The Anaconda Standard

Keeping Up the Fight.
Particulars of the Latest Battle Between the McCoys and Hatfields.

Milton, W. Va., Nov. 4.—Reports of another terrible battle between the Hatfields and McCoys reached here to-night. Full details have not been received, but enough is known to show that it was the bloodiest encounter that has occurred in the history of the feud. Thursday night a party of about thirty of the McCoys came across a Hatfield camp in the woods about six miles from Green Shoals. Both bands were bound for the headquarters of their respective factions and were heavily armed. When the McCoys discovered their enemies they sent out scouts and discovered there were about a score in the camp. They crawled up through the dense underbrush and poured in a volley on their sleeping foes. In an instant it was returned. The Hatfields, although taken by surprise, were so much better armed than the McCoys, having repeating rifles, put them to flight. The one volley fired by the McCoys did terrible execution, one dozen were wounded and two were slain. John Hatfield, and one of the leaders of his faction, were instantly killed, having four bullets through his head. By his side lay Edwin Brown, the son of the woman shot in her arm house at Fudgy's creek. Two bullets had gone through his body, one piercing his heart. One of them, whose name is unknown, was fatally hurt. After dawn, the Hatfields found two more dead men and four desperately wounded men were captured. Some of the wounded McCoys must have been carried off by their friends, for their retreat through the woods was marked with blood stains. The prisoners captured are Charles Lampkin, John Caine and Pete McCoy. The names of the dead are unknown. The Caine, whose first name has not been learned, was so badly wounded that his captors left him to die where he lay but the other three were compelled to march to the Hatfield headquarters, which they reached about noon yesterday. As soon as the story of the attack and captures was told, a sort of court martial was held. The prisoners were not allowed to speak in their own defense, and after a short deliberation a vote on their life or death was taken by the entire Hatfield party. The result was unanimous and the three men will be shot. The courier who brought this news was shot at twice from ambush while riding through Lincoln county.