The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-11
LYNCH LAW.
Continued from First Page.)


ceived that the colored man who did
the cutting had been caught. the news
was not given out by those at head
quarters, but a note from one of the
men who was up. town, was sent IN 10
camp. 1t read: THE man has been
caught. He is in Jail Every soldier IN
Camp Leedy come up town, break IN
the jail and string up the niger
The note was intercepted by Sergeant
Taylor of the Topeka company and was
not allowed to work up the excitement
it was meant to. In some way the
news was sent to several companies
that the colored man had been captur-
ed, and for few moments 1t looked as
if the guards would not be able to keep
people from running the lines. The diff
ferent sentries were loudly calling Tor
the corporal of the guard, and 1t was
thought at first that the men were try
that those who did make their way
through the lines without answering
the sentries' challenges, were citizens
At IL o'clock taps sounded ana the
camp was quiet and all men were in bed
except the members of the Kansas City
and Topeka companies, who were
sleeping under arms, with their clothes
on ready to fall in at moments warn
ing.
The news of the trouble reached the
ears of the guard on the south and east
side of the camp They We're picked
from the companies who are not sup
Sergt. Ross, sergeant of the guard, and
told him they We're afraid to patrol their
beats unless they were armed. Sergt-
Ross took the message to Gen. Nc
Crum and it was arranged for all
guards to be supplied with arms from
the companies that had them.
During the first half of the night there
was not much sleeping being INDUCED
in The soldiers were too buSi1y en-
gagged talking over the events of the
evening. There was much suppressed
excitement throughout the camp. Notes
like this were circulated through the
tents: ssThey say the police have got
the colOred man-will you break the lines
with twenty menu" These notes were
stopped as quickly as they reached the
eyes of any of the officers. Twenty
men from each company in camp would
mean a mob of $50 men. Had the ini-
tiative been taken, or an alarm given
there would have been terrific rush
for the lines, and the sentries without
ammunition (and the soldiers knew it,
would have been unable to hold the
guard lines.
Long after tattoo had sounded and
all lights should have been eXtingu1Shed
there were lights in most of the tents in
the Twentieth regiment, and soldiers
could be heard discussing the trouble.
1t is needless to say that they were all
of one mind regarding the incident.
They were strong in their condemna-
ton of the ARRAY and volunteers for a
break through the lines for mob vio-
lence were plentiful. The captains of
the companies were up very late and
were watching their men closely. They
knew full we'll that it would require
but a small alarm to start the camp on
the way to the city with revenge and
violence to coIored men for its purpose.
The sight of Company B under arms
enhanced the excitement of the hour.
Volunteers from other companies who
heard of it, slipped around to Company
B row and made inquiries. But the
soldiers had been instructed not to talk
about their orders, and this only cast
more suspicion of approaching trouble.
There were many wild spirits who ad-
vocated a break through the lines, and
it is due largely to the nOn-commis-
stoned officers and the cool headed men
that these persons did not spread the
contagious spirit of revenge.