The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-21

taken uuawares and did not have time TO
gather The cannon was brought close
to the Planters HOUSE and unlimbered,
and to protect the property Fisher was
hurried away secretly under guard
During u recess in Fishers hearing be
fore the Commissioner the next day the
Unite1 States Marshal. James Mcdowell,
was called to the rear of the courtroom
and the prisoner was hustled downstairs
and away In u buggy at hand for the pur-
pose He was not recaptured
A notable night at the Planters, was
a Joint debate between Gov. hanson and
Marx Parrot. Great preparations were
made for 1t, and instead of speaking from
ths balcony OF the hotel special plat
form was put up. Mr.. Rice did not like
the platform iusa, feeling that the lum.
Der might he used for another purpose
before the night was over. In this he
was right. Parrott opened the debate,
and there was :urbulence during his
speech, which was fiery, and In closing
he worked his paGtisans up to u high
pitch. shortly after Gov. hanson began
speaking d rush was made, and the plat
form was broken down and torn to
pieces. Tho doors and windows in the
lower part of the hotel or barroom side
were smashed, and "a lighting mob took
possession. Capt Tough, who had
record In those days rs a lighter, and
who Is now "a we'll known liveryman of
Kansas City, was stopping at the hotel.
MIR. Rice had asked the Captain to re-
main near that hotsl that night, as he
feared that the debate might end in u
trough house" When the melee was at
| its height Capt. Tough, who had been
| sleeping In his room, slid down down the
banister, pistol in one hand and a
long knife in the other, and called out:
slaughter len" The Captains words
cal med the warriors, and they left the
place in haste.
While the war was in progress the pro
prietors had much trouble with Cy Cor
don's guerillas. The river was not as
wide then AS now, and Gordon's band
would gather on the sandbar and shoot at
Col Anthony's building and the Plant
| ers' often breaking windows. When the
gueri,ias were around the guests were not
| put In the east rooms.
But II there was occasional fighting
around the hotel there was also plenty Of
fun. A couple of stories concerning the
early day proprietors were printed In an
Eastern paper about fifteen years ago
Here is the first one:
I'VE landed In Leavenworth In 1860,
says Col. meidy of the Galena hepuoll'
can in reminiscent way. and secured
employment with the Kansas stage Com
pany, whose office was under the Plant
ers' Hotel, at that time hostelry fol
your MINISTER'S, and under the manage
ment of the big three-Jep Rice, Len
smith and John ambert--took second
place TO none in the West. As We recall
that day we smile in contempt at the
would-be sports of this day. Here is q
| sample of the way Jep Rice played them
He owned pair of steppers that would
cash for u thousand and u half any Gay
lie harnessed them to rig in harmony
with the team and took AN Eastern
friend, who was mis- guest, for drive to
the fort. On the way back-remember,
this was after they had spent II few hours
with the officers at the fort -Jep was
Dragging about the Jumping qualities o.
| his team. Said he, They can clear thai
eight-raii fence (there were rail fence:
along the Government reserve) as slick
| as scat.
| - impossible said his friend
Don't believe 1t, eh?' said Jep.
Well, I'll prove II, and heading then
fog the fence, perhaps 100 yards distant
he piled the lash, and they struck that
| fence at n forty -mile-an- hour gait. Ih'
team got over; they leaped into the all
and fell over, but the buggy caught a
the fourth rail. A more complete wrecl
| was never witnessed and when the meI
had extricated them selves Jep turned Il
his companion. and, with characteristic,
GOODNESS, said, Well by gosh. that Is tn,
| iirst time th,y ever failed. Must hav,
had their heavy shoes on.
| "Expense cut no ice when the OLE
Leaysnworth gang started In to play ,
joke"