Mountain Echo 1899

Laurel County's first newspaper

Clippings transcribed and donated by: Shirley Dunn

1888 paper Laurel Co Mountain Echo

On last Monday morning, near Cracker's Neck, in Rockcastle county, Elisha Bullock found Thomas Collins formerly of Fishing Creek, Pulaski county, dead with a bullet hole through his head. His body was lying across the road with a pistol on one side and a bottle of whisky on the other. He had left the grocery near by drunk, about 10 o'clock Sunday night. "Came to his death by his own hands," was the verdict rendered by the jury of inquest.

Married-At the Methodist church at East Bernstadt, on Thursday, December 24 1897, Mr. John Bailey of this place, to Miss Mary Caudill, of Altamont. The happy pair thus made one have our heartiest congratulations.

FEBRUARY 1899

Anse Baker, a member of the First Kentucky, who was wanted in Clay county, for shooting John Hall, was arrested immediately upon being mustered out, and returned to Manchester.

APRIL 1899

MARRIED-At the bride's father's, Miss Emma Baker to Mr. J. D. Tinsley, both of Pittsburg, at 8:30 p.m. April 9, 1899. The ceremony was performed by Rev. A. B. H. McKee, of London, KY. We wish the happy couple success all through the journey of life.  We are indeed sad to learn of the death of our mutual friend and patron, Mr. Andrew Baker, of Mt. Vernon. He was a noble Christian hearted fellow, and we extend our sympathy to his bereaved wife.

MAY 1899

DIED-At the residence of her son Mr. J. T. Brown, in London last Saturday, Mrs. Margaret Craig Brown, daughter of John C. Craig, of Whitley county, and widow of John C. Brown, who preceded her to the grave about nine years. Mrs. Brown was born April 25, 1813, and was married when she was only 17 years of age, living a long, honorable and useful life. She has been in very delicate health for several years, but her death was produced by a broken hip, which she sustained several weeks ago by a fall. Her remains were laid to rest in the family burying grounds near Mr. Brown's home. The sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved relatives

JUNE 1899

MANCHESTER COURT-The June term of Clay Circuit Court, at which Tom, Jim, and Dee Baker are to be tried for the murder of Wilson Howard and Store, opened last Monday, being supported by a detachment of the State Guards, commanded by Col. Rogers D. Williams, armed with Springfield rifles and a Gattling gun, the latter capable of being fired 1200 times a minute. Soon after Judge Eversole organized the court he received a message that his mother was dangerously ill at her home in Perry County, for which place he left at once, Mr. A. K. Cook, of Pineville, being elected special Judge for the term. Every thing had been perfectly quiet up to the last report, late Wednesday afternoon. The Bakers came into Manchester at noon Wednesday, accompanied by a detachment of soldiers that had been sent out to meet and escort them in. They were to go into trial yesterday. We understand they will apply for a change of venue which will probably be granted.

JUNE ~ MURDERED-Tom Baker, leader of the Baker faction in the Howard Baker feud in Clay county, was shot and instantly killed at about 5 o'clock last Saturday evening in Manchester, by an unknown party. Tom was stated in our last issue, he had applied for a change of venue, and had just been granted a change to Knox county, and was standing in his guard tent, surrounded by soldiers, talking to his wife, his son and brother, when the keen crack of the deadly Winchester rang out and Tom Baker sank to the ground, his body pierced through and through with a 45-75 ball. Consternation reigned supreme for a few minutes after the killing, but Col. Williams soon had his men in line, a diligent search was made, but no evidence of who fired the fatal shot was found, The ball entered the left side of the back and came out on the right side in front. Dr. A. C. Foster, of this place, who was acting as Surgeon for the State Guards, made a narrow escape, as but a moment before the fatal shot was fired he was standing in the rear

OCTOBER 1899  

~ Capitola Brown, the youngest daughter of the late Jno. N. L. and Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown, died at the home of her brother in law, W. H. Bradshaw, near Dallas, Texas, on Oct. 14, 1899, in the seventeenth year of her age. She was born in London, KY., and resided in Laurel county until about a year ago, when with her mother and one sister, she went to Texas to join a married sister who was living in that State. A few weeks ago she became sick with typhoid fever, and, though all that friends could do was done to save her sweet young life, she died and now sleeps her last sleep among strangers in a far off land. Many friends and relatives here remember the bright, sprightly Capitola and we all sympathize deeply with the bereaved mother, brother, and sisters in this dark hour of their affliction.

1890

ANOTHER HARLAN KILLING-Sunday evening last on Clover Fork, in Harlan county, some twenty miles above Harlan Court House, Bascom Bailey son of John Bailey, who Will Jennings is accused of killing. engaged in a difficulty with John Hensly, of Virginia, in which Bailey was shot and killed, while Hensly made good his escape into Virginia before arrest.