Memorials › Harrison "Hatch" York

Harrison "Hatch" York

14 May 1855 – 22 Jan 1896

Birth	14 May 1855
Death	22 Jan 1896
Cemetery	Osage Cemetery Weimar , Colorado County , Texas , USA
Added by	Atti on 23 Jul 2010
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55320325

Bio

York, Hatch MARSHAL YORK SHOT DOWN Last Wednesday evening about 6:45 o'clock, as an eastbound freight train pulled into Weimar, a brakeman notified the officers that two negro tramps on board the train had drawn pistols on him and commanded him to stand back when he had ordered them to get off the train, a short distance out of Schulenburg. The negroes were reported lying down in a coal car on the train, the car being near the seed house, east of the depot. City Marshal Hatch York secured the assistance of Messrs. J. K. Tooke and Sim Watson, and went down to arrest the negroes. It seems that just at this point, Mr. Dan Armstrong had left home and was running toward the train to see a friend who was a brakeman on the train. As he came around the stockpens he came across the negroes, who had left the car and were lying on the ground near the seed houses. He yelled to them something like, "Better get up, or the marshal will run you in." At this, one of the negroes, who probably supposed Dan was an officer, and that he was about to be surrounded, rose up and opened fire on Dan, narrowly missing him. The negroes then probably heard the marshal and his men coming, and turned and began firing at them, the officers returning the fire. One of the negroes, John Foley, alias Ira Foley, fell shot through the thigh, the bone being shattered. The other negro, Jim Harrison, then ran, but was pursued by Marshal York. The negro ran toward Leidolf's gin, but being closely pursued, turned and fired a shot that went straight through the brave marshal's heart. York fell dead. The negro then ran around through the alley in the rear of the MERCURY office, past Ben Roger's residence, on up past Mrs. Darby's then cut across to the Christian church, and on out through the fields and pastures west of town. The news was telegraphed all over the country in a few moments, and in about an hour Sheriff Reese and Deputy Larkin Hope came up from Columbus on a special engine. Posses were sent out in every direction. At 10 o'clock an officer arrived from Schulenburg with a pack of hounds. The dogs took the trail and followed it in a westerly direction for about four miles when they lost it. Officers and posses were scouring the country in every direction all night, but did not catch the scoundrel. The wounded negro, was taken to the city prison, where he told his name and that of the escaped negro; said they were in route to Eagle Lake from Hackberry, Lavaca county; had been working on Mr. Hughes' place near there; described the other negro as medium-sized, mulatto in color, mustache, in his shirt sleeves, wearing a black Stetson hat, light pants, rather sharp-toed shoes, had about $2.50 in money, and was armed with a 45-calibre pistol; said this negro had also worked on a ranch near Runge, in Karnes county. The wounded negro was taken to Columbus that night. He is seriously wounded, and may die. Marshal York's dead body was taken in charge by the loving hands of his friends, and carried to his late home. The grief of his wife, mother, sons and sister was pitiful to witness, when they learned of the terrible tragedy. Mr. York had served as marshal here for a good many years, was a faithful and efficient officer, and was popular among all classes. He was a firm friend, a forgiving enemy, bearing malice against no one, and his death is deeply regretted by all our citizens, whose sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved relatives in the loss they have sustained. The remains were committed to the earth at Osage cemetery Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows' lodge, of which he had long been a faithful and zealous member. Weimar Mercury, 25 January 1896

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