The Topeka state journal., 1898-08-15
IT MUST STOP.
Drunken COlOred Soldiers Are
Fast Destroying
The Good Name Once Held by
Col. Beck's Command.
A NEGRO MOB HOWLS
About the City Jail Last Night
For Hours
Because a DisOrderIy Soldier is
Placed Under Arrest.
A NEGRO MOB HOWLS

There was a drunken mob of coIored
soldiers up town last night, two pro-
vost guards being sent to gather in the
men. It was necessary to station one
of the guards around the police station
to prevent the intoxicated soldiers from
breaking into the Jail and rescuing a
drunken companion who had resisted
arrest.
The trouble started at low resort
at 211 Van Buren street. CoIored SOL
diers were at the place all afternoon
drinking and carOusing. At p. m.
Ben Hickey, the cOIOred soldier over
whom all the trouble was had, shot at
a passerby with his revolver. He fired
four shots at the person from the yard
of 211 Van Buren street. None of the
bullets took effect. Hickey and his
crowd then started toward Kansas av-
enue. When they were between Sec
ond and Third streets on Kansas av-
enue they again made a disgraceful
disturbance. Hickey attacked a white
man who was walking quietly along.
The latter escaped with a few scratch
es- PatrOlman Close placed Hickey
under arrest, and the trouble began.
ColOred soldiers came from all direc-
tiOns. Hickey was fighting drunk.
Constable Chas- Price was near and he
went to the pOl1ceman'S assistance.
Close had Hickey down holding him,
when he was attacked by the other sol
diers.
OIle SOlu1eT IQSLGu up anu SuONGQ LIG
muzzle of revolver against Closes
neck. Price with revolver in hand
struck the weapon, knocking it away,
but losing his own revolver in the act.
But he saved the officers life.
An emergency call was sent to police
station, and the patrol wagon brought
Chief Strauss, Sergeant Owen, Al Hop
kinS and PatrOlman henderson. Hickey
resisted stubbOrnly and received sever
al blows over the head and shoulders.
He was held on the floor of the patrol
crowd of fully 200 people, half of whom
were soldiers, followed yelling.
When they arrived at police station
Sergeant Green of the colOred volun-
teers, stepped up and said: IF he Will
walk in alone. let him do it"
The chief nodded his head, and Hickey
got up and stepped out of the wagon
He had no sooner reached the sidewalk
than he rushed at Sergeant Green and
landed terrific blow on his face. The
sergeant dropped unconscious to the
pavement. Hickey was rushed into
jail and put in the bull pen. Soon the
battalion sergeant with four guards
arrived and Hickey was taken into the
court room to have his wounds dressed.
He again began to struggle. Jailer
Grubbs drew his club and the drunken
man grasped it. The two pulled until
it was broken in two.
When the struggle occurred the col
ored guards ran out of the room. Po-
lice Sergeant Owen sternly called for a
surrender, and Hickey realized that the
sergeant was in earnest. The doctor
dressed his bruises and he was locked
in the jail
After a time when he became quiet
he was turned over to the provost
guard and taken to camp.
While all this was going on a crowd
of 800 to 400 people, most of whom were
cOlOred, surged about the city Jail They
tried to push the officers away from the
door, yelling and bowling like madmen.
The officers stood with drawn revOl-
vers. Finally a provost guard arrived,
and it was placed in front of the Jail
Meantime another provost guard was
sent uptown to bring in all soldiers.
Chief Strauss sent PatrOlman Hen
derson (colOred) to the camp with a
note for Colonel Beck from Sergeant
Green. The soldiers at camp had heard
of the trouble, and it was with great
difficulty that the officers shielded the
policeman from injury. The soldiers
broke into the ammunition supplies,
seized their guns and were organizing
to march uptown and attack the police.
Col. Beck finally succeeded in restoring
order.
Sunday was day of fights and quar-
reIs. COlored soldiers participated in
drunken rows in TennesseetOwn,a at Sec
ond and Van Buren streets, in North
Topeka near RedmondV1lIe, and at
Crane and Jefferson streets. Saturday
night there was a drunken quarrel at
Fifteenth and Quincy in which color
ed soldier shot at a white man who was
passing by.
Chief Strauss said today: ''This trou-
bic must be stopped. There are about
so to so FOUNDERS there in camp, and
they are causing most of the trouble.
The officers should not let them out. 1t
looked mighty bad here last night for
awhile. 1t is a wonder some one didn't
get killed. Those fellows were drinking
hard cider and snuff
When the colored soldiers first ar
rived in Topeka they were unusually
well behaved and were cOmplimented
on all sides, but a more turbulent ele-
ment which has been held down hereto
fore seems to have broken loose and is
giving a bad name to the camp. Most
of the colored boys there are we'll be-
haved, but the bad element needs dis
cipline. More or less disorder is to be
expected about military camp but the
disorder of the past two or three nights
is becoming too serious. If it is not
stopped it will not be surprising if the
secretary of war is wired to disband
the command here at once, and send
the men home.