The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-10
THIRST FOR BLOOD.
Curious Experience of 3 Man Forced
Carry . Pistol

Curious Experience of . Man Forced To
Garry . Pistol
We were sitting beside the great stone
fireplace in the Clarendon hotel at the
gold camp of Cripple Creek, Col, writes
John Spears, talking of the various
phases of mining camp life and the pc
culiarities of mountain towns, when l
remarked that the only way to make
such a town absolutely unique was to
make it dry in the Kansas or Iowa
sense. AT that Harry Wilson, of the
Rock Island Railroad Co, who was sit
ting next to me, said:
Dry towns in the west are not SO
scarce as you would imagine. In Colo
RADIO they are called local option towns.
Communities can vote for the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic if they will,
and that reminds me of curious expe-
rience one of our agents had some years
ago in such town. The story illus
trates phase of human nature in a
way that / think will interest you.
1.-THE town was so completely opposed
to the liquor traffic that every officer of
the law-mayor, justice of the peace.
policemen. constable, deputy sheriff,
and so on-was a rank prohi
or at least pretended to be; neverthe-
less remnant loved wine and beer and
took whisky when the lighter drinks
failed. Naturally they ordered goods
from wholesale dealers elsewhere and
had them shipped over our road. Nat
urally, too, some on getting the goods
sold them to personal acquaintances-
did the bootleg trade, you know. To
stop this trade officers of the law kept
an eve on all packages arriving by
freight, and, of course, sometimes made
mistakes-seized the wrong goods, to
the annoyance of the patrons OF
the road. 1t was no part OF
the duty of our agent there to enforce
the local law; it was his duty to protect
our patrons from annoyance. An order
was issued by the company directing
him to deliver all goods to consignees
only, and to keep all other persons from
the freighthouse and platform
"A short time after this a policeman
who has been selected for the post be
cause his record seemed 20 point him
out as well fitted for the place, came on
the platform after n train arrived and
began examining packages The agent
told him courteously to leave. The po-
liceman refused, and after some words
the agent kicked him off Both men
went for their guns on the instant, but
the agent got the drop, and the police
man had to take a sneak.
THAT evening friends came TO the
agent and told him that the policeman
had sworn revenge at the first opportu-
nitv. The policeman had in his time
shot two men and slashed third with
knife. Moreover, he was an officer of
the law and in case he killed the agent
could very readily claim that it was in
the discharge of his duty and secure an
acquittaL It was a serious matter.
The agerS was advised TO apply at once
TO be transferred to another station
"He avs now that as he listened TO
the &c creepy sensation came over
him his feet up; a sensation OF
genuine fear. but his pride was too
strong TO let him go away, and buckling
on a revolver be told his friends he
would stay. Thereafter he never left
his bedroom or walked the streets with
out il.
''At first he had but one thought in
the matter-ke must keep q sharp LOOK
out TO save his life But very soon q
feeling of indignation came TO join the
feeling of apprehension II was an
outrage that be should be compelled 20
carry a weapon in such q manner The
Indignation grew; the policeman de-
served death for his threats The
agent had never avoided the policeman,
but now he began 20 take little pains
to meet him just 70 see what be would
do. A little later the indignation had
grown 70 hate. and he not only sought
the officer, but sneered in his face.
devilishly eager 20 have gesture OF
movement made that would serve for
an excuse for opening the fight He
had carried pistol al first 20 save MS
own life, hut he had developed q thirst
for blood that was rapidly becoming
uncontroilable- lie was saved from
numbering the officer, perhaps in cold
blood. By an order transferring him
elsewhere He had become 80 eageT
LD1A Ef pIStcSbs@s4 e. asNHs 80 ~aA~a~s -
But he had 20 submit
within moth after he had brgun
work elsewhere the feeling was gone,
and be was overwhelmed with aston
ishneut a. be recalled his mental con-
oition 30 short time before j know
him TO Dc a man who loves peace he
has no desire now 20 harm in any way
tina. policeman and yet ] should DC
very sorry 70 have The Two meet again.
for / hSv. no doubt the agent would
kill him CO the slightest prOVocatiOn--
" y. Sun
Lady engaging Have
vou auy refereDcesy- Raw Country
C,irl-s+whzt be them Eszrz$ Lady
'eyThy, car rou tel M any people who
knosT your ehar@cterZ~ kaSr Country
Girl jgr1zning surely bat
bezn't - silly a. % lei! yeT'-PaaeL
No Chssxs-