The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-23

propped every door leading to the
hall. Learning this the Populists de
cided to freeze out the Republicans
and thu ianitor shut off the
steam ON the hall. The Populists
also undertook to starve out the
Republicans. Men sent after lunch
Tor the Republicans were not allowed
TO get past the miIitta's lines below.
In addition to other POpulst prepare.
lions a military company was station
ed near the arsenal with guards post
ed and two cannon run out OF he
arsenal and loaded with shot.
Since he inauguration of the Popu'
list government the state militia nave
received bus little official attention.
The appointment of Adjdtant Gen
eral ARR was only confirmed yester
day. He is not very chnv4rsant with
military affairs and during the eX-
element today he served more in the
capacity of orderly to Governor Sew
eljyng, crmmalder.ip chief, than in
mis- high official capacity. rhe only
capa bic officer OF rank Oh the ground
is Col. j f. Hughes. To
him late this afternoon Adju
tant General Artz delivered the
Following order: "YOu are hereby Or
dered 20 assume active command OF
all officers and men of the Kan-as
National Guard assembled in Topeka
and around the state house. l.. ID.
lie wellyn, commander in chef"
Upon receiving this order COlonel
Hughes at once took charge and
brought order out of chaos Various
com panies, which had been drawn up
about the state house according to the
ideas of individual commanders, were
given stations at the four main en-.
frances of the capitol. On It's four
sides squads OF men were posted at all
basement entrances Sentinel lines
were thrown out and the situation as
sumed really military aspect. The
forces were divided into three paris
each to remain on active duty eight
hours, while the other two being held
Ia reserve were permitted TO OBTAIN
resi- and refeshment.
This plan was adopted to aid in
carrying out the general plan OF siege.
The pnpulIsts decided not to tace the
issue by an assault upon the Repu0ll-
can position in Representative hall,
but 10 conquer the enemy by siege
AMI thus avert a conflict aud possible
bloOdshed The Republican house Is
in 10 condition to stand prolonged
siege. 1t has neither supplies nor
means of obtaining them. Du ing the
excitement prevalent at noon they
succeeded in running the POpullst
block AIDE and secured sand witches and
coffee for lunch and enough lett ove or
for meagre meal this evening but
that gone all is gone and with II all
hope of eating except at the Cost OF
unconditional surrender Guards are
stationed in all corridors leading to
representative hall and at all The en-
frances to and exits from the building
and no one is allowed to enter the
building. Anyone can leave thu hail
who desires, but once leaving he leaves
for good and is not permitted To re-
turn. No pas-el are given by COio" ell
Hughes through the lines. Even
newspaper men are denied entrance
to the building
At 6 o'clock the Republicans tele-
phOned from representative hall To
caterer to prepare lunch ana deliver
it ut the hall In the event o. helng
unable to send it through the lines he
was instructed - take 1t To position
under one of the windows of repre-
sentative hail rom which position the
Republicans wOald elevate it by
means OF Il rope t" representative hall.
The caterers messenger, while at
tempting tn carry ont the order, was
challenged by The pickets and arrest
ed AND his stores captured. He was
allowed 10 90 by Colonel Hughes after
| having been rpprlmanded and eau
toned The Republicans thus find
themselves in position which can
nat he maintained long This is the
situation which sta ares them in the face
with unconditional surrender "a the
only alternative. While the Repuo'
| LEANS were withstanding the siege
| they have transacted considerable
business. Several bills and resolu'