davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29

of the illegal rum power. With this end
in view 1 now respectfully tender to
you my services to act 1t present or at
any time in the future and will render
all the assistance l can in the effort to
suppress crime and lawlessness in the
KlOndike.
I am fully conscious of the risk
which l run by such a course, but I am
now ready to take my chance of life
and death on the final issue IN this mat
ter. I know of a number of men who
would be glad to engage in such pa
triOtic work.
Mr.. McPhail in letter to the COVER
nor under date of August 26. explains
why he hates the liquor traffic. He with
three brothers enlisted in the war At
it's close he and one brother went to
Salina- The other studied law in Leav-
enwOrth- He became addicted to the
use of liquor. He went to Saline
county and attempted to begin life
anew Locating at LindSbOrg he opened
a law office, but frequented the drinking
clubs and went from bad to worse until
he left his family and disappeared.
Four months later, writes Mr.. McPhail,
My brother while sitting in the door
of a saloon within gunshot of the state
house, fell dead. His daughter was at
that moment a cOmpoSitOr on the To-
peka Capital and did not know of her
fathers whereabouts, much less his
death, until she read it in the Kansas
City Star.
This sad incident with others as
heart rending, with the first breaking
up of my fathers family and finally the
untimely death of both parents. was
traceable to the saloon and liquor.
Il applied to Warden J. B. Tomlin-
son for place of some kind at the
state penitentiary. He said Saline
county had her quOta-just one man
He fOrgets, I guess, that thirteen citi-
zens of Leavenworth are employed at
the prison
McPhaiI then, in this second letter,
iCfn of 4l7a
dixie He says:
AT one time the proprietor of one of
the road houses was cOnSOrting with d
negro barmaid. His wife came to re-
ciOus bull dog on her. She was nearly
torn to pieces. a grown son, incensed
at the bloody drama, shot his unnatural
father dead in his tracks.
only this morning an old soldier
drank some drugged whisky and
dropped dead as if Shot-poisoned. An
other told me the same stuff nearly
killed him. A saloon keeper killed an
old soldier in cold blood, and got six
months in the county Jail. An old SOL
dier killed a saloon keeper and got six
teen years in the penitentiary.''
Mr.. McPhaH says it would be unsafe
to rehearse more of these matters be-
fore the public without securing protec-
ton. He says: If you will send a re-
liable and trustworthy shorthand writ
er, a man sworn to take down the
truth. 1 can give him plenty of sight
seeing and writing"
August 29, Henry J. Allen acknowl-
edged the receipt of the letters. Sep
tember % Mr.. McPhail sent the follow
ing to the governor:
APPEAL FOR PROTECTION.
For the third and perhaps the last
comrades from the cruel klondike. why
this needless delay? Were it a gang of
a band of train robbers would it be nee
sary to go through an this parley and
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
WARDE's RUBBER HEELS.
They Are Making Trouble For Mem
bers of His Company.

Mr.. Fred A Warde, manager of "a
Bachelors Honeymoon" company, in
Topeka today received a petition from
the eleven members of the cast this
afternoon. 1t requested him to remove
the rubber heels he is now wearing on
his shoes and substitute steel plates in
stead.
This peculiar request is directly the
result of the fact that in the past tea
days the company has been called for
rehearsal almost every day. Mr.. Warde
is a stickler for detail in his perform
ance, and whenever he notices reiaxa-
tion in this particular he calls a re-
hearsaL About two weeks ago he had
rubber heels placed on his shoes, and
consequently he has been able to visit
the stage each night practically unno-
ticed As a result, relaxations from de-
tail have been apparent to him, which
probably would not have occurred If his
presence was known, and accordingly
rehearsals have been a regular thing
The petition states that the members
of the cast believe two performances
each day continuously to be too much
of tax on their strength and talents,
and ask the removal of the rubber heels
as means of doing away with the ex-
ira performance
Mr. Warde is a son of Frederick
Warde, the tragedian.
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29

consultation with others. Where is the
power and majesty OF the constitutional
law of this state and common humanity?
The appeals made by the press and the
pictures of cruelty would touch a hear5
of Fred Funston and he fought the bar
barious Spaniards- Were he governor OF
Kansas. think you he would hesitate to
punish these bloody Williams who areplun-
dering and numbering those once once oraEe
at Gettysburg, Antietam and the Wider
mand he would rush the valiant Twen-
KiondiISe like the cyclone of his native
state or the simeon of the desert. am
just finding out that about the worst rec
hands of this administration is to wear
those 800 old heroes march up to a booth
and vote on election day. nothing would
be too good for them Today, they are
disfranchised and are the legitimate prey
of criminals and border outlaws from 9TH
er states.
In the nome hospital are hundreds of
inVaIids suffering from alcoholism, fifty
of whom are liable to die at any moment
from this froth of he'll. the klondlke;;
tbaIn ~, The Methodisf bib1e decI4re
that no drunkard can enter heaven What
a recruiting station for the bOttOmleSS
nit is this Dlae11e SPOT still running bv
your inaction and indifference. You might
and hold a few meetings and make a few
San Francisco, and we will promise you
a grand ovation at the home. If you do
nothing but put a little loyalty to con-
stitutional law in the officers it would be
a good starter. Two OF the township Of
dcials are ex-convicts who have done
time in the Kansas prison. one a Repub-
Hcan. the other a Democrat
I now turn to the patriotic public and
if necessary will don my United States
uniform and help campaign this state.
For years this harvest of death has been
garnered. not once a year but four times
every twelve months. Vint Stillings back
ed by the real estate sharks and money
shylOcks of LeavenW0rth more than any
other man is responsible for the existence
X
the lost and the damned. The cruel work
does not stop when the last old veteran
is under the sod. but thousands of new
troops are coming in and the military
homes will be filled. One-fourth of the
troops now abroad are said to be unfit for
duty. but why add more. Very respect-
fully, DONALD MPHAIL.',
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29

interests secured the office which he
now holds.
HORRORS OF ROAD HOUSES.
LAS to the road house 1 found there
all the temptations and allureme
calculated to successfully entertain
and entrap old and young alike. Sun
day afternoon is the time to see this
resort at its best and at its worst. Any
paSSerby can see a number of young
women, some not over sixteen years
old, sitting in the front windows ex-
hibiting themselves in evening dresses
which are simply stunning. This IS the
faVOrite resort for the young of both
sexes, out on lark, who want to make
a night of it and see the dark side of
Klondike in all it's glory. AS usual
LeaVenwOrth sends the largest number
of patrons; the country around fur
nishes numerous victims and the old
soldiers supply their share.
I talked with a number of farmers
living near and they all said they
hoped and prayed the governor would
soon begin the work of reform which
has been heralded by the press.
This sink of iniquity should be first
suppressed. When [ talked to the pro-
prietOr he told me he was conducting
a hotel for the benefit of the travelling
public and had good accommodations
patrons well and make their stay as
pleasant as possible. The only sign on
the awning is 'Jake's Place
Some time since this chap in con-
nectiOn with Vint Stillings established
a pony express between this place and
LeaVenwOrth Junction, two miles away.
About pension paying time old soldiers
were employed to decOy their comrades
with money from the home to this re-
sort, stupefy them with liquor, separate
them and their cash, and as soon as
possible send them to the Junction with
just enough money to reach Kansas
City. This disgraceful business was
carried on for a year before it was
stopped The resolute agent at Leav-
any f~fh I'm
"A few days since an old soldier or
dered drinks at Jake's bar, but had no
money to pay for the vile stuff. Jake,
who is a powerful Dutchman, picked
him up and tossed him into the muddy
street and then gave him a broad side
of KlOndixe profanity and left him to
the care of his drunken comrades.
From this place to LeavenwOrth
there are ten road houses. Two-thirds
Of the business they get comes from
the old soldiers. This morning after
reading your letter to the Newton lady
members of the w. c. T u L felt hurt
at its tone. one old soldier said: It's
easy to see that Stanley is no soldier
or he would not surrender to the rum
power without at least one good fight
I am fully satisfied that a large ma
jOrity of the men who voted for you
for governor would be with you against
the liquor traffic here Call to your sup
port the women of Kansas and then you
viii have the cooperation of the best
of the men. One of Gen. Grants fam
Gus orders was to push things. Such
an order coming from you as governor
would be followed by good results.
CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION.
why not start a campaign of educa-
ton embracing the whole state this
winter Secure the services of such
men as Rev J. H Lockwood of Be1oit,
Judge Carver and Frank Nelson of To-
pekay and hundreds of others like them
and arouse enthusiasm throughout the
state. Leavenworth is the very citadel
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29

barber shops. The population is from
200 to $50 people.
Pension payment is next week and
over $50, 600 will go to the old soldiers
here. Many of them hire rooms and
live outside of the home while their
money lasts.
I also found that ten saloons. fully
insured. have been destroyed by fire
of unknown origin. Three saloons are
at present offered for sale and three
new buildings are going up. 1 gained
much information in two hours invest
igatiOn which L am confident could be
used against this common enemy Of
mankind L am satisfied that to succeed
in this matter you and Governor Row
land of the home should act together
I have little faith in your attorneys at
LeavenwOrth. They will be a disap-
pointment to you. Ny reason for max
ing this statement are good My ex-
perience in the past two years has
taught me what manner of men they
are.
on request I would willingly go to
Topeka and see you personally, prOvid-
ed my expenses there and back were
paid, which would be half fare on the
train.
WAS AFRAID OF STANLEY.
'One little saloon keeper told me he
made over S400 before his den burned,
but owing to Stanley'S proclamation he
ing one said he was losing no sleep
over Stanleys talk. He said he was
conducting a respectable place. paid his
fines promptly and was living unde~ the
protection and promise of Della ware
township officials and the sheriff of
LeaVenwOrth county. 1 can hardly find
words to express my contempt and
lOathing for the deputy sheriff station
ed here His faVOrite seat is at a sa-
loon door with a cigar in his mouth
He usually looks wise and says nothing
but now and then he tells of his heroic
encounters with the old soldiers. Old
Bucks he calls them However I ad-
nit that the appellation is not dispar-
aging for about 500 or more of the un-
fortunate beings who are in their dOtage
frequent the place and spend their
money.
Walking down the street met a
dashing bespeckIed female who stop
ped me and inquired if I had seen any
thing of the -- deputy sheriff. as she
styled him. She declared that two Old
Bucks were raising - in her saloon
which is the worst of the lot.
The guardian of the peace for
whom she was looking was put there by
the liquor interests of LeaVenWOrth and
he certainly performs his duty to those
interests wisely and well.
L am fully convinced that in "A hours
enough evidence could be found TO con-
tried before any fair-minded judge.
court or jury, provided such a tribunal
could be found in IeaNenWOrth county.
"A half mile south of the home l dis
covered the wickedest house in the
whole state of Kansas. 1t is run by
one Jake Wiseman and is one of the
road houses built especially by Vinton
S1illings of Leavenworth- This man
who poses as a Repu ublican does more
to block reform measures than any ten
saloons doing business there I am
acquainted with Wendorff the county
attorney who for years has had his
Office in the same room with Stillings
Wendorff is a Democrat but through
the influence Of Stillings and the liquor
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29

jeweled hand and said she was proud
to shake hands with one who f0ught
for such a cause
Capt. P. H. Coney spoke on the pen
sion question and said the old soldiers
would remember the wrongs at the bal
lot box unless a change was made lie
was loudly applauded
Congressman w. A. Calderhead was
the next speaker. During the camp
fires there has been man whom every
one was seeking. The man brought "A
laugh by always shouting Good. by
golly," when the speaker said anything
the audience enjoyed. Mr.. Calderhead
caught him. The speaker said some
thing about expansion that just suited
his hearers and as the applause ceased
the man shouted Good. by golly-~
I see you Bob" said the speaker
pointing toward a corner of the room.
The crowd looked and the good. by
golly," man was just escap ping
I've known him for thirty years.
said the speaker, and he can't escape"
Good, by gOlly,' shouted some one in
the other end of the building The
crowd laughed The man was Bob Bar
ton of Linn county.
Mr.. Calderhead was followed by Rev.
Carl SwensOn who made a short ad-
dress.
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
HOT SHOT FOR
GOV. STANLEY.
Soldier Writes Some Interest
ing Things About KlOndike.
Donald McPhail, of Soldiers
Home, Is Aroused.
ORIGINAL LETTE RS
Called Attention of State Ex-
ecutiYe to Conditions.
How the Good Name of Kansas
Is Outraged.
is NO HELP NEAR ?
Gives Up After Making Numer-
Gus Appeals.
His Offers to Secure Evidence
Are Ignored.
Does the Governor Really Want
to Get Rid of KlOndike!
Does the Governor Really Want
to Get Rid of KlOndike?

Donald AIcPhail now an inmate of the
national military home at Leaven-
worth. wrote Governor Stanley Aug
ust II Offering to do detective work and
furnish evidence against the violators
Of the law in the now notorious Klon-
Cike The contents of this letter have
leen kept a secret by Governor Stan
ley but the author of the letter has
furnished and authorized the use of
such parts of the letter as the Journal
cares TO publish
The authority comes from members
Of the State Temperance Union who
nave a copy of the letter on file, for
use IN the campaign next year.
Mr. McPhail formerly lived at Salina.
de introduces the subject of which his
letter treats by descri bling how he act
ed as detective and aided in closing
nve saloons where he formerly lived
The letter proceeds as follows:
" nile sitting in the band stand at
the home overlooking the Klondike it
occurred to me that the greatest work
i could do at this critical juncture
would be detective work learned all
that was possible to learn about the
tAlonu1ke- A recOnnOiter revealed %
Haloons with bars in plain sight to ev-
ETybodyi = dwellings, used for other
7uFposess four restaurants and two
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
MORNING CAMP FIRE.
Commander Shaw and Congressman
Calderhead Speak

Commander Shaw addressed the vet
Grams at the morning camp fire
He told the wearers of the c.. A. r.
button that it was the greatest badge
in this world He said while he was
consul for the United States at Man
chester, England. he attended a ban
quet where the officers of the British
army We're attired in their full regimen
tails while he wore plain citizen s
clothes. A wealthy lady noticed his
button and asked what it was. He ex-
planned that it meant he had fought
in the civil war. She extended her
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
BONDS PURCHASED.
School Fund Takes $4,000 Worth
From CoWley Countv

Cowley county has refunded and sold
to the state school fund commission
S97 900 in county bonds. This issue OF
bonds has been drawing per cent. but
the new issue viii draw per cent after
July l. 1900.
At that date the bonds become op-
tional that is to say. the county haz
the right to pay off after that date any
or all of the bonds which have been is
sued.
The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-29
steamer Wilbur Aeround.

Detroit, Mich. Sept. 2S-The LehfEh
Valley Transportation cOmpany+s liner.
E. P. Wilbur went aground late last
night on Bar Point. Nothing is known
of the damage she has sustained.
Wrecking tugs have gone TO her assist
ance from here.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18

nickels and also encourages gambling.
The kinds Of machines are many and u
all sizes and prices. some costing as
much as 5000. The way of operating is to
play nickel on certain card or color.
and If the machine stops on your favor
tie. il pays itself and from for to 20
for l.. The chances OF a man making
much are small. Then there are others
which are operated differently. These
must all go ana at once, as the city mar
shall does not intend to warn them, as he
mas twice before but will seize all he can
find. IL is claimed they are run IN other
places without molestation, but Mayor
Patten viii not suffer II in this city. But
there Is one kind Of machine they can
not take, the little one with two hands
playing cards on dice. This ii will be
noticed has 2-cent revenue STAMP on the
face, and before the district court AT
Portland. where case was just tried fnr
running one of these machines. judgement
was found for the plaintiff.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
SPARKS FROM MAINE WIRES.

The body Of L. Luthur Rousseau.
VINO was drowned III the Androscog-
Sin river on Fast day was found at
Lewiston. Wednesday, by a young man
named Johnny Ahearn.
A forest fire broke out in the vicinity Of
Eagle lake, five miles from Bar Harbor
about noon, Tuesday. The fire was burn
ing so iierccly ii o'clock that the town
authorities sent out Il crew 0f men ia
fight the flames. a very high wind was
blowing and Jhis caused apprehension,
mat the fire may give considerable bother
before II II eNtin-u!shcd. There are near
summer cottages or buildings that are IL
danger.
The machine shop OF Edwin F. Fields
Pr Canal street. Lewiston. was damaged;
by fire, nj noon Wednesday, the fire
catching around tho boiler ana gcttint \
start before discovered. The building was
OLD and thoroughly oily. ana burned like
finder. The fire materially ruined the
building ana tho machinery, The huildin,
was valued al SluD ana the machinery al
$1,000 Mr. Field lived In the shop, in the
upper story. ana his household goods
We're destroyed. The neat from the fire
broke lot Of glass in the Music Hal
block IN prew's iewelry store ana III
The Fair The loss is about $3.50. Tn
fire was out az Ito II. NJ,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
Carnival Notes.

The sale Of reserved seats for the
gallery at the carnival met with good
sale, yesterday. when they We're plac-
sd on sale at brakes drug store.
There viii be a meeting IF the ex-
ecutive committee at the council
rooms. this evening. and one of the
Baby Congress" with Mr. ana Mrs
IF. r. McCausland at their home on
Church street.
The Baby Congress will be held,
Thursday afternoon, and not Wednes-
day. as some Of the committee have
given the mothers to understand
The silver pedestal to be contended
for Tuesday afternoon by the base
ban teams Of the Cony High school OF
Augusta, and the Gardiner High
school is nov on exhibition in the
window Of q. Q. Davenport. A S. gold
piece is also on exhibition in c. II.
Beanes window for the best decorated
bicycle
j. w. Berry is fast completing the
float to be placed in the parade by the
city representing it's industries. trades
and the like.
Work at the Coliseum is fast pro-
crossing and there is no doubt but
what everything will be in readiness.
on Monday afternoon.
The souvenir programmes are meet
ing with ready sale everywhere ana
It far surpasses even the expectancy of
the committee. Well. it should as il is
a masterpiece of work.
The only drawback the Roord az
Trade is looking forward to now Is
RAIN. Let US have a plenty of it before
hand Of none until after the carnival
1t Is hard, just a present. for one
70 walk up Water street without hay
ing some narrow escapes from fresh
pant Nearly all the traders along
the street are Sticking up the fronts
OF their places Of business. 1t is hoped
thlt they won't forget the rear either
George Woodwork of the Evans
motel is the first to make any outdoor
decorations. he having placed flags ana
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
! NEWS NUGGETS.
Brought by the Wires from Moth. East
South an West

The Harvard cricket team defeated the
University Of Pennsylvania eleven.
Wednesday, at LongwoOd, by a score of
~ to 35.
The formal transfer of the Ports
mouth & Dover Railroad to the Boston
x Maine, In pursuance of a vote Of the
stockholders Of the former road, has
been consummated. The Portsmouth
< Dover investors accepted Boston q
Maine stock in exchange for their
holdings.
Large forest fires are raging around
the town Of Pubnico. in Yarmouth
county, \. 5. They have been burning
all Wednesday and growing rapidly
worse, and property owners on the out
skirts Of the town are seriously alarm
ed for their safety The flames are
raging along the line Of the Coast Rall-
way, and have already considerably
damaged the road.
Police Sergeant Fritz Passau, ~
searching a house west of Georgetown
for the murderer of the Rosensteins
at Boyds, Maryland, was shot ana XIII
ed. supposedly by Humphrey Brown
alias Buck" Brown. the alleged Ihui
dcrar The murderer was captureu-
The prisoner says that his name
Humphrey Taylor and that Brown 7
an alias. In addition 70 killing 81
geant Passau he shot Policeman o
through the hand. He has not hiaue
full confession but practically auln,
he is the man wanted for the i'oS'"
stein murder.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
Difficulty In Johnson House.

At about O'Clock, Tuesday even
ing. q trader Of Water street entered
tn" Johnson house ana asked for 4
room. II was given him by the clerk
he paying for il in advance He went
TO his room but soon returned saying
he wanted his money back. He was
told that as soon as ne returned the
key, he would be given his money. IL
said ii was in the door. but refused to
get Il. Here a controversy arose ana
he struck Mr.. Romeo, who had just
entered the room. Mr.. Romeo went 10
the telephone % call the police when
the man threw the register at him
This was too much ANA he was forcibly
elected from the building. Since this
the dsturbcr az the peace has not been
seen but when the police find him. M
viii I've given a trial before Judge Lar
IVA bee
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18
Slot Machines Must Co.

The Slot machines must CO." says
Mayor Patton. BY this is meant those
who pay in money. For several days past
a large number Of The machines have
been brought into the city and set up by
out-of-town parties. The places where
they are run receive a per cent. Of what
is earned by the machine, which in mos:
eases is quite large. TO run these ma
chimes is III direct violation Of the laws
Of the State. Then it collects and holds
from circulation greater part of the
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-18

The funeral Of the late Seward r.
Hill was held from his house on
Church hill, yesterday afternoon. a
large number Of friends and relatives
being present Rev. \. \. Lewis of the
Methodist church ofiiciated and spoke
words of kindness and sympathy to
the hereaved family in his always
pleasant way. The floral tributes We're
many ana beautiful The bearers We're
Martin Burns. Charles Z. Trask. M T.
Harrington and George Woodwork.
The interment was IN oak Grove Gem
etery.