The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-16
Scenes of the Bloody Border Wars
Seem Likely to Be
Repeated.
Kansas Populists and Republicans
Front Each Other in Line
Of Battle.
Stubborn but Bloodless Contest
for Possession Of the Hall Of
i Representatives.

for Possession Of the Hall Of
Representatives,.
Republicans Get Possession and Were
Beseiged, Cold and Hungry-Blood-
shed Likely to Occur.
TOPEKA. Kan. Feb. 16.-Bleedine Kan.
sas nearly blsd again to-day. Nothing but
the wisest counsels of the calmer leaders OF
the opposing parties prevented serious con-
fliot and the shedding of blood. No.
since the anti-slavery and pro-slavery
forces were arrayed in hostile attitude
against ono another has political excite
ment run 30 high as to-day. and not since
those perilous times has tho political sit
uation como so near developing into a
battle with arms. The members of tho re-
publican house. each carrying a revolver,
forced their way through tho populist
guard stationed in tho corridor and stair
way leading to representative hall, fought
sheir way inch BY inch upstairs in a hand
to-hand contest with populists, battered
down she doors of tho hall with sledRe
hammer, took possession of the hall and
barricaded themselves within, and are
withstanding siege by the populist gov
eminent supported by the entire military
force of the state. who hope to starve the
republicans into unconditional surrender
Right here arises the probability of an
armed conflict between the republican
a dn md oko kn
members kept the wires hot sll day sending
messages to their constituents informing
them of tho desperate situation of Affairs
and calling for republican volunteers to
come to Topeka at once and lend aid to the
republican house. Responses have been
received from all over the state stating that
volunteers had offered their services by
hundreds and will arrive in Topeka BY the
first train. As samples of tho responses
two are given:
D. N. Scott, republican member who
happened to be at homo in Ottawa, tele-
graphsd that he would be here in the morn
ing with 800 armed men.
Fighting Dan" Anthony. editor of the
Leavenworth Times, wired that 1000 armed
men would come from Leavenworth.
The republicans predict that the militia,
being composed mostly of republicans, will
not resist the attack Of the volunteers
should the latter proceed to such sxtrems
measures.
At 10 O'Clock tonight 500 troops are on
guard around the building, while 500 more
are on the way from different parts of the
statss Hundreds of republican volunteers
armed for battle are gathering from all
parts of the state. The populists arc or
ganized into provisional troops. The mil
itia, ibeinR republican in synlpathies. will
probably not obey an order to shoot down
their political brethren. while the pro-
vsional companies. composed OF populists,
to defeat the republican plans and main
tain tho populist position. No one dares to
predict what tomorrow will bring forth.
Few hope for peaosable solution of the
difficulty. many expect bloodshed and all
are holding their breath in anticipation.
this morning they found the doors barred
by the populists. After a short oonsulta-
tation the republicans resolved to force an
entrance. SledQe-hammers wore brought
into play against one of the side entrances
with such good effect that the door was
soon demolished and the republicans
quickly filsd into the hall. Had the popu-
surely resulted. but fortunately the popu.
list house adjourned yesterday till one
o'clock this afternoon. As soon as the
populists learned what had been done, Gov.
Llewelling was notified. He promptly
called out the militia and instructed them
licans from the floor. The soldiers star ted
on their mission.
The republicans. learning Of the gov
eruor's action. held a hurried consultaton
IA to what course to pursue. No definite
plan WAS decided upon. but individual re-
publicRns tried to induce the Santa Fe rail-
road company to call out it's shopmen to
known to be in sympathy with the republ-
cans were also asked to furnish men for the
same purpose. Meantime the populists
were not idle. Company G, Of the local
militia. responded promptly to the call.
having been notified by Adit. Gen. Artz
last night to be in readiness. They
marched to the capital grounds and took
up their position, awaiting osders. Orders
were also telegraphed to Horton and Marion
for companies ID and G.
In the hall of the house the republicans
were making show Of doing business.
Great enthusinsm and loud cheers were
evoked by the presentation to Speaker
Douglass OF the sledge hammer with which
an entrance was effected into the hall, and
which Douglass subsequently used in place
of gavel to call tho house to order.
resolution was passed citing Chief Clerk
Rich. of the populist house; Howard, Brie-
dcnthal and Scott to appear before the
house for contempt in resisting tho process
of the houss yesterday when the attempt
was made to arrest Rich. There were
twenty-four assistant sergeants- at u rms in
the house when the republicans for ced their
way in. but they did nothing to prevent it
except to warn the republicans that they
were destroying state property and would
be held accountable for il.
The only weapons shown by the populists
were one winchester and couple of re-
volvers in the hands of n mild young man
who made no attempt to use them. They
were captured by the republicans and arc
/, essrved AZ trophies.
lhe populists icipating the events of
tho dsy, attempted to throw the burden of
the situation on Sheriff Wilkinson, of this
county. The governor informed him
officially last evening that rumors were in
to tho effect that II lawless mob
tho republican house of representatives.
Il foroible invasion of the
hall of tho house OF representatives, and
sailed upon him to summon u posse oom-
ltatns to resist such lswless inyasion.
speaker Dunsmore, OF tho populist house.
sent message calling on the sheriff for II
bufllolent force to preserve the psAoa and