The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-19
FIGHTING RUSSIANS.
a Bloody Riot With Policemen in
sLlttle Russia
POLICE MAKE ARRESTS THERE

EVU1Vd mhAu hAA1nAD AAAAAA
Fer Selling LIquOr-WOmen Take
Part in the Fight and Are Knocked
Down
The police officers went to "Little Rus
STA" last night, and they were not re-
ceived with much courtesy. Little
Russia" is the Russian settlement north
of the river The officers finally con-
ouered the swarthy Russians, but not
until after the fercest fight that has &C.
Cured in Topeka in five years. Officer
Ewing lost a coat. Officer Owens received
a heavy blow on the hand and the other
officers received more OF less bumps of
trivial nature. All this occurred Sunday
night
Last night officers Ewing and Owens
received orders to arrest Mike Etzel,
Jack Egas and E. G. Matches. Com
plant had been made that several Rus
SLAMS were running a joint in North To-
peka. The officers went to 1924 North
Jefferson street, where Egas lives, but
he had Just left. Officer Ewing stayed
there to watch for him, while Officer
Owens went to the Russian settlement on
East Gordon, across the Santa Fe tracks.
Arriving there, he found the three
men that he wanted and arrested them.
But it was another shing to take them to
the prison. One of them wanted to see
the warrant. Then the women came up
and the scene became noisy. George P.
Etzel, another Russian, and four of the
big stout women, together with the three
men under arrest. surrounded Officer
Owens and would have probably beaten
him to death had ne not drawn his re-
voIver and threatened to fill the first as
sauIter full of lead. While this was
going on some one ran to telephone
and called the patrol wagon. Driver
BundY soon arrived with officers Gaines,
Hale and FoWkes at the scene of the
trouble just in time to save Officer Owens
from assault. The appearance of the
new squad made the Russians all the
more angry, and they surrounded the
officers. There were four big Russians
and six women. Not only did they fight,
but they turned the dogs loose,
aud even the COW seemed to realize the
situation, as she made threatening moves
toward the officers. In the fight Officer
Gaines struck a Russian with his club
Then the women attacked Gaines, and
he had the liveliest scrimmage of his
life. The women fought with as much
vigor as the men. Gaines used his fist
and the women dropped like bags of
sand. When they would get up Gaines
would knock them down with his fist
again.
Officer Hale had an exciting expert
ence. One of the big, powerful wo-
men attacked him. By a strategic eff
fort he got hold of both her hands and
pulled her up against a tree, facing it,
drawing an arm around each side of the
tree, and with his foot bracing himself.
When Russia was thoroughly conquered
the bleeding men were loaded into the
wagon and hauled to the city prison.
The officers say it was absolutely
necessary to take prompt measures, for
through the ignorance of the Russians
and their evident excitement it would
have been but short time until they
would have murdered the policemen.
Officer Gaines, in speaking of the
affair, said: 'I'll tell you, boys, it's hard
to strike woman, but I'll tell you l had
to do it last night
This morning the Russians were
brought into court, Their faces indicate
great ignorance.
They all asked, through their attorney,
for continuance until the 9th.
Jack Egas, Mike Etzel and E. G.
Matches will answer TO the charge of
selling intoxicating liquor. and Geo. P.
Etzel for resisting an officer in the per
torrance of his duty.
Two of the Russian women came over
this morning and they were Immediately
put under arrest Their faces showed
that they had been fighting. They will
also be tried on the 9th, for interfering
with the officers.
The Russians had to have an interpre-
ter for the court A quantity of whisky
was found when the arrest was made.
Mike Etzel, one of the prisoners, is an
old offender. He was tried and found
guilty of selling intoxicating liquor, in
the district court, and he is now out on
bond awaiting decision of the supreme
court in an appeal from the district
court