The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-27
COFFIN WAR IN TOPEKA
Engrossing Event at the Fair Capital City
of Kansas.

Topeka, Kan, May 26.-'sFree collins
for everybody is the battle cry Of Tope-
ka undertakers. A rate war has been
raging for three weeks, and prices for
plain caskets have dropped from S35 TO
nothing at all and metallic cases from
SIS 10 So. The fight is still as bitter
as ever, and it is expected that flowers
and marble tombstones will be furnish
ed free with every funeral before the
close Of another week.
The present war in prices is the out
growth of an attempt to boycott and
drive J. Mfi. knight out Of the bust
ness by other undertakers, who, il is
alleged, are members Of a trust. Several
years ago combination was formed
by all the undertakes in Topeka, except
knight, who refused to join. Although
he did not cut prices, he refused to sub
scribe to the rules Of the combination,
and the result was a long and bitter
fight was Waged upon him and a deter
mined attempt was made to drive him
out Of business.
knight brought suit against the other
undertallers for conspiracy and asked
$1,000 damages. The case dragged along
in the courts several months and was
finally compromised. 1t is said the
combination paid knight $500, and all
expenses TO withdraw his suit
There has been no trouble since that
time until this spring. knight discov-
cred that his business was not I'D to
the mark OF former years and as people
were dying off as rapidly as ever he
concluded he was not getting his full
share Of the business. He began to adj
vertise in the newspapers and at first
contented himself with calling atten-
ton to the superior style and finish Of
his collins, the beauty OF his hearse, and
the extra springiness of the funeral car
riages.
In spite of his sweetly worded, allur-
ing advertisements busienss got worse
and finally he grew tired Of standing
in the door of his coffin store watching
funeral professions pass by, led by the
hearses Of his hated rivals, who rode
in the front carriages, while the plumes
on the horses Haunted an air Of VIC
tory.
Then Knight began to copy the style
OF his neighbors, the dry goods men, in
his advertisements, and offered all sorts
or attractive bargins in collins. He
took large amounts Of space in the daily
newspapers to tell how cheaply he was
selling three-panel, patent top, FURNISH
ed silver trimmed adult cloth caskets
and full size, metallic, burglar-proof
cases. This sort of up-to-date adver-
Using quickly brought results and he
was soon busy filling orders.
His rivals, who had never before ad-
vertised, tried to induce him withdraw
his advertisements and conduct his bust
ness on the old plan, but failing in this
they began to cut prices and the war
was on
Both sides advertised literally and
the newspapers have encouraged the
fight. The first prices at which caskets
were advertised to be sold ranged from
$50 to sl3 and the best metallic caskets
were offered as low as 500. These same
caskets had been selling at Sis the week
before.
Within a week prices had dropped TO
the following:
No. Adult cloth casket, trimm-
ed complete. I4S
No. adult cloth casket, tr:mm-
ed complete. Observation-Disclosures. 500
No. S-Adult casket, trimmed with
poX .-..-..--. -.-...-.-...-........ 10. 90
No. Adult cloth casket, handles
ana poA-. Observation-Disclosures. 10. 90
No. 5-Metallic caskets %. 90
NO; 6-Burglar-proof grave vaults
Nh SIAeS-- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10. 90
Children's caskets from % cents I'D.
Our caskets are not "chestnuts." but
guaranteed best grade chestnut wood.
The above quotations We're made bv
the combination and il was thought
Knight had thrown up the sponge. as
his advertisement did not appear the
next day. 1t seems he was only waiting
TO get his breath, however, as today's
papers contain his announcement in
big black type as follows.
When my carrieges are furnished for
funerals l viii make no charge for
No. l adult cloth casket, trimmed com
plete
No. : adult cloth casket. trimmed com
plete.
No. 3 adult cloth casket. trimmed com
plete
No. 4 adult cloth casket, trimmed com
plete.
No charge for childrea's caskets. Me.
t3lhc caskets, s..
See sample Of pine cases others are
selling for best chestnut lumber. They
are cheStnuts sure. All wood caskets
made out OF the best chestnut lumber.
The combination has not been heard
from yet. but people who are in the
market for collins are eagerly waiting
IN