The age-herald., 1901-02-18
Topeka Experiences More Genuine Excitement Thaa
 in Any Day Recalled by History

Joint smashing, she explained, had got ten to be such an ordinary affair with her that sho never had occasion to lose any sleep on account of the excitement 1t caused.
 But we are here now. We will begin work at once, too. Get in line there, men and women. We must be about the Lord s work now Get your hatchets ready and follow me-
 And they did. Two by two, with no cx- citement, weapons in hand, they moved cut on their mission of destruction
 In Front She Proudly Marched
 In the front proudly marched Mrs Ma ton with her hatchet raised. Behind her were Mrs. Rosecrist, and Miss Madeline Southard, who accompanied her on her trip to Chicago, and Dr. Eva Harding. Noxt came six Washington College boys bearing animmense battering ram. Three Of the boys were on each side of the ram, to which they held with one hand and with the other they clutch1d a bright new hatchet, that had been procured for them by Mrs. Nation.
 As they entered Kansas avenue some of the women wanted to stop and demol- ish a drug store which has the reputa- ton of selling liquor. Mrs. Nation de- murred. She gave the order to march again and the crowd followed her. As they passed another notorious place the crowd wanted to stop. but Mrs. Nation had not yet reached the desired point. The crowd turned the corner and soon reached the front door of Murphy's fash ionabie Jolnt Four policemen stood at the door to guard the entrance. They commanded the people in very dignified tones to standback
 Smash, smash, smash" called Mrs. Nation. Don't pay any attention to them"
 The boys with the batterlng ram came forward and in less time than 1t takes to tell 1t, the big plate glass windows were shattered into thousands of fragments. Dozens of men then rushed on the build ing armed with their axes, and soon had the doors and window frames cut entirely away. Then with a cheer, the crowd burst into the building.
 "Prase God Women Smash" Praise God, women, smash the bottles and the windows" called out Mrs Nation again, and raising her famous hatchet she sent 1t through window glass The policemen managed to recover from their scare by this time to grab Mrs. Nation. They started off with her to the police station as rapidly as possible. She waved her arms and frantically called out to her co-workers: "Oh, keep it up. You can 5 rnI l. keep on smashing. You don't need mer'
 For a moment the crusaders were thrown into confusion by the removal of their leader, but the parting words of Mrs. Nation seemed to nerve them to better efforts. The crowd surged forward into the building, and soon all the front part of the room had given way and all could enter at will
 A man inside struck a match and turn ed on electric lights. A case of beer was found in the room. and it was soon smashed. Slot machines, cigar cases, bil- Hard tables, chairs, counters and even the stoves were smashed to smithereens. The policemen danced hither and thither, trying to keep the crowd from destroying the property but their efforts were ex- pended in vain.
 The doors of the outbuildings were smashed in, but no more liquor was found. During the night it had been re- moved to a place of safety.
 After being satisfied that there was nothing else to destroy the crusaders left the building. Then it was that they found their need of leader They at once marched to the statehouse square to talk over the situation. The women composing the party were filled with wrath They declared that the men were towards. and that they never would go out on a raid with them again. The earnest words of the women aroused the men, and with loud cries of excitement they started again down town to destroy some more joints and to make their work complete.
 Wise Men Disagree.
 Then 1t was that the Rev F. w. Emer - . .