide. He related that he noticed a big
fissure or crack in the ground, 5 or
6 inches wide, pa railed with and 450
feet from the river bank, last Sunday
evening, and on Monday morning it
was found that a veritable landslide
had occurred, the earth having sunk
or slid down 50 feet, from the crack
to within 12 or 15 feet of the river
bank, forming three teraces. The
river bank stands intact and looks
like levee. The slide at DeLeon's
place is about a quarter of a mile
long and 150 yards wide, and ex
tends a mile up to the village of
Three States but not near so wide.
He noticed black smoke issuing from
cracks in the sunken land.
The cracks bad extended to near
Mr. DeLeon's residence and he was
in a hurry to have Mr. Thompson
move it.
This landside Is very remarkable.
It is believed that the river had cut
an underground passage and the
slide was the result of the water un
der ground being drawn out by the
low stage of river. New Madrid
Record.
Glass - - Paint
rysAeVVVSrAeiAA
Sl(VVWVWVVvSeVVVVNV
1 I
fife
We make a specialty of DOOR and WIN
DOW GLASS and can furnish any size
and shape on short notice. We are agents
for LOWE BROS., STANDARD MIXED
PAINTS; COLLIER WHITE LEAD and
CROWN LINSEED OIL.
Cowgil's Drug Store., Inc'd.
lXXXXZXj
