The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-01
HELD The TRAIN.
Myriads of Tramps Climb Upon
the Morning Train
Of. the Missouri Pacific at the
Topeka Depot.
WON'T LET 1T START
Unless 1t Would Agree to Let
Them Ride.
Train Held Here Two Hours
After Time.
POLICE CALLED OUT.
WagOnIOad of PatrOlmen Sent
on the Dead Run.
Tramps Flee to the Woods When
the Police Appear.

A most high handed affair took place
in Topeka this morning, and one that
was a total surprise both to the Off
GERS of the law and the officials of the
Missouri Pacific railroad.
A crowd of rs tramps climbed on to
the southbound Missouri Pacific ac-
commodation train about 1880 this
morning at the Missouri Pacific de-
pot, at Fifteenth and Monroe streets,
and resisted all efforts of the trainmen
to put them off.
They surrounded the engine, climbed
into the cars and filled the platforms,
ordering the engineer to pull out.
After all efforts of the roads officers
and trafnmen had been employed, and
failed, the patrol wagon was called and
took load of policemen to the depot,
but the tramps heard it coming and
ran to the woods.
The train was searched by the police
and cleared. At 10 o'clock the train was
started, having been detained two
hours.
The Missouri Pacific accommodation
train is due to leave Topeka for Fort
Scott at o'clock in the morning. This
morning the train consisted of two
stock cars of race horses, a freight car
and two passenger coaches The stock
cars contained about 80 speed horses
which were being taken to the race
meeting at Fort Scott
surrounding the train. They seemed to
gather from every direction. most of
them coming out of the woods south of
the depot.
They climbed into the stock cars, on
to the platforms and on top of the cars
The station agent and the trainmen
tried to clear the train, but the tramps
answered in a threatening manner
that they were going to ride, and that
they had better be left alone. The men
who were in charge of the race horses
cars to attend to their animals, and
the tramps mingled with these and re-
fused to get out. The hOrsemen seem
ed to know most of the trampS and did
not try to eject them from their cars.
The trainmen were determined to clear
the cars, however. and they again or
dered all who were not in charge of
horses to get out of the cars. No one
moved, and the tramps made more
threats.
away" said the brakeman, I'VE will call
the police and have every one of you
arrested. Get out now
Call the police and be -," said
one of the tramps, what do we care
for them. You take US out of here right
away or Wen take charge and run the
train out ourselves"
Every available space in the two
stock cars was filed with tramps. They
were lying in the managers, under the
horses on piles of blankets, and on top
of the cars. They looked like genuine
ted and ready to fight. Every time the
trainmen ordered the tramps to get off
the train, there was nothing
but angry groWls from the tramps.
There were so many of them that it
was not advisable to use violence.
Several tramps stood near the engine,
and it was feared that they would
board it and force the engineer out of
the cab. Most of them had sticks and
clubs in their hands, and some had
small iron slugs. The train had been
ton agent telephOned to police head
quarters for help. The patrol wagon
was started with Sergeant Ellison, Pa
trolmen Bernard, FOwkes, and Burgess,
and Detective Zeller.
The tramps heard the police call and
they began to set out of the cars rap
idly. When the patrol wagon brought
the officers to the depot the crowd of
men who had been so bold with the
trainmen were scattering like cattle in
a storm. They ran north, east and
south. They ran fast, too Through
the high weeds toward the Shunganun-
ga the tramps went at full speed. Those
who ran were soon lost to view in the
high weeds and the woods along the
ten the start of the police. and it was
useless for the latter to pursue them,
for they had scattered so much that
they must have covered a large area of
territory. Some of the more deterrnin-
ed ones however, still held their
ground.
open this door, yelled Officer Bur
CESS. as he threw his weight against
the side door of one of the stock cars.
They are holding this door, he said
turning to the other officers open
this door, you might as well, for we
are going to get you
The door was forced open, and all the
occupants of the car ordered to get out
The second car contained several who
did not belong there.
This is a nice thing" said Sergeant
Ellison, for you fellows to make the
whole police force come down here to
put you off the train There were but
few tramps left in the cars, however.
the big crowd of them having taken to
the woods.
Come out of there now" shouted
officer Burgess, "and two dirty faced
men began 10 climb out of the car door.
4 work for these people, said one as
he Hmped to the door. I've paid my
fare, said another.
Get out of here right away, and We'll
see about this" said Sergeant Ellison
Officers FOwkes and Burgess climbed
into the cars and drove out the tramps
They were hidden in all parts. The
horsemen themselves seemed intiTni-
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