davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
RAILROAD NEWS.
Poker and Crap-Shooting
Among Railroad Laborers.
Wild Glass of Men Being Used
i'm Oklahoma.
HARD TO GET WORKMEN
Negroes Imported From Dixie
in Locked Cars.
Fights and BraWls Common
After Pay Day.

H. P. Selden. who has the contract
for laying the tracks of the Choctaw,
| Oklahoma & Western railway from
| Hartshorne to Admire. L T., states
that work of all kinds on the road is
being greatly impeded by the difficulty
| of getting laborers.
Most of the men whom the railway
contractors are able to get to come into
the territory are of a wild and reckless
| class.
I'VE pay them off every two weeks, -
said Mr.. Selden. Pay day is followed
by wild time. There are very few Of
the white men who do not play poker
and all the negroes shoot craps. AS
soon as they get. their two weeks
wages, the fun begins. There are al
ways a lot of Sharpers hanging around
who perform the same functions as
camp followers do in a war. They are
not on our pay roll. but hang on our
flank for no purpose but to fleece the
men out of their pay, and in this they
are very successful.
Gambling is breeder of all kinds
of trouble especially among a crowd of
ignorant, reckless fellows like ours.
There are fights and brawls constantly
for two or three nights after pay day.
Only a short time before I left. one II
our negroes thought another had Ee-
1rauded MIN, and without any cere-
mony he pulled a gun and killed him.
Having done this the murderer turned
about, walked away and disappeared
IN the woods We picked up his victim
body, made a rude pine box, and buried
1t, after which we sent news to his fam
lily of what had happened to him
L have use for only $50 men," said
Mr.. Selden, but since we began work
on July I have shipped in 110O We
are paying common day laborers $l75
per day and their board, and men with
teams 81 per day and board, but even
these high wages are not sufficient to
induce them to stay with us for any
length of time.
Considerable railroad building is be-
ing done and other improvements on
which common laborers are required
are being made in the territory. We
have shipped in a great many negroes
from Little Rock. Ark. and Memphis,
Tenn We have to lock the cars to
keep them on until we can get them to
the place where we are at work. If we
get 90 in one night, after breakfast the
next morning we will not have more
than To- 1t has been that way ever
since we began work. They take advan-
tage of the opportunity to go into the
Territory on free transportation, but as
soon as they get there they scatter out
in all directions There is no law to
prevent them leaving, and, as we must
have men, we keep on shipping them
in
Our experience Is of the same kind
that men employing day labor are hav-
ing in all parts of the country. TheIa
simply is not enough of it to meet the
demand"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07

free The malls are weighed every four
years, by the government, and payment
made for the following four years on
the basis of those weights. When it
came tine to weigh the mails again,
the postal department was astonished
at the falling off in weights on the road
in question The system which had been
put into practice by the mail agents.
made a difference of thousands of dol
lars every year. The government look
ed the matter up, discovered the cause,
and issued a sweeping order applying
the same method to every railroad in
the United States.
In year or so the railroad issued an
other order prohibiting mail agents
from sleeping in their cars. The mail
agents got to thinking, and it occurred
to them that some mail sacks were
heavier than others The bull hide
sacks weighed eleven pounds. and the
canvas sacks weighed only three
pounds. Therefore as soon as a bull
hide" sack showed up, it was shot out
on another road When the mails were
weighed again, the postal department
discovered another big falling off in
weights. and, upon learning the cause.
ordered a large lot of cotton sacks to
replace the heavier leather ones AS a
result of the retaliatory measures OF
the mail agents, the governl1 ent is now
saving hundreds, and perhaps thouS-
andS of dollars daily.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
MIR. NELSON OBSERVES.
He Calls Attention to Birth OF
Asaasslns.

mot every person stops to think that
the four noted assassins of public per-
sonages in the United States were native
born" said State Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction Frank Nelson, today
John Wilkes Booth was born in Balti-
more. Maryland; Charles Guiteau. the
slayer of Garfield, was born in Freeport,
Illinois; Prendergast, the murderer of
Mayor Carter Harrison was born in
Chicago; CZOlgOSz was born in Detroit,
Michigan.
Here we have the assassins of three
presidents of the United States and the
mayor of one of our greatest cities, all
American born We are too apt to cry
out against the ignorant foreigner and
forget that, un-American as these men
proved themselves to be- America nur-
tured them and had stewardship of their
early years and education
1T makes a problem for the school
men. 1t argues that we need more
teaching of common sense patriotism in
our schools. The schools have largely
taught what government is Education
al methods must be revised The schools
must bring out more what government
is for as well as show what government
1.-THE truth of the old principle, "a lit
tie knowledge is a dangerous thing, is
emphasized Too many children are ed
ucated up to the point where they can
realize that they are miserable and see
others prosperous and happy In this
half-inforned stage they leave school
They have just grasped the idea that
there is such a thing as government,
but they fail to catch the full idea that
when government does q certain public
work it is for the benefit of all The
city of Topeka cleans its streets The
resultant cleanliness is for the good of
all who use those streets, and all free
agents who will may use them But
that one who stands back and will not
use them because he does not under
stand public spirit stands in his own
light only
Schools are formative of men. Such
tragic events show where failures have
been made in brain development. 1t Is
the province of the schools to use more
earnest effort 10 prevent assassins being
bred in our own land"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
Cheaper Than walking.

The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
railway keeps a neatly bound book on
it's California Limited train called THE
Log Book" and in this passengers re-
cord their observations and Impressions
of the trip, the excellence of the serv-
ice, etc.-sometimeS bit of verse,
sometimes a note of approval of the
dining-car service. In one of the latest
of these a passenger demonstrates IN
his own way that it cheaper to ride on
the California Limited than to walk
The entry on the log book was made
May 80, and reads follows: San
Francisco to Flagstaff, S55 miles, fare
and sleeper $36 40. meals and extras
49, so. total $40; cheaper than walking.
Walking at 20 miles per day, 43 days:
meals rs cents. lodging 25 cents, total
SAB We ride frst-class, save Az days.
save shoe leather, save clothes and save
So Who would not ride on the Cali
fornia Limited ?''-Railway and Engi-
neering Review.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
WAR ON sCALPERs.
Railroads Said to Be United at Last
in the Fight

Determined efforts are to be made by
officers of the railroads operating out OF
Chicago to force every ticket scalper
not only in tais city but in all other
places along the various lines out Of
business.
The recent conviction of Brokers Rice
and Wolf was the first ever secured in
Cook county on a charge of forging
railroad tickets. and the cases. it is ex-
pected, will prove powerful presidents
in subsequent actions. In the east the
conviction of Scalper Blaze on a sim
liar charge has given the transporta-
ton systems in that part of the coun-
try precedent, and these cases will
be used by the railroads in bringing
to justice any person guilty of forging
a ticket.
The railroads for the first time are
united on the fight to drive out scalp
ers- Heretofore when they were pay
ing commissions for the sale of tickets
no line would proceed against a broker
for the reason that all of the roads
were dealing with the scalpers and
We're more or less dependent upon them
for handling tickets
These deals have been off for nearly
two years, and the transportation peo-
pie are independent of their old friends
whom they now consider their worst
enemies. as the latter are said to be
doing everything in their power to
break the noncommission ticket agree
ment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
MIR. STEPHENS SIDE.
Gives His Version of His Arrest at
Tnroop Hotel

Edward Stephens today made the fol-
lowing statement about his arrest at the
Hotel Throop:
Mr.. Stephens, who is a market
gardener. was told that some horse rad
fshes were needed at the Throop- He
took them there to the clerk who sent
him with them to the cook who gave him
a written order for them to the clerk
Mr.. Stephens returned to the Office with
the order and the clerk cashed it, one
dollar. When he was some yards from
the hotel, a colored porter ran after him
and said the boss wanted to speak
with him He went back with the por-
ter when the boss began to upbraid
him for leaving the radishes there, say
ing that he had not ordered them and
with abusive epithets accused Stephens
of fraud, etc, although he had offered to
take them back and return the dollar
if there was any mistake. Meanwhile
in the alteration a policeman came and
took Stephens in his own buggy to the
jail where he was charged with obtain
ing money under false pretenSe."
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
YOUNG MEN ONLY.
Railways Closing Doors of Employ
ment to Old and Middle Aged.

By establishing an age limit ten
years above that of other roads, the
Erie system has declared itself in favor
of older men in it's service. Orders have
person over As years old not already in
the employee OF the concern shall be
given q position.
During the last four or five years a
majority of the large transportation
systems throughout the country have
reduced the age limit for first employ
ment so that now a man, regardless of
his ability and experience, over 80 years
old is forever locked out of railway
service in most places On many lines
the limit is ten years under this. On
the Pennsylvania, Burlington and other
big roads, for instance, applications for
positions of firemen or brakemen will
not be consider ed from men over 20
years of age.
Officers of the roads that refuse to
hire men past this age say that the ex-
have made necessary orders against
employing any but young men. The APP
premiership for a conductor or an en-
gineer averages from five to seven
years, and it is figured that by the
time this term is passed a man 25 years
old on entering the service will be over
80 when he is ready for the life work.
Again, the managers argue that the
pension system now in vogue on many
of the more important roads provides
for a man after he has reached a re-
firing age.
While the Erie company's order re-
lakes in no way the rigid rules sur
rounding physical tests for positions, it
allows the employment of able-bodied
and able-mindad men up to As years of
age.
None of the roads that have reduced
the age limit will discharge an employe
IL he is in the service on account of
age, but if for one cause or another
man past the limit loses his position he
r.,
road service in any part of the coun-
try.
The Erie has no pension system, and
the extension of the age limit would in
dictate that it's management is not con-
sidering any plan for the retirement of
OVer-age men.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
ABOUT RAILROAD PEOPLE

Swftchman Henry McDade was or duty
Sunday
Machinfst d. Saxon went home sick
Saturday
L. ]. johnson of the blacksmith shop
has been laying of
Conductor Tilford took a stock extra
to ST. Joseph Sunday
The wife of ]. Finch of the south shop
is sick at Christ hospital.
Adolph Raab. a blacksmith helper, has
not been in for a day or two
Hammersmith Fred Johnson, who was
off duty Saturday, came in today
Engine 0110, which pulls the Kansas
City plug, was held in for repairs on Sum
day.
Thomas Astle of the blacksmith shop
has been obliged to lay off for a few
Frank Hamilton of the sheet iron gang
Charles Disch. who has been helper
on the first hammer, has been advanced
to heater
4 number of the shop boys are figuring
on taking in the festivities at kansas
City this week.
Conductor Foote of the middle division
brought in the general managers special
Saturday morning
Machinist John Nichols is in his place
again after Jay OF OF day and half
on account of sickness
Nathan Sloan of the truck gang was
loolxing, after personal business Saturday
Charles Taylor, fireman in the mill
who has been indisposed for about two
weeks. came in Sunday morning
j. T.. N1lTnOCL night waterman IN the
ma chine shop has gone to Michigan on
a vacation trip for a short time
Jacob Kuhl- who has been cleaning
coach cushions in the upholStering de-
partment for few weeks, has quit.
Conductor c. l. Short. who runs on the
Topeka-Kansas City plug reported for
duty this morning after a short lay of.
James Ravens of the coach truck gang
laid off Saturday. He was dickering for
a piece of property on North Quincy
street
Charles Holmgren of the blacksmith
shop. who has been out for three weeks.
is in his place again He has been in poor
health
John STAFFORD of the coach paint shop
was off Saturday 1t was reported that
he was making some improvements on his
property
Henry DeCamp, a south shop machin-
ist, who has been making an addition to
his residence out near Washburn college,
is on duty
Conductors Coddington and Withrow.
who have been in charge of work trains
on the cutoff. were here over Sunday
with their families.
Gus Osnan, formerly in charge of the
brass corner. but lately in the shops at
Albuquerque. n NJ. was around among
the boys Saturday
Part ofethe brass foundry men have
been on duty until p lately Most
OF the departments seems to be crowded
with work just now
Conductor Richard Wilson Of this place
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
MAIL AGENTS REVENGE
They Help the Government by hurt
ing the Railroad

Several years ago. says the Atchison
Atchison got gay with the all agents
on its line, and issued an order which
provided that a mail agents pass was
good only while he was on duty in his
mail car; that no conductor could hon
or mail agents pass under any cir
cumstances. except when the mail agent
was at work.
The mail agents said nothing. but
word was quietly passed along the line
that the action of the company called
for retaliatory measures. A plan of ac-
ton was adopted, and the work of car
rying it out begun. 1t should be un-
derstood that the government pays the
railroads ten dollars a year for every
hundred pounds of mail it carries each
mile The more mail the company car
r1es, and the farther it carries it, the
more the company gets Therefore L
the mail agents could reduce the
weights the company would receive less
money for carrying the mails.
1t was customary at that time for
mail agents to carry the surplus empty
pouches in their cars to the end of their
runs, and the pouches were then car
rled back There were usually dozens
OF empty pouches in the mail cars The
canvas pouches weigh three pounds
each. and the big bull hide" pouches
weigh eleven pounds each. Instead of
carrying these pouches through the
mail agents put them off at the first
station. after considerable number
We're emptied, and sent them back. the
railroad being compelled to carry them
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07

exposed to a view from the outside of
the house through a window. The
assassin drove up to the house in a
buggy and did the deed, shooting
through the window. Mr.. Montgomery
died instantly
Detective Montgomery was in WITCH
tia Friday with his wife, and while
waiting for the train at the Santa Fe
depot caught two pickpockets in the
act and turned them over to Detective
Harry Sutton, of that city 1t is pos
sible that some of the confederates of
the two men had something to do with
the assassination, but it is scarcely
probable.
Threats have been made against the
life of Mr.. Montgomery by parties III
the Territory and it is thought,
whether logically or otherwise. that
these people, or some of their sympa-
thizers committed the crime
Immediately after Sheriff Daniels was
notified of the assassination of Mr.
Montgomery ne put the county blood
hounds on the trail of the assassin, but
no results developed.
Detective Montgomery lived at VIM
field six or seven years He leaves
widow and two daughters He was 40
years of age
MONTGOMERY used to be stonemason
at Rossviiie. He came to Topeka as
an officer under Sheriff Burge- For
some time he served at the county jail
as guard of the rock pile He went to
work for the Santa Fe as a special
officer seven years ago, and since then
made a reputa ton as a detective and
special officer His wife was Minnie
Buhre. the daughter of a Union Pacific
employe-
J. E Hanway, of Topeka, said today:
ssWhiIe I was on the train about a year
ago going into Oklahoma the Miller
gang from the 1G1 ranch became noisy
They were drunk and were eursing and
shooting and the conductor could do
nothing with them He then called on
Montgomery. who was on the train
They tried to bluff Montgomery with
their guns but he knocked two of
them down and put another off the
train. and then the rest subsidized He
was absolutely fearless.
Montgomery afterward told me that
he expected these men would give him
trouble, and he said that they had been
watching for him.
Mrs Montgomery formerly lived at
Silver Lake, but moved to Topeka,
where they were married. They lived
at SOL Madison street for a time
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
FOUR TRAINMEN KILLED.
Rear End Collision of Freight Train
on the Panhandle

Logansport, Ind, Oct -Four Pan
handle trainmen met death near. on
ward. IA miles southeast of here. today
in a rear end collision of freight trains.
the bodies of three being taken out bad
" mutilated and the fourth being al
most entirely consumed before tha
wreck crew could subdue the flames
sufficiently to permit search in that
portion of the debris The dead.
EBERT GREELEY. conductor
THOMAS H BROSIUS. hagman.
6 A GALBREATH, brakeman
JOHN HUTCHINSON, fireman
The injured:
Frank Patterson engineer
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
ANOTHER ssOPENING."
Rosebud Indian Lands Will Soon Be
Available For Settlement

Chamberlain, S. D.. Oct THE work
of securing the Signatures of the Rose
bud Indians to an agreement relin-
gushing for settlement that portion of
the Rosebud reservation in Gregory
county is practically completed. Major
Mclaughlin, chief Indian inspector, has
been engaged for some months in Sc
curing these signatures He expects to
put the lands on the market in a very
short time.
There are many thousands of acres of
fine land in the tract and applications
are already being fled for lands. many
people having come to this place to
await their settlen emit
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07

fastened to prevent his escape, in his
frenzy Sinnel burst Off an inner door.
jumped through a glass window ana
disappeared before the police arrived
The hospital. it is said, was the scene
of wild terror for awhile. scream ing
women and frightened men fleeing from
the frenzied patient and the latter max
ink efforts to tear his way out of the
building.
The shock of the excitement and
fright was severe upon the sisters and
the patients of the hospital, many or
whom We're on the verge Of collapse
throughout the day.
No trace Of Sinnel has been found
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
PANIC IN A HOSPITAL.
Crazsd Miner Spreads Terror Among
Sisters and Patients.

Salt Lake City. Utah, Oct. while
in a fit of delirium. August Sinnel.
powerfully built Finnish miner, who is
suffering from acute erysipelas. created
a panic at Holy Cross hospital yester-
day by arming himself with a large
knife and rushing wildly about the cor
rfdors. threatening to murder anyone
who sought to restrain him in his effort
to break out OF the hospital. Despite
the fact that every door was securely
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07

0-5CSA-OAA
But it is not generally known that the
Tablets are just as good ana WI Wnolesoiiie
Little children who are pale tnln ana
have no appetite. or do not grow or thrive
will derive great benefit from them
Mrs G. H Crotsley, 53S washington ST.
Hoboken, N J., writes: stuart .I,sspsp-
STA Tablets just fill the bill for children as
well for older folks. I've had the pest
of luck with them My 3-year-old gnA
takes them as readily as candy l have
only to say tablets and she drops every
thing else and runs for them
A Buffalo mother a short time ago VINO
desDaired of the life of her babe was so
delighted with the results from giving the
child these tablets that she went before
the notary public of Erie county, N Y,
Gentlemen Stuarts Dyspepsia Tablets
were recommended TO me for my ,
nonths-old baby. which was sick and
puny and the doctors said was suffering
from Indigestion 1 took the child to the
hospital, but there found no relief. A
friend mentioned the Stuart Tablets and
used only the large sweet lozenges in the
box and was delighted to find they were
just the thing for my baby I feel juSti-
fed in saying that Stuart's Dyspepsia
MRS W. T DETHLOPE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
HENRY KARIS,
Notary Public in and for Erie Co. y. 7.
delicate, the tablets will accomplish Won
ders in increasing flesh. appetite and
growth Use only the large sweet tablets
In every box Full sized boxes are sold
by all druggists for 50 cents, and no par
ent should neglect the use of this safe
remedy for all stomach and bowel trou-
bles If the child is ailing in any way re
garding its food or assimilation
Stuarts Dyspepsia Tablets have been
for all stomach troubles whether in
adults or infants
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
Not Slain by Indians

Denver, Col, Oct. "A snecia1 =. ~.
Republican from Albuquerque. n NJ
that telegram received by Sheriff Huh,
bell. OF this city, from Sherif Goodell of
Grant county, states that the story of
the killing OF five men bv Anacbs II
dams on Willow Greek in the Magallon
mountains was based on a runaor which
had been received at Silver Citv No
continuation OF the report has been re-
ceived. although it is known fbs4
renegade band OF Indians are kiliin~
game in Magallon mountains and dafv.
Ing the settlers -S
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
SH0TBYASSASSIN
Detective George Montgomery
Slain in His Home.
Murderer Fired Charge Of Buck
shot Through Window.

George c. Montgomery, a well known
Santa Fe detective, formerly of To-
peka, was shot and instantly killed
while sitting in his home at Winfield,
Saturday evening. It is supposed that
the murderer was a cowboy from Okla
hOma.
Montgomery was sitting at his writ
ing desk early in the evening. He was
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-07
CBSERVE

The following symptoms resulting from
disease of the digestive organs: Constf-
in the head. acidity of the stomach.
nausea, heartburn. disgust OF food. full
TONS sinking suffocating sensations
when in a lying posture. dIrnness of Wis
ion. dizziness on rising suddenly. dots or
webs before the sight fever and dull pain
in the head. deficiency of perspira ton.
yelIowness of the skin and eyes. pain in
the side. chest, limbs and sudden flashes
of heat. burning in the flesh
a few doses of RAILWAY s PILLS will
free the system of all the above named
disorder
Price % cents per box. Sold by drug
gists sent By mail
RADWAY e co. $ Elm St. New York