MEN ATHIRST FOR BLOOD BATTLES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF KENTUCKY.
MURDER OF A DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL — DETERMINATION TO AVENGE THE CRIME. Louisville, Ky., March 29.Following on the heels of the outbreak in Bell County comes news of more bloodshed in the neighboring county of Knott. The mountaineers are certainly on the warpath. A telegram was received by United States Marshal Gross this afternoon from United States Commissioner E. S. Friend at Prestonsburg, Ky., announcing the murder of Deputy United States Marshal Russell Wireman. Last night four men-Thomas Hollifeld, W. H. Creech, "Doc" Fields and D. B. Sally-arrived at Prestonsburg in great fright and excitement. One of them was severely wounded and the others bore marks of having been engaged in a conflict.
They brought the news of Wireman's death, and the story they told was telegraphed in full to Marshal Gross. The murder occurred at the Cross Forks of Kentucky River, in Knott County, 13 miles southwest of Hindman. Wireman had made a raid in Perry and Lester Counties and captured prisoners. These he brought to Prestonsburg on March 2 and lodged them in jail there. Intending lo take them to Hindman. On the morning of March 26 Wireman decided to let the prisoners remain in jail at Prestonsburg and go on another raid. He summoned Hollifield, Creech, Field, and Sally to assist him. and they started for Cross Forks. They had a number of warrants, and succeeded in arresting J. Draughn. Jesse Adams, and .Tease Crum. With these prisoners they started back. The country is very wild and mountainous. They bad only gotten a short distance when they were confronted by 12 men armed with Winchester rifles. The party had been hiding behind the rocks, and when the Deputy Marshal and his assistants approached with the prisoners they stepped out from their waiting places.. Without "a moment's warning they opened fire on Wireman, their bullets being apparently directed at him alone. The officer returned the fire with his rifle, as also did the special bailiffs, and several rounds were exchanged. One of the bullets struck Wireman in the breast and penetrated his heart, killing him instantly. He was also struck by several other bullets.
Two of the attacking party were killed, and it is thought several of them were badly wounded, since the rooks along the road which they followed were stained with blood. When the firing commenced the four bailiffs had sheltered themselves behind rooks, and when Wireman fell the moonshiners retreated.. The dead Marshal's body'" was carried to the nearest friendly house, where it was left until the other officials could go to Prestonsburg for assistance. During the firing the three prisoners made their escape. The four officers managed to reach Prestonsburg yesterday, although one of them was badly wounded.
A detachment of men was at once sent out to get Wireman's body, but they have not yet returned. The men who committed the murder are supposed to be the same ones who fired upon Deputy Marshal Greer and were indicted during the February term or the Federal court here. Commissioner Friend further stated that near the mouth of Smith's Branch, in Knott County, the moonshiners had a large house in which five illicit stills are in constant operation. The pass leading to the house is constantly guarded by 10 or 12 desperate mountaineers armed with rifles. On Ball's Fork, some miles away, there are seven illicit stills similarly guarded and another nest is located on Comb's Creek.
In the entire county there are at least 40 or 50 such places, and a Deputy Marshal accompanied by a small posse dare not venture into the territory. The Commissioner urged that determined measures be resorted to at once, since the outlaws are daily growing more bold and open in their operations. Marshal Gross proposes to set the war on foot, even if he does net remain in office long enough to finish the work. The stills will be destroyed if it takes every man in the service to do the work, and the murderers of Wireman will be brought to justice if human energy can ferret them out.
Russell Wireman was one of the first deputies appointed by Marshal Gross when he took charge of the office in 1885. He lived at Salyersville, Magoffin County; and. was about 32 years old. While he was in the service Wireman made more arrests than any other Deputy Marshal, and his work was always done in the most dangerous territory. He has attended every session of court in this city, and was well known hero. He was a tall, slender man, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a light mustache. He was regarded by his superiors, and, in fact, by all who knew him, as being a man absolutely without fear. His work m the mountains testifies to his courage, and the manner in which he met his death will testify to it also.
Source: New York Times (1857-Current file); Mar 30, 1889; Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 200 pg. 1