Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-10-17
PAWNEE ROCKS SHAME.
Toughs Of the Town Act Most Disgrace
fully to Mennonite Visitors.

Toughs Of the Town Act Most Disgrace
fully to Mennonite Visitors.
We are In receipt~of the following
letter from Mr.. H. P. KrehbIel mana.
ger OF the Western Book and Publish
ing Co. at Newton. number of the
Mennonite citizens of this county who
| were present. have also spoken to Us
| about the disgraceful affair, and we
deem it but justice to the decent citi.
zens OF Pawnee Rock to give space to
| MIR. Krehbiel's letter. and also the
article from the Newton Republican.
Personally. we have noticed that there
are lot of very unruly and ungentle.
manly young toughs in that town-a
gang of boys such as would not be
permitted to perpetrate their roudyism
In any other town in this county,
EDITOR BARTON Co. DEMOCRAT:
DEAR SIR:-Enclosed you will find a
copy of the Evening Kansan Republican
of this city, with an account of rowdy-
Ism displayed by ruffian element of the
Pawnee Rock citizens. As Iwas nv.
self one of the party thus grossly in
| suited l with essed this shameful con-
duct of these rufhans. Had only small
boys participated In this attack it
would not seem quite so bad. but
young men of 20 years and more. seem
ed to be the leaders.
That such disgraceful affair should
| be permitted in an American enlighten.
ed ehmmunity seems impossible, and
l do not believe that there are many
such communities.
1t is not likely that the better part
of the Pawnee Rock citizens can
be Indifferent about this matter, and
by bringing this matter to their atten.
ton it is to be hoped that they will
make an effort toward the moral ele-
vation of the rufian element in their
mi DIST. / am
Respectfully yours.
H. P. KREHBIEL,
Editor Post & Volksblatt.
Following is the clipping from the
Newton Republicans:
From the report of the Newtonis ms
who attended the sessions of the Men,
MONTE conference at Pawnee Rock
:his week, it would seem that mum.
ber of the Inhabitants of that village
have almost as little appreciation of
the demands of courtesy and common
decency as the most degenerate sPeci.
| mems of savages and barbsriaDs.
The Mennonites came to Pawnee
Rock at the invitation of the members
of a congregation which worsnips in a
church four miles from town. Repre-.
sentatives of scores of churches in
| Kansas, Nebraska, and other states
were among the delegates and their
| mission was a worthy one. The mem
bers OF this sect are everywhere known
| to be quiet and peaceabie citizens and
| not in the least inclined to be aggres
slve or quarrelsome. This. however,
did not deter a crowd of hoodIums
from insulting the delegates as they
aiighted from the cars at the Pawnee
Rock station. The visitors were sub
jected to many indignites. offensive
names being applied to them and jeer
ing remarks made Not contt Mt with
abusing the reverend gentlems n with
words. the roughs threw stones, tin
cans and other missiles at the visitors,
who did not retaliate either by words
or by action. u. Krehbiel of this
| city was struck on the side by stone
and painfully hurt. Had the rock
struck him about the head he would
have been knocked senseless and per
haps badly injured. Another member
OF the party. Newtonian, was cut by
a tin can which struck bis hand.
Others received injuries which fortu
nately were not serious.
The hoodlums followed their victims
through town and did not cease their
prosecutions until the Mennonites had
been taken out of town by the friends
whose guests they were to be during
the conference. What the motive of
these rowdies was in thus attacking
without the least provocation a com
pany of strangers is difficult to under
stand. Undoubtedly the town must
include among its inhabitants an eIe
ment without which it would be vastly
better off. 1t is to be hoped that the
better class of citizens discountenanced
the actions of the toughs. though no
explanations or apologies were made