The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-18
AN EARLY DAY STREET EIGHT

Z
The most exciting fight East Douglas
avenue ever saw occurred in front Of
Smythe's implement store in the early
eighties. Not very many people remem-
Der it, because not much was said about
it at the time. For several weeks there
was a reign Of thuggery in Wichita.
Hold-ups and house breaking was Of
nightly Occurrence and the police sought
to stop it. Jim Cairns was then city
marshal and Doc WorraT was his deputy
One day Doc WorraH told his chief that
he thought he had three men spotted
who were doing most of the criminal
work. Their room was located in the
second story Of the building recently oc-
cupied by Carvin 6, Spar on the corner
Of Douglas and Lawrence avenues.
Marshal Cairns and his deputy concluded
to lay for them one night, the marshal
hiding in the bed Of one OF Smythes
wagons TO watch the front entrance, and
Doc hiding in a crockery crate in the
alley in rear of the building. About 2
o'clock n man came sneaking into the
alley and began unloading a lot of silver
ware in a secret corner under the rear
stairway. Doc could hardly get out Of
the crate without alarming the robber.
but he finally did so and. placing his re-
volver at the mans head, said:
''What have you got?"
"Plunder." was the 1aconic reply.
Doc gave a low whistle, which was a
signal to his chief. and Cairns responded
They took a busheI OF silver spoons. nap
kin rings. jewelry and other valuables
from the robber and placed him in charge
{ 4,1rs -,
the cooler, allowed him to escape.
Doc and Cairns waited for the other two
men to show up. After long while Doc
slipped over TO where Cairns was, told
him that as the sinner had risen. the
robbers would not return till morning.
and they would better go home.
AS they were about to part. Doc saw
man walking down the middle Of Douglas
avenue. whose appearance and dress
tailed to dot with one Of the robbers
Cairns crossed to the north side of the
street. while Doc remained on the south
side and walked until the got the man be-
tween them so they could close in and
capture him.
At the proper time Doc told him TO
throw I'd his hands. He pulled a gun and
fired. the bullat splitting WorralTs hat
instantly n fusillade began. Cairns and
Worrau firing At the man and he alter
nately firing ~ them. Every revolver was
ernptied with the exception Of Worran's.
and he had only one shot left The cup
posed robber. having no more ammuni-
ton threw Up his hands and was placed
under arrest.
My God. mem" he asked. are you
officers
They told him they were.
He told them hat he thought they we're
highvaymen holding him up. and he ex-
planned that he was a telegraph operator
in The Eagle Office and vas going home
They brought him 70 The Eagle Office.
where he was identified. having worked
there al night until ten minutes before
He was nice. honest fellow. hut un-
fortunately. IVES dressed that night al
most exactly Ike one q the three robbers
who roomed on the corner OF Douglas ana
Lawrence avenues Apologies were made
al around. and the operator was released
Jim Cairns and Dec wo-rall say % this
DAY that il was the hardest fsht they
ever had during thei- experience On the
force. Doc Worrslis ear was powder
burned the frs shot. his hat was SPLIT
open the second and the buckle = jim
( Cairns helt vas shot or the thiri one
/ - the operators bullets went throush 4
bank window. through a counter and Wls
found n the cashiers drawer in the
morning His Tat vas shot twice and bull
Z lets went through his clothes 4 couple OK
times u was great rnarkesu'ar ship on
F both sides. and 81 VS. 2 miracle that AZ
( least oue q the three men wasn't
T KIDD