The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-19
VISITED BY CRANKS
Mayor Ross Warned of At
tack by Beers.
HE is TOLD TO REPENT
By Another, or Wichita Will
be Destroyed.

Wichita is becoming so metropolitan
that the cranks have commenced to
bother Mayor Ross. Within the past two
days, both white and black, wild and
docile, have made pilgrimages to the
mayors office and warned Mr.. Ross of
some terrible ca1amities that have ap-
peared to them in strange halIucinations
Yesterday a young colored man whom no
| one seemed to know, went to the railing
in the police headquarters and inquired
! for Mayor Ross. The mayor happened to
be occupying a chair at the desk and on
| being pointed out to the strange fellow,
was treated to a wild and impassioned
warning that froze the blood in the veins
Of the bystanders.
They're coming: they're coming, May
or Ross. I tell you, they're already here.
Arm yourself Immediately and prepare
to keep them from crossing the river"
Mr.. Ross looked at the fellow moment
without speaking, not knowing exactly
what the man meant. for he was unduly
excited in his remarks.
Il tell you, mayor, they're camped on
the West Side right now, and are ready
TO move across the river"
Whom are you talking about, MANI"
asked the mayor.
1.-The Boers-the Beers, Mr.. Ross. The
whole army is camped right now in the
bottom just across the river. I have
seen them maneuvering for week They
are now ready to cross the bridge, and
can guard it no longer. You must pro-
teot the city, and do it quick. Station
guard at the bridge. have guarded it
myself for week but I will do 1t no
longer without achievements. The en-
tire city will be bombarded in half an
hour. You must save the people"
By this time the mayor and spectators
saw that the fellow was evidently a
crank, but apparently a harmless one
There's the fighter in the other room.
You will have to see him" said the may
or, directing the man to Judge Mitchell,
who was sitting at his desk in the po-
lice court room.
The colored fellow broke for Judge
Mitchell and excitedly exclaimed: Are
you the army? If you are, get your
sword and pistol ready and be quick
about it. for I tell you they're ready
right now to cross the bridge. You sta
ton yourself on the west end of the
bridge and wave your sword and pistol,
and I will reconnoiter the picket line.
Wen get emf Wen get EN-. Ha, HaI
And out ran the crank full of the hope
that he had saved the city utter annihi-
lation at the hands of the Boer army
In a moment he had gone and no one
has heard of him since.
Shortly after this strange occurrence
another crank appeared. with a gentle
mein and soft, southerly accent. He
approached the railing quietly and said
to Mr.. Downing:
"Where is your honorable mayor
please?"
He was referred to Mr.. Ross, who was
still sitting in the chair at the other side
of the desk. The man walked quietly be
hind the railing. placed himself in front
of the mayor, Strengthened his SLIM
bent form and with maniac glare
stared at the mayor, pointed his index fin
ger at him and said solemnly:
"You must repent. Repent or within
one week this city will be destroyed. L
warn you in time. Good day. sir
Without another word he turned and
left the building. Mayor Ross issued or
ders TO keep the next stranger outside
the railing