davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16
STORY OF A TOWN that WAS

destruction of the hotel in which the
pro-slavery men were barricaded-
But historians sometimes err and
to show how wide Mr.. Hin
ton came of the mark of accuracy
the following story as told a State
Journal representative by Samuel J.
Reader who still lives near the old
townsite is given:
There has been a great deal said
about the trouble at Indianola, and
much that is not true. / have an &C
count of the affair in my diary, and L
call it the Battle of Indianola, but the
the so-called battle and not a man was
hurt, though L will admit that there
were a few who were pretty badly
frightened.
that Dick Murphy and Dan Downey
came to my place and told me that the
pro-s1avery men had gone to the home
of the Fiederling boys, who lived in In
dianOla, and had captured their arms
They said that they had come to arouse
the free state men, One of the boys
was a second sergeant and l was a
first sergeant in our military company,
and they said they had come to me be-
cause 1 was the superior officer.
well, I got my Sharp's rifle and we
started out to alarm the free state men.
We first went to the home of the Fled
erlings. Peter was sick with the ague,
but Joe was very much excited, and as
soon as he saw US he shouted eXcltedly,
Vat could / do, vat could ] do?' L
told him that we had come to help them
get back their guns, and this excited
him still more, and he said Dere viii
be bloodshed in dis town before morn
ing Peter told him he had better let
the matter drop, but he was in favor OF
doing something.
I'VE then went from one free state
house to another, and by morning our
party numbered thirteen men, all
armed though we had but one re-
volver. One of the men was w. e.
Bowker, who was afterward the first
president of Washburn college We
also had in our forces the boss fighter
of the neighborhood Robert McNoun-
We stopped at the home of Dr. Thomas
Jenner. but he said that as he was a
physician it would not do for him to
fight, and SO we dropped him.
About daylight we got to the home
of VIM. Cohee. who was a member OF
our company. c. c. Leonard. who was
the first lieutenant. was there, and we
wanted a commissioned officer. AS we
approached the house one of the young
men fired his gun, just to see if the
powder was dry, and l then shot my
Sharp'S rifle at a tree, and others also
discharged their guns COhee thought
the enemy was coming, and 1 have
since understood that he jumped into
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16
Review of the, Social Events OF
the Week.
Wedding of Miss Thomas and
Charles O'Neil.
CLUBSHAVE BEEN BUSY
Many Meetings For Study Dur.
ing the Week.
Items Cleaned i'm Topeka Music
al Circles.

A resume of the social doings of the
past week calls to mind many pleasant
functions.
Monday evening DR.. and Mrs. c. F.
Menninger and Miss Anna NJ Parry
Bundy started the ball rolling by giving
an art and music evening at the Men
ringer residence on Topeka avenue. The
affair was informal and was the second
of a series being given by them.
One of the most important events of
the week was the marriage of Miss May
Thomas and Mr.. Charles O'Neil, which
took place at the Cathedral at high
noon Tuesday, Bishop Millspaugh Off
ciating- 1t might have been termed a
chrysanthemum wedding as the bride
carried an armful of feathery white
ones, her maid of honor. Miss Nina
Thomas, carried yellow ones and the
church was decorated with both yellow
and white. A dinner at the home of Mr.
O'NeirS parents Mr.. and Mrs. J. w.
O'Neil, in Potwin, followed the cere
mony- Mr.. and Mrs. O'Neil left on the
afternoon train for their future home in
Chillicothe Mo-
The same afternoon Mrs Frank D.
Merriam entertained the members of the
Nautilus club complimentary to her
guest Mrs. w r. Thornton of Yer
Sailles, Ky
Another pleasant feature of Tuesday
afternoon was the little birthday party
given by Miss Mary Weightman.
In the evening Mrs D. H. Forbes en-
tertained at an enjoyable dinner party
complimentary to Miss Ruth Nellis.
Covers were laid for fourteen.
The same evening Miss Mildred Shaw
entertained the teachers of Lincoln
school and a few other friends very
pleasantly.
Wednesday afternoon Miss Alice La
kin entertained very pleasantly in
honor of Miss Kate Holloway of Kan
playing progressive sixty-three.
The N. n. c. club was entertained the
same afternoon at the home of Mrs.
David Norton. The prize, a pretty pin.
was won by Miss Emily King. Miss
Vera Low will be the next hostess.
The Ladies' Music club held its reg
ular meeting Wednesday afternoon at
the home of Mrs J. w. Going. Mrs.
Frank Foster will be the next hostess.
In the evening Miss Anna Marie Mel
lis gave delightful chatting dish supper
for her cousin, Miss Ruth NeiliS. The
able was tastefully decorated with
yellow chrySanthemuns.
The same evening Mr.. and Mrs Clyde
Lawrence entertained the You and
club and number of guests very pleas
antly.
Thursday afternoon Mrs. w. B. Swan
gave an informal thimble party compli-
Hentary to her sister, Mrs. George Har-
riSOn, who goes to Kansas City soon to
live. The guests We're limited to the
members of a card club which met last
season.
The same afternoon Miss Mildred
Scott entertained informally for her
sister, Mrs. l.. B. Mackie, who leaves
next week for New Work.
In the evening Dr. and Mrs. l.. H
Mum gave an informal chatting dish
supper for Miss Ruth Nellis.
The Commisceos club enjoyed its reg
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

the creek. At any rate when we saw
him he was rather cool, and when we
told him of our project he said he
couldn't go until he had his breakfast;
and the upshot of the affair was that
neither Cohee nor Leonard went with
US.
when we got back near home we all
scattered to get breakfast, for we
thought we could not fight on an empty
stomach. After breakfast my uncle,
]. NJ. Cole, who was the captain,
buckled on his sword and got on his
horse and joined We marched
around Indianoia on the east, and as
we approached the town we noticed
that Dick Murphy was missing. As we
off towards the woods. We didn't know
what kind of q flank movement he was
trying to execute, but at any rate he
did not come back We stationed our
just across from the town, and soon
two men passed u.s. They were pro-
slavery adherents, and were on their
way to reinforce the town, but we did
not stop them. They rode into Indian
ola and reported that there was an
army across the creek, and that one
of the men had a Sharp'S rife, and
they were mortally afraid of Sharp's
rifles, though without much reason.
I'VE finally moved forward to the log
house near the bank of the creek where
we loaded our guns. I remember that
one of the guns had no ramrod and we
loaded two of them with one. 1t was
decided that before the beginning of
hostilities Captain Cole should ride up
and make demand for the arms which
had been taken from the FiederlingS-
He did so and met George Young of the
pro-slavery forces between the lines
The two men talked awhile and then
went over to the pro-slavery forces to
talk it over There We're the three Full
tons. Rolla, who was the first sheriff of
Jackson county, Cred and Church, a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16
Shawnee County Village
That Has Disappeared.
IndianOIa, Three Miles From
Topeka, Once Its Rival.
A FLOURISHING PLACE.
Business Center on Military and
Stage Road.
Kansas Pacific Originally Sur
veyed Through the Town.
Only an Old Hotel Left to Mark
the Site.
Business Center on Military and
Stage Road.
Kansas Pacific Originally Sur
veyed Through the Town.
Only an Old Hotel Left to Mark
the Site.

There are few people in Topeka who
know that there was a time and that
less than 10 years ago when Topeka
had very active rival in IndianOla.
fiourishing village which has since been
almost entirely obliterated from the
face of the earth. A single building
asst going to decay and used as
shelter for hogs and horses is all that
is left There are a few old citizens
OF Shawnee county who can recount
stories of this fiourishing little town but
it is believed that there are only two
of the actual residents of Indianola be-
fore the close of the war still alive and
residents of this county. They are q.
W. Higgin bothann, a prominent citizen
of Rossville and DR.. Samuel Ashmore,
a practicing physician of North Topeka.
1ndianola- was situated about half
mile west of the reform school near the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

Everybody reads the State Journal.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16


thusiasm was heightened when a con-
tractor arrived and gave the contract to
the citizens for cutting the ties for the
new road: There was plenty of timber
along Soldier Creek and the people of the
town and neighborhood went to work
with a will. The right of way had been
secured and the cutting of the ties was
done under the supervision of a man
named Jones, one of the railroad cOntrac-
tors. The ties were cut and delivered, but
when pay day came Mr.. Jones was not to
be found. And then the people heard that
Topeka had taken their railroad and it
was not long until new grade stakes were
driven, leaving IndianOla far to the north.
The people hitched up to their wagons
and hauled the ties home and built corn
cribs of them and their dream of great
ness was over. They said that Topeka had
more money than they did and made the
railroad promoters an offer they could not
refuse, but no matter how it was done
the Kansas Pacific railroad was built and
it did pass through Topeka and missed
Indianola three miles.
When the railroad had been completed
and trains were running the people simp
ly took their town and moved to Topeka.
The hotel was too large to move and so
it still stands a crumbling monument to
the town that was
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

Among the musical attractions to be
at the Auditorium this season are the
great Polish pianist. Slivinski, Innes'
band and Josef Hoffman
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

brought about 40 persons over from
Rossville to attend the Auditorium en-
tertainment Thursday evening.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

Miss Charlotte Maconda, who has
achieved great success as a singer in
London, Paris and New York, is about
to make a tour through the west, and
may be induced to come to Topeka. She
is a niece of Miss Carolyn B. Whittlesy
of this city.
One of the Junior music clubs is that
composed of about 20 young girls, and
called the Mason Music club, after the
eminent American pianist. They meet
for the study of the theory of music,
and are made familiar with the masters
by studying their portraits. The mem
bers of the club are pupils of Miss
Grace Mason WEIGH.
Miss Charlotte Parkhurst has begun
her musical studies in New York with
Mrs. Morgan.
Continued on Page SD
Everybody reads the State Journal.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

Miss Adeline Meek, the cornet soloist
of the Boston Ladies' Symphony orcheS-
ira, is a niece of Mrs. McCarter who
lives on Jefferson street of this city. Her
home is in California
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16

Mr. Joseph w. Wilcox will not sing at
the Methodist church hereafter, but will
sing in Ottawa next Sunday, and from
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
Alleged Fraud In school Book

Fort Dodge, Jan. 5.-A conscience
less school book agent has been do
ing an extensive business in the coun-
ties of northern Iowa by getting con-
tracts from school boards adopting
his books for five years. He tells all
kinds of fairy stories about his books,
one of which is that the county SUI
perintendent endorses them. 1t Is
said that, not satisfied with lies, he
offers pecuniary inducements to the
school boards. He has secured five
year contracts from dozens of school
boards in the different counties in
this vicinity. At recent teachers
convention discussion of the agents
tactics disclosed the swindling mis-
representations of the agent, and sew
eral school boards are seeking an
annulment of their fiye-year con-
tracts.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
WARSHIPS LAND GUNS.
Situation at Capetown Is Deemed
Highly Critical.

Cape Town, Jan. 3.-The British
battleship Monarch will land guns
today as precautionary measure
The situation is undoubtedly serious
1t is true that the Dutch have MT
Joined the invaders in any consider
BILE numbers, but lack of arms is
believed to be the true cause of ao-
stention. In many places horses are
freely offered and information read
lily supplied to the Beers.
The early proclamation of martial
law in the Cape Town division is ex.
pected. This division does not include
Cape Town itself.
The latest reports show the situa
ton to be generally as follows:
thurman, if still uninvested, prob
ably soon will be.
Griqualand West is filed with small
parties of Beers, who are WORKING
south toward Prieska, for the pur
pose of cooperating with or support.
ing Commandant Hertzog, whose ad.
vance parties are in the neighbor
hood of FTaserburg.
The Beers are close to Graaf Rel
net, where of late the Dutch have
given many demonstrations of ex
IRENE sympathy.
Cape Town, Jan. 3.-The invaders
have reached Glenn Harry, a few
miles north of Graaf Reinet, in the
heart of the disaffected portion Of
the colony.
Cradock, Cape Colony, Jan. "A
detachment of Beers entered Roode
hoogtc, south of Middleburg, January
!. 1t is believed this force is going
to GRAF Reinet. The telegram
lines are cut between Carnavon and
Somerset west and Steynsburg and
harrisburg.
In the eastern part of the colony
the advance guard of the Beers is
close to harrisburg, about twenty
five miles northeast of Cradock.
The general opinion here is that
the position is not properly apprc.
ciated in England. The Worcester
conference excited the Eutcb
throughout the colony. Many old
residents, who are by no means
alarmists, are agreed upon an up.
rising of the Dutch as quite likely.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
THE NEWS In IOWA
MRS. WRIGHT DEMANDS PAY.

Surprises Iowa Insurance Men by Com
ing to This State.
Des Moines, Jan. AIRS. Wright.
arrested at Pagosa Springs, Colo, for
the alleged murder of George Barber.
on suspicion that the crime was com.
mitted for the purpose of securing
the amount of insurance policies held
by the Annuity Life association of
Des Moines and similar institution
at Sioux City, and who was after
wards released, has shown her hand.
She has written a letter to the An
nuity association, demanding the
amount of the policy and intimatirg
that if it is not paid at once there is
trouble in store for the association.
The exact contents of the letter are
not disclosed, but enough is known
to form an idea of the substance said
to be in the nature of n threat.
When Mrs. Wright and the man
Neff, who was with her at the time
Barber so mysteriously died, were re.
leased it was believed she would
make no application for the payment
of the policies and the letter received
by Manager Baker of the Annuity
Life comes in the character of a d.
rect surprise. Parties interested in
the case were of the opinion Wright
and Neff would not dare to enter
Iowa and make their whereabouts
known to the associations.
The fact that the letter was post
marked at an Iowa station, and the
further fact that there is no attempt
being made to keep the matter quiet
is an evidence that they are not
afraid of prosecution either by Tie
Annuity Life or the association at
SinnlN. Cit,-
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
VETERINARY BOARD REPORTS.



Des Moines, Jan. 3-The Iowa board
of veterinary examiners has CLOSED
it's registration books, after register,
ing about 400 non-graduate and rs
graduate veterinaries. The exact
number cannot be known at present
but it is estimated at n total of
little less than 600. The official reg
lister will be issued in about two
months.
The registration by veterinaries
with the state board of examiners
was made necessary by the enact
ment of new law along these lines
by the Twentieth general assembly
which makes it unlawful for a prac
titioner, after January /, to follow
tered with the board, orr unless he
is graduate of legally chartered
and authorized college at the time
of the passage of the act, or holds {
diploma from such an institution dat
ed prior to 1901 and has registered
with the board.
In the future no certificates au'
thorizing the practice of veterinary
surgery, medicine or dentistry will be
issued until the applicant has beer
examined and declared proficient by
the board of veterinary examiners
The penalty for a violation of the law
is fine of not less than SIS nor more
than 500, or Imprisonment in the
county Jail for not more than thirty
6nyS
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
NEWS in GENERAL
DIRECT ACTION FAVORED.
Americas Attitude as to Chinese In
hemnifY.

Americas Attitude as to Chinese In
demnity.
Washington, Jan. 5.-The state de-
partment is making strong effort to
secure an understanding among the
powers to serve as a basis Tor adjust
ment of the question of indemnity
to be paid by the Chinese govern
ment. 1t appears from Mr.. Conger's
reports that it is hopeless to expect
the foreign ministers at Picking to
reach an agreement on this impor-
tant subject, and if the problem is to
be solved at all, it must be removed
from the Picking council and dealt
with by direct diplomatic exchange
as was successfully attempted in the
Ease of the preceding serious differ
ence between the ministers. There
fore the state department is in cor
respondence with other foreign
offices respecting the subject, though
the negotiations have not proceeded
to point where it can be said that
successful termination is in sight.
The principal difficulty in the way
is believed to be the enormous in
demnity demanded by some of the
powers.
The efforts of the Chinese govern
ment to secure better terms, so far
es they tend to protract the nego-
tiations, are also expected to have
the result of adding considerably to
the sum total which must be paid
in the end. This is because the ex-
pense of maintaining the foreign mil
itary establishments in China PROB
ably will be assessed against the Chi
nese government, and the cost of
keeping foreign troops in Picking at
this season of the year, and in coun-
try where every necessary of life has
to be transported from a distance,
will make the bill very heavy. 1t is
believed that the bill of Germany
will be by far the largest, and it is
a significant fact that the German
government has allowed it's officers
on service in China fve-fold their
regular salaries, rate of pay hith-
erto unknown in military history.
The Chinese, however, are expected
to pay for this.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10

A secret society called the Home
Makers has a large membership among
the foreigners in the mining districts
of Pennsylvania. The purpose Of the
organization is to provide and main
tain pleasant homes for its members
and those dependent upon them, and
as gossipy, careless wives and mothers
are held by them to be the cause OF a
majority of the unhappy ,ill-kept homes
and neglected children, the society be-
lieves the members have a right to use
every possible means to see that their
homes ar not neglected. A member
who corrects his wife by beating her
must do so only after all other means
TO induce her to do her duty have
failed. The society pays for the de-
tense of its members when arrested for
wife beating, and in case Of conviction
pays the fine.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
KRUPP FIELD GUNS TAKEN.
German Troops Capture Chinese War
Implements.

Tien-Tsin, Jan. THE German eX-
petition which started Christmas for
Tien-Cheng-Hsu, under command of
Colonel Grcuder, has returned. Col
onel Greuder reports the capture of
forty-three Krupp field guns ana the
destruction of 1000 rifles and large
quantities of ammunition.
Paris, Jan. THE foreign Office
is advised from Shanghai, under date
of January 3, that advices from Sian
HUI confirms the report of the exc
cution of Yu-Hsien (tne former gov
ernor of Shan-liai, guilty of massa-
creing about fifty missionaries whom
he had invited to accept protection
under his care) December 10 by or
der of the dowager empress. Prince
Tuan is still at Ning-Hia.
New York, Jan. IA special to
the Herald from Washington says:
"Your correspondent has obtained
copies of important DEGREES issued
by the ear of Russia which go to
show that the st. Petersburg gov
eminent contemplates no departure
from the policy of evacuating Man
churia as soon as circumstances per-
nit. These DEGREES, which are in
the form of instructions to military
and naval commanders, further show
that the ear has been strenuous in
his efforts to prevent looting or i'll
treatment of the inhabitants of the
territory occupied by his troops.
Shanghai, Jan. IA dispatch re.
ceived here from Tien-Tsin says Field
Marshal Count Won Walaersee has or.
dered his staff to cease hostilities,
but that some of the commanders
have not been informed of these in.
structions. 1t is explained that they
are in the field after the Boxers.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10
ANXIETY AT CAPErOWN.
Beers Moving In Parallel Columns
Sweeping the Country.


Cape Town, Jan. 4.-The military
authorities are preparing for all con.
tinsencies. 1t has been decided 10
transfer the Boer prisoners from
the camps to transports.
Farmers coming in from Carnavor
describe the Beers as travelling in
parallel columns with numerous
flanking parties sweeping the coun
try of horses, plundering loyalists
and carrying off everything eatable.
1t appears that they are accompan
led by strings of pack horses lightly
loaded.
Colesburg telegraphs that Krit
fingers commando is crossing the
Middleburg, but is getting few, if
any, recruits.
The commercial companies have
asked the mayor to call mass meet.
ing to urge the government to sup
press the disloyal newspapers and to
proclaim martial law.
Cape Town, Jan. A station mas
ter of the Frazerburg road has seiz
ed a number of cases marked econ
densed milk" addressed to Frazer
burg, which contained 5000 split bull
let's, 500 detonators and $50 pounds
of dynamite.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-10

In Vienna there is a school for wait
ers. The first course is devoted to
theoretical exposition of the art OF
serving at table. When the pupils
have sufficiently mastered the princi-
pies of the art, they are allowed to
practice on two ladies and two gen.
tlemen in evening dress who dine at
one table. The professor watches the
operation, and sharply calls the waiter
to account if he uses an ordinary cork
screw instead OF an automatic one.
or carelessly puts his finger in the
soup. If he should be without gloves,
he is shown how to conceal the fact
by means OF the seryiette, and so
forth. There are 1900 pupils in this
school alone.