The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-07-24
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The last item had been penned for lsst
weeks EAGLE when the noon train brought
along the CommosweatA containing in add
fion to al the other late news . twO-line To-
cal to the eject that my refugees had that
day been shipped to Wichita. Upon the i'm
pulse Of the moment, and innocent Of pre-
pense or malice, 1t was made the text for .
short speech about how Topeka was growing
politically and materially rich In handling
the exodusters, into which we injected . lit
tie yellow fever, the scalping-knife and dire
results generally. 1t was an awful hot day
and we imagined that little wind would be
no bad thing. But the little breeze has well
nigh developed a regular funnel-shaped cy-
clone twister. That the piece was palpable
fun with the slightest possible tincture Of
honest conviction, and that It was In such
spirit received At first, Is evidenced by the
following note appearing in the Common
,oealM OF Saturday:
'The Wichita EAGLE In its last issue got
OF great thing which we publish on the Sec
Oud page Of this paper. But Marsh got Oh
on his hind legs, and howled on his local page
about matter that he r. not posted upon.
Among other things, II says; .,..,.,
this exodus business than all the rest Of the towns
In the State, to say nothing Of her junketing and
cd on the funds contributed by philanthIopists
and other weak people and poor orphans Of the
East
Now Marsh. 1t is too hot weather to in
dulge In such nonsense. Next time learn
what you are talking about. Don't go OF
half-cocked. 1t IL unnecessary to defend To-
peka about the assaults referred to. Topeka
II willing to stand on its record in this as in
other matters"
But neither the fun nor trouble stopped
there. Close upon the heels Of the appear
ance Of the EAGLE story was foated to the
effect that two hundred more destitute ne
groes would reach here on the next train.
supplemented by the startling rumor that six
ty well-defned cases of yellow fever had been
discovered in the Topeka Barracks. In face
Of the well-knOwn fact that every new case
developed in the South il Immediately tele-
graphed the whole country that credence
should have been given the last yarn was not
less interesting than that our acting mayor
should telegraph the committee threatening
to quarantine Wichita, and that if any more
refugees were sent here they would be re-
turned. The ''return" idea struck in and
was Immediately acted upon, '.pony purse
being instanter made up, and six out Of the
ten weary, wandering pilgrims were sent
back. Being very busy We were entirely ig-
norant of all this going on until the reception
of q letter on Sunday morning from prOmi-
nent railroad official assuring us that Wichita
need have no fears Of an overplus Of darkies
nor anticipate any danger from yellow fever
rs they were matters receiving their closest
attention. BY this time the Commonwealth
had become as ''panicky" rs any body and its
Sunday morning edition contained q full col
umn editorial, which We publish elsewhere, |
and which, barring the governor para
graph, is sure enough earnest in its defense |
Of the good people of Topeka from the wick
ed EAGLES slanderous insinuations.
In the way of the amend. honorable we will |
alid that we think We fully appreciate the ex. |
Odhs business, at least some phases Of it, far |
the larger number Of which have proved very |
for the white man whatever
they may mean for the ragged, starving eX.
slaves of the South, and that we are fully in
formed as to every step taken by the people
Of Kansas to whom these poor, ignorant, but
liberty LOVING blacks have fed for encourage.
nent and protection, and We must say that
Topeka, her people, the chief executive, and
,ther State officers, have acquitted themselves
most unselfishly and nobly throughout, and
we have no doubt that they will continue the
rood work.