davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
TOWNS AWAKENING

Early morning in Wichita How differ
ent from the later rush and hurry of the
oayi One may pass down Main street TO
The avenue, east on Douglas to Washing
ton ana view a Scene at daybreak which
ne can never see at any other tine.
There is that intuitively felt calm just
before the storm. For hours the city has
teen silent and glun. As the dawn breaks
there IS a slightly percsptSble stir, not
busy as yet or turbulent, but an apparent
unrest, noticeable movement among the
various commercial concerns On the two
Dig thoroughfares. Through the summer
season one may see I restless group Of
grocery rroprietors awaiting the first
morning Ers ms which bear berries and
f'st season fruits OF I'll rnds Thase
trains come in from O'clock on, and are
EIet by a I.presenta:i re from all the lea j.
Ing grocers. all vociferously bidding for
The fruit from the consignors. The berry
trains are soon eTnptied and the depos
cleared. Later the surrounding truck
gardeners, poultry sellers, fish vendors, and
all manner Of market habitues may be
seen and heard through the silent streets
vigorously proclaiming their produce
Otherwise the main arteries Of the city
traffic are silent as the tomb. The room
ers all along the various streets are silent
asleep, and only the early provision buyers
are abroad A few clothing stores have
ohe clerk assigned to be down very early
and get out the forms and dummies. Ice
wagons, street sprinklers, hay ricks. and
express wagons are about all the vehicles
thus early going. The police patrol
--r-g,=E - -
regulated esca pement; the night yard en-
gines on the various RAILROADS. go into the
round houses and are relieved by the day
srew with their freshly oIed locomotives
and almost in a moment the dead silence
IF the night is abruptly changed into the
busy turmoil Of the day. Clerks with
large store keys are hurrying to their re-
spective concerns ready to commence the
fays business. Street sprinklers and
hacks vie with each other seeing which
Fan produce the most noise Windows are
gradually thrown open by the sleepy and
still comatose roorners, and a hustle and
sudden stir is all at once perceived and
no one can tell just what started il. One
Of the very first sounds to break the still
Tess Of the clear morning air is the shrIl
cry Of Morning Eagle. all the latest
news" sung out by a dozen lusty boyish
voices Where was Cead silence only
half hour before is now lively activity
and mingled sounds, all portraying and
Forwarding the coming day.
The refrigerated energy of the night
grows apace until at eight o'clock the
streets are crowded, more so than at any
other hour of the day, unless it is between
five and six in the evening. when there is
= general tangle of home going vehicles,
bicycles and pedestrians.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
THE LAST CAR

II IS fifteen minutes after nine at night
and through the streets a man is run
ming wildly. az moments remembering that
he must appear undignified and settling
down TO a jumping walk. and then. under
the pressure of necessity. starting spas
medically of into a gallop again He is
coming west down Douglas avenue As ne
reaches the corner OF Main street and
Douglas avenue a north-bound car is
leaving. He makes dash for tfais and
the notorman at once recognizing him.
says:
This is Fa!rview car"
The citizen drops off and walks back
to the corner, red with exercise.
He is hunting for the last Paramount
car which leaves the corner in the inter
est of the motorman and the decorum Of
Fairmourt's citizens. al twenty minutes
past nine. It is a dreadfully early hour,
accommodating none OF the evening d.
versions, but establishing early retiring
hours on Paramount which would be che
envy of a Quaker village.
At twenty minutes 20 ten the motornan
on the College He'll line reaches the corn
er. This is the last car TO leave for the
hill, provided. The provision is a terrible
thing on the motorman. II is provided
that on the last trip. starting from the
corner at twenty minutes past Ten. the
car shall only go as far as there is
passenger to go.
The motorman on the College Hill line
can, consequently. any night tell you who
of those living on top of the hill are down
town, and whether they have yet gone
home. He keeps a mental record of ev-
cry man VINO goes down town in the ev-
ening.
And 1t is craving, hungry desire on
his part that all who do come down town
at night shall take. not the last car, but
some of the cars before the last car That
next to the last trip then is a very exci,-
ing one for him. Tonight there are five
men down town, and he is on his next
to the last trip. He scans the street Gag
erly. One gets on. He signs Another
gets on. HIS heart lightens The third
boards the car. He smiles. The fourth
crawls aboard. He grins. He has now
reached Topeka avenue. Where is that
fifth man. Mr.. Brown? He runs from
Topeka avenue to the depots with a pal
pitating heart. If Brown doesn't get on
at the depot he is lost. Brown doesn't
get on. The motorman is stricken. He
asks the other four If they have seen Mr.
Brown. None has.
The motorman goes TO the top Of the
hill and back again with heavy heart.
and at the corner of Douglas and Main
stands Brown, feeling guilty and knowing
the motorman would like TO murder him.
And he takes the last car for the top
of the hill for which there is a black
mark registered in Heaven against him.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
LIVING on RCTTREs.

Outside OF a politician there IS no earthly
freak so ouJlandish and unreasonable as
a goat Both viii cave a good thing and
DO themselves an injury just to be off
ferent Yesterday one OF the pet Angora
goats al the stock yards performed a feat
which showed TO the crowd she was not
right. and that 4 was harder 70 drll
fact into her forehead than In that of the
average cor ressman. These two goats
are pets the property of Lulu DUlaney.
and have the rlght-of-way all over the
yards. and there IS nothing TOO good for
them. There are immense bins ~ shelled
corn where they may 20 az will fe'ds Of
alfalfa and green stuff plenty; the kitchen
OF the restaurant whore they are never
refused any deNcacy which The boarfers
Cet. IN spite OF all this. the older one
yesterday went - great deal % trouble
and hard work and strained herself out %
plumb 20 climb up the SIDE % dirty coal
shed and manage 20 tear or lick ~ a whole
STATE Fair poster. T, was TOO high -
reach easily. bu. she elevated her front feet
and after heroic Efforts ard A perverted
taste managed after an hours struggle
. make way with that whole ooal-dust
laden dirty poster. IN The meanvhils her
mate vas calmly grazing on nice green
grass. but the grass was not more green
thsu the other goat
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
AREAITENnrRFOOT-


In the early days Of Wichita. when the
BOYS wanted some Amusement. they seized
every opportunity 20 perpetrate a joke on
someone. on one occasion they secured
a victim in the shape ~ a young eastern
lad-a genuine tenderf00,-who TAXED a
great deal about Indians. He WAS ANXIOUS
70 shoe; a buffalo and an Indian. 80 one
evening q. q Daisy. ". \ Thomas and
a few othrr boys conc!ut 10 get up an
Indian scare and put this young man on
ne p.cket-line. 50 they gave him a gun.
wiki blank cartridges. and with several
others Of ths crowd they were n BE- pgsfsd
along ne bank Of the river from The Doug
las avenue bridge north. There were I'd
houses west ~ Wichita street bat a. very
heavy growth OF hiFh weeds The crowd
vas marched 81 together quietly. after
dark. CommencluE a. the bridge iasy
placed sen;ineis AZ military oiFfaacs
taking good care - give the fence-foot the
darkest ard !onesomest place they could
End. which vas near where Ge,fo's bot
Ting works nOE stand. A. s0ou ss te vas
stationed. with orders tasf ln case be Vss
st-arke6 ae should IRE rs gun into TIE
ar and faI bsck-r.treat 10 TIE Occ-
dental hofei
TIE crowd then Eot together arf quietly
posd upon young NJ Tsntsrfoot ard
rsissd TIE Indian EarTso0p. = y fhrr
guns and closing IN m bin. lie forgot -
Shoot nfs ggn a. tn,f-uctst. bgt dropped
3. and made a er.sk for fo~n oatr4nnirx
ths sWiftet: q them. ~ iast.sf q e nE
90 ths Occidental. where - boYs proY0ses
% rice, hirn and hsVe thslv Tn vfs H.ns.
hs rsa 20 fse saa'a p 1.po- ard ~
sno-g re 51Is, sns hsrr.is unfI - Hrs,
trai- -: 20 - north zai~h 49, before
daylight Ara thus w!cat's 90; one brave
Id al fThf-r
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
THE FIRST OFFENSE

II IS the first offender who excites IL ter
els 20 the observer il the observer has not
been aooG; Iae station 50 much that a!
he cases produce enEai. The a-res. OF !
young MAJ OF nineree-. vi. be rec.,ed. II
was the first tine he had ever been inside
o: a police station. let alone being ar
rested. He was starting out 10 see ne
great word by lamp light He walked in
20 joint and drank. Took several. In
vited one or :wo fellows whom he hap
peued 20 know who came in 20 take one
win him. He paid for his drinks With
a silver dollar. The dollar was thrown on
the bar with an imitation oraggadocio.
manner, which Indicated immediately tina;
he was not freouenter- II was not long
ulta the beverage began 70 nave its ef-
feet on the young man. He became IL
tcxicated. and with Il noisy. He aoussd
some party who came in and he accUmu-
Il sd a black eye He was knocked down,
his clothes were dusty and torn. His first
night as a sport was an exhilirating one.
The jointist called in a policeman VINO
took him and started for the station It
was then that the blue coat and brass
buttons OF the law partially sOoered MIN.
It was then near midnight and there were
few on the streets, but he begged pitt
ously to have the policeman turn him
loose. The policeman was silent He
then asked that he follow HIM some ten
steps behind so that no one would know
he was under arrest. His plea was ignor
I'd. Down Main street the two came. the
policeman holding him oy the arm Up
the steps they went into the city building.
He was pale. His knees trembled- Tears
started TO his eyes but by great effort
he forced them back. Into the office he
vas ushered. There he saw a man sitting
at the desk and the electric light. Every
thing else was blank. He tried 70 talk.
but his throat was dry and parched and
there was lump there that would not
go down. He caught hold OF the railing
and at last gasped out: please don't put
me in jail
IF you will let me go this time, I'll
promise you I'll never do il again This IS
the first time / was ever in such place.
Ny God, what will my father say! on,
please."
The night clerk was not the most hard
hearted fellow in the world and he allow
ed the prisoner to sit in a chair in the
Office for awhile The arresting officer
had left He sat with his head on his
hand, perfectly sober. He had no money.
He offered to put up his watch. but just
at that moment a friend who had heard
Of his predcam4nt arrived and put up a
five dollar forfeit He was released. over
joyed TO know he would not have to stand
trial. 1t had a good effect, as the young
fellow soon left town and secured posi-
ton. Sporting life was not what IL was
cracked UP to be with him. He has since
left il alone entirely.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
AT THE DEPOT

Always a scene Of interest is a Wichita
depot upon the arrival and departure OF
a train. There has always been more or
less indefinite and undersigned talk a5oU;
union depot, but Wichita, ike Chicago,
has separate stations, each one OF them
the scene Of several hours activity every
day, and also the scene OF intervening
periods OF death-!ike quiscu6e.
a half hour before the arrival of trains,
the platform begins 10 blacken with a
multitude, until. particularly in the case
Of evening trains, il is full 70 the edge
The hacks. that dornineer!ng species ot
the street. make frantic effort to get 70
the depot Nervous people with plenty OF
time but only confident when the plat
form is beneath their feet, lug heavy Va
Uses along the streets. the hotel men in
push carts full o. grips make a desperate
run for the depot. the police ana detec-
lives. on the lookout for designing arri-
walls. saunter down the avenue. the mail
cart joys along. and the yellow express
wagons, the FIRST on the scene come
rumbling back to some neglected ecrand
Before the Train arrives the people are
scattered everywhere. Here is a man
feeling for his ticket. standing in a cor
ner over innUma-a,oie grips; here recent
widow in cognito Behind dense veil; here
a taby, filed with wie:d, mysterious and
Unsuitable thirst for more railroad ice wa
ter. Out on the platform are travelling
men, confirmed travellers and lacking ev-
cry sign Of pUtting any Importance % the
arrival Of the train; here p small boy peer
jig, explorer-i!ke. down the track for tAe
welcome front OF the engine and starting
feverishly a the sound OF every whistle;
here a group of county Candidates going
out TO save the country in ons Of the sur
rounding towns. Here young miss flush-
ed at the expectation Of her lovers re-
turn: there a man kissing his baby fare
we'll for the twentieth time and seeing his
wife off on a trip back TO the folks in York
state There are no gates in Wichita, peo-
pie boarding the train directly from the
platform. Before the arrival Of the iron
horse the men and boys sea tier out on
the track AS the train rolls in with a
seeming increase of dramatic speed on
the part of the engineer. the crowd push
es back TO the platform and lines UP with
a solid battle front. The first man off the
train is the fiend who boards the train out
side the city and cries AT the passengers:
Baggage checked Baggage checked
He is followed by the conductor, always
looking Importantly worried; the brake
man, silent and with a. hsbitual air OF
pessimiSn. Then the crowds meet, those
getting on. those getting off and those
waiting. There is nultitudinOus hug.
kiss, exclamation and laugh, rumble Of
baggage trucks. and even before the train
pulls out the platform is cleared and the
little community, together but once in
their lives. is gone.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16

to our most excellent auxiliary, the brave
and generous Lafayette among US on
that day. Everything was done in good
order. The address by Mr.. Webster was
appropriate and impressive and no doubt
reached the hearts OF every feeling old
soldier.
Mr.. Thaxter's prayer was also a most
excellent thing. With what strength and
power of voice he spoke Who could be-
lieve man OF the &c Of So years could
have formed prayer so appropriate.
Friend Davidson, We should be thankful
that We have been permitted TO live to
see a country for which We fought and
you bled, progressing with every blessing
that We ought to desire. You and have
had fifty years to look at the advance
ment of population, education and arts
and sciences Of every kind under a free
and elective government, and our obser-
walton is sufficient TO warrant the belief
that it Will last forever If the people have
enough Of that good. old-fashioned. ster-
ling honesty and virtue that was exhib-
tied by the most Of people during the
revolution. I hope they will be patriotic
and faithful to themselves and their coun-
try. just 10 all nations and doubted by
none. While this is the order of the day
our country viii be happy and safe.
From your companion in youth and
friend in old age, B. PEARCE.
Mr.. F. Davidson"
Bunker Hin dedication.
''N. B.-When talking with a companion
in arms I never know when to stop. How
thankful we should be in view OF the close
OF the last war, so glorious and honorable
to a free and powerful people, and that
our sons participated in the glorious
events. which gives the world second
lesson, that Americans cannot and Will
not suffer asgressions or insults with i'm
punity. and although rather unfortunate
q the outset, yet 50 successful was the
subsequent part and so permanently gio-
rious the close. that we have reason 10
be proud, and cannot he too thankful.
"B. PEARCE. p NJ
"Hiusborouyh, y. H. 18th Deer. 1873 -
Following is the address on the outside
OF the envelope:
Mr. FRANCIS DAVIDSON.
Londonderry. " H
"WIll the postmaster nave the good
ness to send this letter 70 M Davidson.
I believe ne lives in the south part OF
LONDONDERRY
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
THE UNIFOR1S

There has been a week Of uniforms IN
! Wichita IRE presence % tee veterans
here. with 4 sp1akiiag OF the volunteers
OF The recent war with the regular unit
forms 10 BE seen evsry day in Wichita
have gwen Wichita touch OF color out
OF ne ordinary
very snail per cent OF Tire old SOL
6iers wear uniforms. although some OF
them have suits for especial occasions.
such as reunions and tee IKE. and some
daily wear q military blue closely re-
sem5ling the national military attire But
even with those seo wear the beautiful
deep blue uniform OF the civil war. the
G. A r ia: with is gold braid and
wreath has been almost discarded and
the few that are seen are the exception
The Glue suits OF the old soldiers aov-
ever. are much more striking than thoss
worn by the volunteers There . q din
gy mixture OF grey IN che blue cloth worn
by the new soldiers. which. while distin-
gushing him from tie veteran. MAILS
the oluer suit the prettier Some OF the
volunteers wear their suits neatly. others
so shahSlly y Is d1fhcult 20 Identify them
as uniforms at all. Tue same is true OF
the campaign hats. Some OF the them
are IN TIE wors; degree Of slousch: Others
are jsunty and attractive Their yellow
leggfrs also Distinguish them
The policemen OF Wichita max. a val
liant attempt at uniform. che most strk-
ing effect OF which is an entire lack Of
uniformity Tue Wichita policeman is
known 20 everybody. and has an inherent
repugnaace 70 doing ANYTHING or The pea
cock order. He has visored helmet IN
other cities restricted 20 captains and
Iieutensnts. and he doesn't worry partic-
ularly II u doesn't Sc; with mathematical
exactneSs on ms head. Their coats are
or blue. but are rarely huttoned with
military precision. ~ bu;toued a; AL. and
the side pockets. usually laden heavily
Win bric-5rac. give the coat woe -begons
look which adds nothing 10 the majesty %
the law Entire freedom in he choice OF
trousers is permitted. and uniformity no
longer exists
But the policeman IS entirely outdone
by he Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph messenger boys who are supposed
10 be uniformed In most instances this
uniform has petered out 20 an immense
metal hst-plate deSi grating the wearer as
a messenger boy This meta-pla;e was
originally intended 20 ~ a helmet The
Wichita messenger boy ties this sole rem
nant OF uniform on a slouch hat with as
large A piece o: coarse Irvine as he can
possibly find and goes about his business
in a complete state of sartorisl collapse
and contentment. OF course being a boy
The grey suits OF the mail carriers are
seen everywhere. The uniform. however.
does not extend 10 the head gear md
then hats spoil the whole effect Of what
might otherwise be an effective dress.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16

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hc-o- r. yis- v7-ff- - Prlis s-i1-ia-
Ths Shakespeare cDs ~ -aorss - -
Sor-h Nan s-rsst snS vas -,FSi-E o.
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Tv.st~ra-- Hur-s al Fosssr. 49,
s,ers-s PIKE Carer 50 Chari~a Harr-s7.
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The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
MEXICAN COINS GALORE.

There are an unusually large number
OF Mexican coins floating around IN Web
tia No one seems 10 know where they
come from and many people. not suspect
ing their presence. accept them for good
money. which they are not. Merchants
viii give only 20 cents for the Mexican
dollar and only % cents for the Mexican
half dollar Collections 81 coins will
probably absorb those which have reached
Wichita, but = they = ma keep coming
the would prove a positive nuisance as
they have already proved in several cases
a positive loss
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
IN THE DEN

4 house ~ chance in this city eansot
exactly oe said TO be giiced den %
vice" There : 70 gsl.- They are sc-upc-
.Ously clean and lighted brilliantly. Tas
f'oors are covered with Iinclinul. The men
v 40 st ceaiad the tzaleS and scoop in
the shsckesS invariably are IN their shirt
sleeves They are a. very quiet set OF men.
especially wheu on duty 10 Is seldom
that they use anything aGt moRosytasseS-
They are not tough" n manner, o1s
rather aier- az all times 70 see that sore
ons Who Is ''ouckiag the tiger does not
rins In loaded dice or work quser JOB
on them TroEoie n chem Is the excep-
,stn. and the places are exceedingly auie;.
Tho games which attract :Ae ''players'
are faro. craps. roulette and chuck luck
A poker tas5ie where nothing 81: JACK pos
IS played - uos frequent Like al men
who are night hawks the gamblers as
well as the PLAYERS have a pecuhec
Al>ached look. Few OF them arr drinkers,
THAI Is. they sAGom become intoxicated
evan when laying or IL Is the 'e-cos-
ts,s who generally inhEoe freely ana
give the genuine article the name that -
usually attached 10 az men who are
dealers"
To describe those who frequent o. plav
al the gambling den would include all
kinds % humanity. the poorly dressed
man and the swell gentleman. u Is s>l-
dom that sny ptungiuS is done al tAe
gambling houses have FIVE eolar limit
10 their games Once IN a great while X
a man has a big roll and they know u.
they wiz tell the player that the iimfr =
up TO che Csiling That means he "a
play for any a amount. u = the young MAJ
prdsr thirty Who is the particularly m
terestiRg PLAYER. especially n he happens
"a ~, losing and Is on a salary which does
not exceed SIS per weak. Take him al the
crap cable for that j. where ne viii ~
found. Nine OF ten srts % dtce
VIII be thrown cut - him by ths "tealer
from which 60 select two dice. IL is done
Win n great deal % care. usually FtNs
ten Or twenty cents Is put On the taSis
that n. Is right" The d!ce are thrown
ard he WI win i1sent eyes say; "pioc.
do me right Come natural know l m
right" /, may turn up with two deuees.
Then the PLAYER will talk - ths iice 50
though they VIZ. human Gone Feeeie
Dice don't YOU fool me Where are Ypn.
Feeble Must be Feehie t-is time u
is with such talk that ths play continues
Every year gambling locally becomes la~s
prarticed The slot machines. those gam
bling devices IN the open. have r., tae
So, get az the evil. and 20 Kamoling day-
light Is fatal
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-16
DIED A HERO.

Speaking of the death of Pat Reese. the
buggy horse, few months ago probably
the Oldest horse in the world died in
Wichita. This was Colonel, the buggy
Torso OF NJ. L. Carver. He was a fine old
steed. well known IN town. He lived 70
the almost unprecedented age of ~. His
-htle Colonel was not a Kentucky honor
~ any means. He was through the civil
war. and in addition to his being the oldest
torse in Kansas, was. a the time of his
leath. 50 far as known. the only horse
living at the time who took part in the
war between the north and south. His
pace of burial is not known. but 1t ought
TO loe marked. as the hero of the equine
world OF Wichita.