tragedy tragedy dispute land titles settlers took place farm located miles northwest california central leaving seven people dead novel octopus story california inspired incident novel blood money novel blade includes fictionalized account conflict exact history incident source disagreement largely popular anti railroad sentiment 1880s incident clear example corrupt cold corporate greed journalists anti railroad activists settlers events evidence justification anti corporate site episode registered historical marker east 14th avenue yards north elder avenue site background region known late 19th century country california small portion later entire area formed country took went area remained unsettled broad dry plain suitable cattle congress authorized railroad companies build line area created numbered lots square mile acres km2 received odd numbered sections land totaling acres km2 worth numbered sections given government subject events followed given history encouraging settlement development lines land prices expected appreciate considerably settlers spent great deal money time building houses farms begun file area railroad lands starting anticipation completion line completed work north construct southern portion generally known public time railroad systems owned operated people technically separate corporations stated price land acre upwards leading people mistakenly believe acre set price furthermore indicated improvements settlers land counted prices fixed settlers attempted acquire land asking price significantly greater attributed rising property values laying railroad settlers believed improvements irrigation housing fences settlers protested railroads avail bill united_states congress fixed price acre failed pass filed won lawsuit settlers amidst allegations court bias california governor president issue pending court decided change course route claiming despite having granted homestead rights building homes previous course distraught settlers argued court building line federal government land title hand convinced legal ownership land felt freedom set prices deemed fit property took opportunity parcels anticipating courts rule company allowing land free supreme_court finally ruled owned lands justified reclaim land compensation settlers willing pay asking price acre league formed opposition actions attempted appeal directly president visit san_francisco presenting petition read supreme_court ruling critical moment came december judge ruled federal government controlled railroad land grants importantly state control ultra acts corporations given legal system position began forcibly remove settlers agents attempt serve notices find home knew coming cases agents tried removing furniture homes league furniture agents departure finally escalated point agents houses volunteers settlers brand justice people purchased land forced sell harassed locals case farmer aligned house burned supporting railroads tended league set anxious settlers received benefit section public opinion politically legally decision going way railroad march stanford attempted reconciliation appearing meeting league attempt find sort compromise picnic held feature speech pro justice actually unable appear word reached railroad men marshal land locals actively settlers railroad lands group people left confront historical marker indicates local men deputy fact case rumors partially true addition serving notices group purchasing land improvements settlers refused pay asking price act seen betrayal stanford visit mere months earlier list involved persons marshal group marshal railroad land killed killed settlers group leader group killed died pneumonia soon considered victim fight killed killed killed killed sequence events parties met homestead henry miles north near marshal group having house later testimony parties indicated party settlers lightly armed intention railroad party delay actions pending court case resolved bad blood crow harris previously threatened kill term equivalent modern day argument broke harris simultaneously opened fire crow skilled armed shotgun killed wounded settlers party initial exchange gunfire ended crow fled scene shot away unknown reach safety clark participate battle left immediately incident possibly tensions avoid aftermath seventeen people indicted federal grand jury found guilty interfering marshal performance duties leader league convicted federal court judge presiding sentenced months prison fined time spent imprisonment hardly difficult men wives allowed live daughter fell love later married release september greeted crowd anti railroad sentiment looked heroes california killed considered given lives cause affair brought shock people legal battle lost railroad won public support changing policy granting public lands railroads concession reduce land price slightly end people simply stayed purchased land myth affair seized newspaper editors number popular writers soon tragic shootout example corporate greed abuses market capitalism start 20th century novels driven sea sea fault railroad events according ideal attempted crow calling americans later novels depicting affair philosopher feud creek novelist octopus slightly portrayals fairly sided anti railroad view affair history sunset limited includes chapter outlining common affair suggests significance myth history california evident quote president focused considerable time energy abuses corporate reading roosevelt stated inclined think conditions worse california narratives helped bolster public anti railroad sentiments encouraged continued rebellion railroad land agents came accept ordinary land business despite nationwide attention incident received remembered today later argues duty retreat shootout fit mold hero myth usually ignores factors ideology social economic conflict lore american old west tragedy oak victims shooting carried porch shaded tall oak tree tree famously known tragedy oak blew storm early 1990s piece tree saved memorial display nearby
Mussel Slough Tragedy