The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-05-18
THE ARMY CAPTURED.
The CommonweaIers who Captured the
Train In Colorado Arrested by United
States Marshals Soon After Crossing the
Kansas Line.


The Commonwealers who Captured the
Train In Colorado Arrested by United
States Marshals soon After Crossing the
Kansas Line.
ScoTT CITY, Kan, May 1i.-Gen. j.
S. Saunders and his army of common
wealers are in the hands of the law.
The outfit surrendered to United States
Mcrshai S F. Nicely in the railroad
yards in Scott City, which is 400 miles
west of Kansas City, at o'clock last
evening. No resistance was offered.
The army will be taken to Topeka for
trial for obstructing United States
mails. The men are good natured, and
the government officials do not expect
further trouble.
When the special train reached Healy,
IL miles east of Scott City, dispatch
was handed Superintendent Clark in
forming him that the commonwealers
had pulled into Scott City, and upon
learning that the track was torn up
started back toward the Colorado line.
An order was at once issued to have
the track at Scott City relaid, and Gem
eral Attorney Waggener instructed his
local attorney to institute proceedings
in Scott county for the arrest of Gen.
Saunders and his army for bringing
stolen property into the state and have
the sheriff and posse at the depot to
meet the special train. The special had
been delayed at two or three places,
but from Healy to Scott City it ran
with the throttle of the locomotive
wide open.
The special train arrived at Scott
City at o'clock and found gang of
men busily engaged in repairing the
track 1t took about forty minutes to
complete the work, but before the train
was ready to pull out Gen. Saunders
train was seen approaching in the dis
| tance. 1t had gone back to Modoc to
allow the west-bound mail train to
pass. Marshal Nicely stationed his
deputies about the special train, and
he and General Attorney Waggener
| the commonwealers.
The stolen train stopped at the
switch and Gen. Saunders alighted
from the engine and walked rapidly
| toward the depot, accompanied by half
dozen of his men. He was inter-
cepted by Marshal Nelly and Mr.. Wag-
gener, who stated to him their mission.
Mr.. Waggener, having been sworn in
as deputy, read the writs to the gen.
eral who asked for thirty minutes to
confer with his officers. The request
was granted and both sides drew to
their respective trains
At the expiration of thirty minutes
| Saunders appeared and announced that
he and his army would surrender and
turn the stolen train over to the officers,
which was accordingly done The peo-
pie of Scott City made up purse and
| furnished them a supper.
The principal officers of the army are
Gen. Saunders, Adjt Gen. Connolly
and Col Murphy. Gen. Saunders is a
single man, 80 years old. He was born
in Green county. Mo. The army is
fairly well drilled and disciplined.
In the meantime the commonwealers
had gone into camp on some vacant
lots near the stockyards. Mr.. Wag-
gener, Marshal Nicely and Gen. Saun-
ders visited the different companies
and the men were formally placed I'M
der arrest by the marshal, who made a
speech informing them that they would
have to accompany their leader to To-
peka Gen. Saunders assured each
company that it was all right The
men cheered their commander to the
echo.
Arrangements were then made to es-
cort the army to Topeka Three coaches
| were taken from the regular east
bound passenger train and attached to
the Waggener special, which had two
extra coaches These afforded accom-
mediation for the entire army, which
numbered 451, actual count.