Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-05
PROPRIETOR ELECTS AND POLICE ARREST
Howling Mob Of Thousands with Hstche
Vanguard Follow Crusader.
SAYS THIS SETBACK is NOT HER WATERLOO
Efforts At Saloon -smashing Are to Ro Re-
nswed This Morning.
S NOT DowNcAsT At LACK OF SUCCESS
Largely. Attended Meeting nt rrcs"s-
tcrian Church Determines to
Continue the work Al
ready begun.


ready Begun.
TOPEKA. Kan, Feb. Mrs. Nation THIS
afternoon met the first defeat ID her sa-
loon smashing career. Later at the pollce
station she laughingly declared that IL was
by no means her Waterloo, aud That she
would again be at her chosen work.
with six women, each armed with orlgh,
new hatchots. she had started out at .
o'clock TO wreck restaurant In East SlXth
street that also dispensed liquors. Before
she could WELD her hatchet, Mrs. Nation
was disarined and a free-tor-all Struggle
between restaurant people ana Wreckers
was begun The greatest excitement pre-
vailed for time, during when numerous
eyes we're blackened and many noses MADE
TO bleed. Mrs. Nation, herself. unable 10
accomplish anything, shouted orders 10 her
followers TO rebegin the onslaught. But
the hatchet brigade had become stampeueu
and not another hand was raised against
the obnoxious restaurant. Mrs. nation was
led away to the station on charge OF
disturbing the peace and was followed by
a jeering crowd.
Mrs Nation took her determination TO
raid this afternoon very suddenly. she
made up her mind IN five minutes group
of women had gathered in the United fres-
byterian church TO plan for a RAID tomor
row morning, when Mrs. Nation declded
to 20 out Immediately and show how she
could smash joint
At a meeting Of the "hatchet brigade
in the United Presbyterian church thlS
afternoon. Mrs Nation announced that rald
would be made on a drug store ana JOINT
at o'clock tomorrow morning. The women
I,r NJ A Unplicily which
Mrs Nation gave to her plans but Mrs.
Nation said she was mot particularly IN
terested In keeping the matter secret.
"All those women who Will promise me
20 come with their hatchets tomorrow at
Z o'clock to do some work, stand up said
Mrs. Nation. Nine women stood
Roll saloon Keepers In snow.
That's good" exclaimed Mrs. Nation.
"Two are enough to smash joint. And
three women are host. l broke up -
Joint myself all alone In twenty minutes
Now, | want to give you little advice
We're not fooling about this thing. We're
in holy warfare. Don't he scared. III You
are afraid to start the work. III start II
for you. Above all, be quick about H.
Smash lust as hard as you can. These sa-
loon men won't hurt you. You'll gee them
shake as IL they had the aguc when you
come near them. They are afraid of the
arm of God. You men need not come with
hatchets. Don't come armed, for there Is
to be no blood shed. But IL n saloon man
tries to stop us women you may have TIE
privilege of rolling him in the snow. That
won't hurt him.
Now, everybo,y take courage and come
around bright and early tomorrow morn
ing"
Attack Made On Restaurant
Then came the conference and the de-
termination to wreck a joint Immediately
Surrounded by half dozen women, al
armed with hatchets, Mrs, Nation led the
way down Kansas avenue. She was fol
lowed by thousands of people, who trampet
behind and before her In the deep snow
shouting like mob. Mrs. Nation had nj
hatchet. She stopped at a store and bough
one. The procession went on until tht
UNIQUE restaurant, 116 East Sixth street
was reached few minutes before 3 o'clock
Then the women, headed by Mrs. Nation
made a rush for the door. Mrs. Natio'
had warned the proprietors she would rnl'
the place II they did not stop selling
liquors and they were prepared for the at
tack. The hatchet was jerked from he
Sand by stout man and the women wer
eurced back. A fierce fight followed be
Sween the restaurant men and Mrs. Ma
NlOn \ UeIenutTS IOT u quarter VI an IlOu
they struggled in the street, while the mo-
yelled encouragement TO Mrs. Nation
Many personal encounters took place. Eye
were backened and noses made to bleed
but the police seemd without power 4
stop It. Finally, in despair, they arreste
Mrs. Nation and took her to jail. TIL
crowd followed her and the restaurant wa
left unharmed Mrs, Nation was not in
iured.
Leader Never Loses Her Head.
During all the fierce struggle that wen
on in the street, while women and boy
were knocked down and trampled on an
the crowd was shouting at the top @
its voice, Mrs. Nation never lost her pres
ence of mind The hatchet was icrke
from her hands, but that dm not distur
her.
she appeared surprised, but smiled an
called to the women: Women, you az
armed; II you can't get to the place thro,
your hatchet through the windows,"
Hut the women were too demoralized /
obey her. They had not her presence c
mind.
Mrs. Nation was led away between tw
big police officers She was not downcas
at her lack of success and laughed whe
people spoke jestngly to her. Her brow
veil and gray shawl huttered in the win
and she made queer figure as she wake
down the street,
The crowd, which was a large one, mad
so much noise that several horses brob
loose from nitching posts and runaway
were narrowly ayerted. The streets wei
packed with people and every window
the office buildings on the streets whel
the crowd passed was filled with peopl
Al the Police station.