The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-15
ROWDY JOE KILLED
Famous DanCe-HaII Manager
of Wichita Is Dead.
DIES WITH HIS BOOTS ON
History of a Man Who Had No
Equal of His Kind,
DIES WITH HIS BOOTS ON


years ago king Of the wicked element IN
Wichita. was killed in Watrous' saloon
Denver. by Charles Kimlnel, an ex-Dolice-
man, during a quarrel.
This was the death of one Of Wichita
earliest citizens, of a man more or less
prominent in his career while habitat
Of this place in the days when Wichita
banners were hung on the outer walls
having printed thereon in letters Of scar
let the motto: Everything goes" Wich-
tia was then the terminal point Of the
great cattle trail running down into Texas
over which thousands and tens Of thous-
ands of head of cattle were driven to be
grazed on our summer range and then
shipped from this point into the great
feeding states Of the north and east That
was the early morning Of the city's eX-
istence and while Wichita possessed many
good people il had a few of an Indifferent
sort, always incident 10 the growth and
development Of a new town on the border
and Joe Lowe. known here as "Rowdy
Joe" was perhaps one Of the Indifferent
sort. He possessed many splendid traits
others which did not add any luster 10 his
name or career. At thar time in the SOS,
I.aSalle was at the head of navigation on
the Illinois river; al that place the traffic
coming up the river from St Louis and
the south was reloaded into the canal
boats on the Michigan canal and
with a motor power Of two or three mules.
was taken 70 Chicago and to the other
numerous towns located upon this canal
Perhaps this was J0e's birthplace; il was
on the canal, and his early education and
the environments along the car 4 left their
impress upon him as it did upon many
another youth born and raised along that
same canal When Joe first came west
he probably followed the Union Pacific
Tor some distance into Kansas and was
a part and parcel Of the camp followers,
town builders and dance house proprietors
who kept pace with that railway as it
stretched across the continent. Joe then
dropped down 10 Newton, when Newton
was the terminal point Of this same great
cattle trail He there was the proprietor
of dance house and was more or less
prominent in the circles Of society that
drifted around and made up the elements
which made these institutions prosper.
When Newton lost the cattle trail and
Wichita captured it, Joe moved to Wich-
tia and located his dance house just at the
west end Of the Big River bridge. which
location put ii IN the vicinity Of where
the old building now stands. which was
used in later years as q mattress factory.
West Wichita, at that time known as
Delano, was something Of a Monte Carlo
sort Of a place; that is, there was a great
variety Of things going on over there, and
Joe was TO some extent king il that
element. He was an elegant looking fel-
low, with a somewhat swarthy complex
ion. very dark eyes, large heavy mus
tache, and was. as a matter of fact. an
interesting character, and his dance house
with its bar its gambling tables on the
side, its music and its frau and fascinat-
ing creatures, was an institution which
had many patrons from a great variety
Of the walks Of life. The landlady of this
house was. of course. Mrs. Lowe, known
then as "Rowdy Kate" She was an
unfortunate Of more than ordinary at
tainments. and a woman VINO in her ear
lier life, was good looking. Joe would oc-
casionaHy. when fun of red liquor. abuse
her most shamefuly and she would "a
promptly have Joe arrested. Joe would
get a continuation of the case and then
she would come slipping around into the
halls Of justice and ask the presiding
dignitary Il she couldn't pay up the costs
and have the case dismissed, and this she
generally accomplished. and peace would
again reign over their mansion until Joe
would thoughtassly take on more red
liquor. After a time, from lower down
on the Illinois river below where Joe had
spent hla boyhood DAYS, there came an
bther man TO Wichita, and he. too, estab-
lished a dance house but a few feet west
Of where Joe was located. He-"Red'-
was ambitious for trade IN his line was
Jealous Of Joe's popularity. in other words
he resented the king business. and there
fore there sprang up between he and Joe
q bitter rivalry, and one night when Joe
was IN his cups. he stepped behind his bar.
picked mp his double-bar-eIs5 sEot gun and
stepped over to Reds" place Of business.
This was the name OF the other man from
Illinois who came from down the river.
Joe took deliberate aim at Red" and
firing both barrels Of his gun. he NOR
tally wounded his man and shot out the
- va A-t' A-A N4-t WIS ltdNltE Lllr
orchestra Joe was. Of course. promptly
arrested and taken before a justice Of the
peace. who continued the examination Of
his case until it could b. determined
whether Red" would die or continue 70
live with his lungs and his other ins;des
full Of buckshot Red" finally. how
ever. died, and the testimony was con-
h.cting as 10 whether he had died from
the result Of the pertorations made by
the aforesaid buckshot or as the result Of
blood poisoning resulting from the i'm
proper care OF his wound. The justice,
however. determined that Mr. Lowe was
guilty OF some sort Of murder. but OWNS
10 the want Of facilities 10 properly take
care OF q real murderer. Il was determined
that Joe's offerse was baiab,e 81 Joe
proceeded 20 deposit 81 COO the amount Of
the bond, with Mr. Sol Eohn, a. that tins
president o. the Wichita Savings hank.
and NJ Kohn became his surety for his
appearance AZ the next term Of the DIS 4
trict court He afterwards. however, con- /
Guided that be would withdraw his name /
Rs surety on Joe's bond and surrender aim 4
to the sheriff As the sheriff had no 4
proper rendezvous for man os Jaa's /
tastes. two guards were employed 10 see 4
that re did nos escape and Joe was 70 1
bear -he expense Of these va-crn,e7. {