The Topeka state journal., 1898-06-25
MANILA BATTLE.
In All Its Glory of Bursting
Shells and Sinking Ships
Or Else the Future BOmbard-
ment of Havana
is TO BE REPRODUCED
On the Kansas River or at the
Fair Grounds
As the Chief Feature of the Fall
Festival.
PLANS ARE ALL MADE
Except the Selection of the
Location.
On the Kansas River or at the
Fair Grounds
As the Chief Feature of the Fall
Festival.
PLANS ARE ALL MADE
Except the Selection of the
Location.
Committee of Fifteen Meets and
Prepares for Business.

The Battle of Manila may be fought
over in Topeka next fall at the close of
the Soldiers reunion or it may be the
bombardment of Havana.
The Committee of Fifteen is already
making plans to have a bombardment
to follow closely as possible some of
the decisive battles of the present war.
1t will be fought at night, probably in
the quarter stretch of the fair grounds
or on the banks of the Kansas river. A
fleet of boats manned and armed will
draw up before the forts and then will
enSue a startling spectacular display.
L A Strauss who has the honor of first
suggesting the scheme says that he
will see to it that several Spanish ships
or forts will be blown into atoms dur
ing the engagement.
Mr.. Strauss even proposes to have the
dynamite ship Vesuvius here to throw
500 pound charges of. dynamite into the
forts of the Spanish. The ships will
be armed with mortars capable OF
throwing bombs a mile into space and
the bombs will be thrown. They may
contain nothing more destructive than
cOlored stars and the musketS may be
sky rockets and roman candles but the
promoters say that the effect will be as
brilliant as could be desired.
Probably the best plan suggested is
that of utilizing the Kansas river. On
the City park side, batteries could be
erected and a Spanish fleet could be
<
There might also be another fort con-
structed on the north bank of the river
near the Rock Island bridge.
The American fleet under command of
other famous fighter would be static ed
near the new arch bridge and move up
the river to the attack. This order
might be changed by locating the forts
and Spanish ships near the Santa Fe
bridge and having the American fleet
sail down the river to the attack.
wagon bridge and banks of the river
would offer an opportunity for every
one in the city to witness the battle.
The other plan for having the battle
in the quarter stretch of the fair
grounds contemplates moving the ships
on wagons.
This plan of having the battle either
on the river or at the fair grounds will
be adopted, without a doubt. and it is
proposed to give the exhibition on
Thursday evening of reunion week
Friday evening will be given over to
the Karnival and that will form the
only outside amusement during the
week The old soldiers don't want to
be entertained during the week and To-
peka will have to be satisfied.
The Committee of Fifteen has been
reOrganized. The special committee
reported names to fill vacancies at the
meeting Friday evening of the COM
members: T. j. Anderson, J. F. Nc
Manus, I. y. Strauss. J. S. Coe, A. w
Dana, F. B. Chase, o. G. Tayman, J.
B. Marshall, Charles K. Holiday l.
W. Doolittle, T. B. Brown. L. L. Kiene,
c. J. Drew, w. o. Rigby and l.. NJ.
Penwel
J. F. McManus was elected treasurer
of the committee in place of d. J.
Greenwald.
The following committees were
named: On finance, J. F. McManus,
w. o. Rigby. L. A. Strauss and Charles
K. Holiday.
On entertainment and speakers-W
o. Rigby, A. w. Dana, J. F. McManus
and r. J. Anderson.
The other committees will be an
nounced by Major Anderson at the next
meeting of the committee.
The next meeting of the committee
will be held at the Commercial club
rooms on Tuesday evening of next
week