The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-10
HER COMPENSATION.
A Pledge to Sell No Whisky in
the Dining Cars
An Interesting Story Published
in New York Sun.

tracks out on the Hackensack mead
Ows in a manner which the manage
ment of the railroad say is inexpiicable.
Mrs. Carrie Nation, H. D., of Kansas,
was one of the passengers. After the
accident she Jared the officials of the
railroad and the other passengers who,
like herself, had escaped serious injury.
much more than the accident itself had
disturbed them.
Fifteen or twenty persons were hurt
by the accident Some of them were
knocked unconscious and many were
faint and in great pain. Some quick
Witted person ran to the dining car o.
the train, which had not left the rails.
grabbed two bottles of whisky and sup
piled the contents thereof literally to
the wounded and frightened Mrs. Ma
ton promptly threw Il fit that for vio-
lence and general incoherence was right
UP to the Home Defender standard. She
bounced her fat person uD and down
the rows of helpless victims of the ac-
cident, begging them not to soil their
immortal souls by tasting the vile po1s-
on, and threatening those who were ad-
miniStering the stimulant with present
bodily chastisement and future dan9la-
ton.
She was not regarded with great con-
sideratiOn, so she went out the path
by the side of the track to call the DO
lice to help her to stop the preparation
of the outrage. She found there a young
man passenger trying to calm his
nerves with cigarette. 1t took Carrie
about six seconds to decide that he was
the modern Jonah who had caused the
interruption of her journey to Mauch
Chunk. where she was going to deliver
q lecture.
No wonder the good God visited his
wrath upon u.s. said she, planting her
self square in front of the young man.
He did not think her interesting and
tried to walk around her.
hoo hot cot
MANI" she asked. I said that it was
no wonder the wrath of God hit this
train"
1T did, all right. . said the young man,
to foot with great elaboration. Then he
turned on his heel to walk the other
way. Carrie joggled around to the other
side of him and smiled al him broadly,
If not winningly.
My dear" said she, throw away
that cigarette"
No. thanks" said the young man.
Then I WILL" said the reformer lady,
and she reached out her gentle hand and
yanked it from his lips and hurled it al
the H2ckensack meadows before the
young man knew what had happened
Thank you" said she Now, young
man, 1 want you to come and help me
make those brutal scoundrels in there
stop pouring rum down the threats of
those helpless men and women who have
been hurt" The young man shook his
head and made a flying escape out into
the meadows, leaping from tussock to
tussock in the swamp until he found one
big enough to perch on so that he
could smoke another cigarette in peace.
Carrie could not follow his antelope
like course.
When the bruised were bandaged and
the one or two who were hurt badly
enough 20 be taken to the St Francis
hospital in Jersey City had been cared
for, a special train was sent out from
Jersey City to take the Black Diamonds
But Carrie wouldn't go. She wanted
TO see the officials of the railroad
Mauch Chunk could wait. The accident
had shaken uD the contents of Carries
teeming brain, and there was something
do.n=.
She appeared not long after the ac-
cident in the Office of the claim agent OF
the railroad in Jersey City She said
that everybody told her that he was the
man she wanted to see.
I was in that accident that happened
10 your travelling gin mill out here, ;"
she began. Il tell you it's crime The
curse of rum, my brother, and of cigar
ettes-"
Your name. madame" said Mr.. Sol
ndav
why. say, young man." said his Wis
itor. in unassumed astonishment. don't
you know me2 I'm Carrie Nation
Home Defender. III give you my auto
graph find that it is considered an
interesting souvenir. Now as 1 was
saying, the curse of rum
Were you hurt in the accident, mad
am asked the claim agent.
why, of course I was That's what
I was going to talk to you about My
poor heart was bruised and almost
broken by the way rum was poured out
on that train. The devil could not have
done his own work better if he had been
on earth to attend to it himself
Did you receive any direct injuries
to your person. madam inquired Mr..
Solliday, eying a long list of callers
in limo in,
L suppose" said Mrs. Nation, with an
expression of sighted dignity that a
man who will let his assistants sell
rum TO the innocent thinks it is right to
insult innocent ladies when they come
TO him to save his soul from hell and
rum. but"
How much money do you claim for
your damages, madam" asked Mr..
Il don't want a cent" she said. ali
good humcr and pleading smiles again.
I've got little cut here on the back
of my head and another on nv. shoulder
They don't count 1 won't show them
TO you, because L do hate to undress
even for doctor, and you're nothing
but lawyer. But I won't charge you
q cent for the hurt you did to my body
I went lose a cent. I can get to Mauch
Chunk in plenty Of time to keep all my
agements, and that Is all Tight BuN
] just came down to ask this one favor.
In consideration of my not suing you
for anything, and you know 1 could if
I wanted to. / want you to make me
Just one little promise
Surely, madam" said Mr.. Solliday.
Mrs. Nation Continued:
1T has always hurt my feelings to have
dining cars made into travelling gin mills
the way all railroads do l want you to
smash every bottle of rum on your rail-
road and never let another drop be car
ried into one Of your trains. Now, you
will. won't you? Do it for my sake"
But our passengers ask for it, protest.
ed Mr. Solliday.
That's the Devil asking for them. You
ouRhtn't to let them have everything they
ask for. Now. please, went you SMASH
your rum bottles? Let me do it, she