The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-22
Interesting "reminiscences of
the Late Mother Bickerdyke.
She Built and Kept a Hotel at
Salina.
FOUR FAMOUS MEN.
Grant, Sheridan, Sherman and
Meade at Her Table.
Story of an Indian Raid and
WHAT Caused 1t.

Many interesting stories are told of the
late Mother Bickerdyke, whose memory
will always be revered by the union veter-
ans of the civil war, but no incident better
illustrates the resourcefulness of her char
acter than a story of d Kansas Indian raid
as told by Mrs Julia A Chase of H1a-
watha in sketch of Mother Bickerdyke,
read before the annual meeting of the
State Historical society.
Mother Bickerdyke interested herself af-
ter the war in getting the thousands of
soldiers. just out of the army, located She
induced many of them TO come to Kansas
and settle and did a great deal towards
making Kansas "old soldier state.
She herself came with them and settled
Vt Salina, where she built a hotel whlch
vas known for years as the "Blckerdyk e
House" 1t is still doing service and is
well patroniZed. though it has been known
for several years as the Monteur hotel.
Sheridan and Meade sat together at her
table in Salina. Gen Sheridan was a fire.
quent visitor there when he was stationed
In her sketch of Mother Bickerdyke,
.sThe Cheyennes and Arapahoes and
other hostile tribes of Indians made liv-
several years after the war of the. rebel
lion. They resented being crowded from
dened by dishonest dealings of the whites
and by the fire water which civilization
reservations, they would sweep over the
country for hundreds of miles carrying
dreadful raids occurred in 1868, while Mrs.
Bickerdyke was keeping her hotel in Sa-
lima She says of this:
Five barrels of whisky and a dozen
white sllalawags caused it
These men had passed through Sailna
route to the Indian reservations to Sc
cure furs. They had stopped over night
some valuabies in her care to be called
for on their return One Sunday afternoon
lips and Mrs BickerdySe rode out of town
about three miles to the top OF a peculiar
from Soldier Cap is extensive and fine As
they stood enjoying the scene they saw
an Indian horseman galloping toward
on the neck of the horse and the man
was waving both hands above his head
col. Phillips. who had been in COM
mand of Indian troops during the civil
. It's a Cheyenne He brings bad news.
There's mischief abroad
He signalled the rider to him and in
the strange but expressive pantomime of
fire water. Get Indian drunk Get In
olaRs i indeed And 1 1nd f s
and gave the alarm, and while Col Phil
lips Hurried westward to meet and, if pos
Others teIegraphed to Gov. Crawford. who
arrival. he raised and headed a company
of volunteers to go to the scene of the
when the train. on which were the un-
scrupulous pale faces reached Salina
from the west, Mrs Bickerdyke was pre-
pared to meet them and also detain them
The men called for their watches, which
had been placed in the hotel safe Mrs
inquired about their trip; how far out they
went; the crop prospects and hundred
other things of apparently vital import
ance to her, but exasperating to the hur-
ried traveerS, as all her Sociability delayed
her in her search for the key to the safe.
At last when the key was found it
wouldn't unlock the safe.
. Somebody's been meddling,' she said.
j beats how a body bothered
in a hurry
The men lost their patience and swore
at her for a stupid, but she assured them
that there was time enough-the train
wouldn't go for an hour. Before the hour
was up the safe was unlocked-the lock
and key We're really in perfect order-and
the watches were delivered, but just then
the sheriff happened % in with United
'sThe Indians dashed up to within SO
short distance of the town that they
were fired upon from the third story win
dowS of the Bickerdyke hotel. A small
brass cannon called a bull dog was also
turned loose upon them, and the recep-
ton was so unexpectedly spirited that
they beat a hasty retreat. They made
cruel raid, however From the Saline
river to the Republican the settlements
were utterly laid waste.
"On his return to Topeka, Gov. Craw-
ford sent a dispatch to the president pro-
posing to raise volunteers to meet the ex-
igency. He concluded his dispatch thus:
The savage devils have become intol-
cradle and must and shall be driven out
of the state. Gen Sheridan is doing and
has done all in his power to protect the
people. but he is powerless for want of
troops. If volunteers are needed l will
If desired, furnish the government all that