Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-24
FIERCE MRS. NATION.
She Returns to Wichita and
Wrecks Two Saloons.
ARRESTED, RELEASED and RETAKEN.
lnfuriatcd Woman Attacked the
Sheriff and Nearly OverpOvcred
Him-Three Members Of the W.
C. +, U, Joined In the Raid.


WICHITA. Kan, Jan. 22.-Mrs. Car
rie Nation came back to Wichita lester
day after her recent incarceration under
Il smallpox quarantine, and the net result
of ten minutes of work by her yesterday
afternoon are two wrecked saloons, the
pieces of which are being sold for SOU
venirs. Mrs. Nation was assisted by
Mrs. Julia Evans, Mrs. Lucy Wilhoit and
Mrs. Lydia Muntz, all of the local w. G..
T. L. organization. With hatchets con-
cealcd under their cloaks they entered
the saloon of james Burns OH Douglas
avenue and did not leave complete
piece of glass or n working slot machine
in the place. All showcases, both for
liquors and cigars, as well as the plate
glass windows and doors, were broken
into smthereens. Next they went to
John Herrig's saloon and had everything
in the front of the room, including the
plate glass windows. broken when he
appeared with revolver, placed it At
Mrs. Nations head and said that he
would blow out her brains if she did not
desist She yielded before the pointed
revolver and with her companions went
to the Carey hotel bar, where she made
her first attack on the saloons of Wichi-
Ia three weeks ago. There three police
men met her, and she struck at Detect
i've Sutton with a poker. He showed her
aside, and youth struck him i'll the
face. A policeman struck the youth
and knocked him down. The police then
overpowered Mrs. Nation and her friends
and took them to the city prison. followed
by 2,GO0 persons.
Chief of Police Cudbon discharged the
prisoners after they reached the Jail and
is heartily condemned by the citizens.
The women made him a promise not TO
wreck any more saloons before noon to-
day.
After leaving the city building Mrs.
Nation in the coolest manner began Il
street lecture to the immediate crowd
that had surrounded the city building
saying that she expected to begin saloon
wrecking again at noon today. when her
truce with the chief of police expires.
Shaking her fist ut the crowd. she said.
"AIen Of Wichita, this is the right arm If
Godv and l am destined to wreck every
saloon in your city,"
The women procured a wagon and rode
through the streets singing Nearer. My
God, to Thee" and other hymns. They
halted in front of the saloons they had
smashed and held prayer meetings. The
damage done by the four women is cs-
innate ut between 100 and $1,000.
Mrs. Nation caused Il new sensation
last night by slapping Sheriff Simmons
on the face, taking hold of his ears and
giving him a rough handling generally
Mrs. Nation was at the Union station in
the act OF buying a ticket to ncighbor
ing town when the sheriff pulled at her
sleeve. saying, "You are my prisoner
madam" Mrs. Nation turned her face
about and. seeing Sheriff Simmons. gave
him n violent slap across the face. She
followed this up by taking hold Of his
ears with both her hands and wringing
them viciously. The station was full of
women, who began screaming, and trc-
mendous excitement followed as the
sheriff who is a very small man. strug
gled with his powerful antagonist. \
policeman came To his rescue. and with
the aid of some bystandcrs they succeed
ed in picking up the woman in their arms
and placing her in cab. which was
driven rapidly to the county Jail. She in
sisted on being placed in the private
room for women, but Sheriff Simmons
put her in a cell in the steel rotary, where
she began to pray and sing hymns.