Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1902 — Battle of Cooney’s Run. [ARTICLE]

Battle of Cooney’s Run.

A little after six o’clock last evening Rensselaer was disgraced by a big drunken row, which came as near being a general free mixup as any that has occurred here for years. It is practically impossible to get the whole story straight, at this time, as many who know about it will not tell, unless they are compelled to, under oath, as probably they will be in the . near future. There was a crowd of Rensselaer fellows on a big toot, and at that time were assembled in Cooney Kellner’s saloon. Hence the subsequent row, which took place in the rear of the saloons, has already’ been named the "Battle of Cooney’s Run.” Along with the same crowd in the saloon was a load of men from somewhere in the Nubbin Region. It is stated that before the row got under full headway most of crowd had started for Rosey’s place to play cards. Some of these town boys and country boys got to jangling about something, or nothing, and from jangling they naturally got to fighting. One of the country boys, believed to have been Arthur Goff, was the center of the attention of several town boys. He appears to have been fixed for trouble, with a billy or something of that nature, and be laid out the town boys, right and left. Will Woodworth got a thump that "put him to sleep” for some time, and was doused by several hatfuls of "spring water” from the pools back of Duvall’s livery stable before he resumed interest in sublunary things. His first words on recovering consciousness were to the effect that his only grief was that one little fellow from Nubbin Ridge should be able to lick the whole town gang. "Jonsey” Warner also got a bad knock early in the proceedings. One Ridger had Jonesy down thumping or choking him good, when the Baker” run in, and pulled the Ridger off and gave him a terrible beating. Billy McCord got a hard jolt, but also got in his work in return. Verne Robinson was in the muss also and got in some lively work on the others but ap pears not to have got the customary knock-down himself. Joe Davisson was one of the Ridger crowd. Joe, by all accounts, was not drunk, nor did be get into the fight until some one hit him with a rock. He un doubtedly did some lively scrap ping after that, but the statement that he was the man that had the "billy” is undoubtedly a mistake. True Woodworth, a sober and peaceable young man, got drawn in, through a natural desire to protect his brother. Chet Sutton and his hired man, named Overmeyer, were the two others from the country known to have been mixed in, but Sutton, denies that he took any part further than trying to keep peace. But they all say that. Ont and bloody faces were on every side, bnt none were very serious except Joe Davisson’s and he had one or two bad outs in the face, two on the head, and one tooth knocked out. After being patched up by Dr. English Joe came np smiling again lovever, and though not a fighting man, be says he will give any man that was in that crowd S2O if he will say that be was the man that had the “billy.” Stones, clubs and the billy were the usual weapons, but Joe also got a hard crack with a wagon wrench, for variety. Joe and True, who are both good peaceable fellows and never intentionally look for trouble, though active opponents during the scrimmage, mutually apolo-

gized afterwards, and parted good friends. There are said to have been still two others from the country in the muss, whose names could not be learned, and also one or two others from town. The total number on both sides is stated to have been just thirteen. Whether 13 is a hoodoo in this case will be more apparent when the justice courts get their work in.