Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1911 — NOW WORTH MILLIONS [ARTICLE]

NOW WORTH MILLIONS

Tolleston Gun Club’s Preserve Industrial Center. Gary, Ind., Aug. 14.—As a result of.the industrial growth of Gary the property of the Tolleston Gun Club, now used by the Lake Country Club, has greatly increased in value the last few years and land which was once part of a great game preserve containing 3,400 acres will soon be part of a city. Traditions of the early days of the Tolleston Country Club are many and include the story of the resentment of the people against the efforts of Chicago society people to prevent poaching on the land. The Chicago members of the club hired watchmen to stop the poaching in 1890 and the feeling they caused resulted in several deaths. The watchmen were known to the residents as “bullies” and were held in the greatest contempt by hunters who persisted in trespassing in spite of their efforts. Al Looker, a Chicago man who was noted for his ability with a revolver, settled in a cabin in what is now Gary. He was warned to stay off the preserve, but defied the guards. Two of them found him playing pool at John Hargin’s roadhouse in Tolleston one night and attempted to arrest him. One of she guards pushed Looker against the wall and was shot through the heart by Looker. The other guard attempted to shoot Looker, but was too slow, and Looker killed him. A number of sympathetic members of the community surrounded Looker and escorted him home. He was later surrendered to , the sheriff of Lake county and was acquitted when tried for murder. A brother of one of the guards resigned his position on the Chicago police force and followed Looker to Kansas City where the two fought a duel in the street. Looker killed the former policeman. Looker then went to

Seattle, married- and afterward settled in Alaska. The trouble between the poachers and guards continued. One of the guards was found in the mud with his feet in the air several days after Looker killed two of his companions. The man had been shot and his body propped up ip sight of theroad. In one pitched battle’ between guards and farmers, four farmers were shot. This affair created so much feeling that the club became less aggressive and the trouble ceased. It is said that Theodore P. Shonts, John W. Drake and other wealthy men still retain their membership in the gun club. Those who are istill members will profit when the land is sold, for it is now worth millions. Z