The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-03
NO MARTIAL LAW.
Sheriff and Deputies Have So Far
Handled Situation.

Topeka. Kan. June 2.-Martial law is
NOT to be declared in North Topeka and
the other flooded districts until it is
found that Sheriff Lucas and his depu-
ties are unable to cope with conditions.
AS Sheriff Lucas is confident that he viii
| be able to do so, il is not considered likely
that the soldiers will be called out.
BY those who have bbeen through a
state of martial law it is not considered
a good thing for ii to be declared unless
conditions become even much worse than
they are sure to be as soon as the flood
recedes. 1t would give the town black
eve TO the world at large and be slap
at the police force and sheriff. Besides
those two drawbacks. it would greatly
hinder the work of rebuilding and clean
ing up of North Topeka.
One of the first things which is to be
done is to have police patrol boats sta
toned at various points in North Topeka
to watch and see that there is no loot
ing. Several of these have already been
sent out Each of these boats is loaded
with several men, all heavily armed, and
they have with them sufficient provisions
to last for several days. 1t will be their
duty to stay at the central points and If
ANYTHING suspicious occurs to investi-
gate it.
AS soon as the water goes down far
enough TO allow mounted men TO make
the rounds. detachments of them will be
detailed over the entire district Ed.
Pavey who up until a few weeks ago
was one of the detectives on the city
police force, is to have charge Of the
detachment in North Topeka. Ed. Wood
ruff has already been assigned and with
five men under him gone to work in Oak
land. Men will also be detailed to Auburn
dale and to the territory about Crane
street These men will all be under COM
petent leadership and will see that there
is no destruction of property or footing
of business houses or dwellings
The militiamen will be assigned TO
the bridges and it will be their duty 10
see that no one save those who have
business in North Topeka and who can
be identified is allowed to cross. This
will greatly facilitate the work of the
deputy sheriffs an the North Side and
will not give an opportunity to the ghoUls
and thugs to get across in the easy and
regular manner.
That there has been considerable loot
ing of flooded houses in North Topeka
is now considered the truth. 1t appears
from thu stories told by the rescued as
we'll as those who have been working
over there that there is more than one
person engaged in this business. A man
who has been using a blue boat, however
seems to be the greatest offender. Re
ports of his depredations are the most
general and he has narrowly escaped
death by being shot on several occasions.
Officer Macintosh was one of the men who
went after him and another party went
over the river yesterday in a boat ex-
pressly TO get him. There is a man on
the North Side who has been using blue
beat and doing heroic work in taking
provisions and other supplies to the ma
rooned people. but the people who bring
the reports of footing say there is no
question but that the men are different
ones.
Sheriff Lucas made the request yester-
day that all business men secure the
services OF watchmen TO care for their
stores and places of business. lie asked
that these men be placed in the stores
where they could watch for fire, as well
as a protection against thieves. The
watchmen viii give the police and sher-
ifs force full rein to work in the dis
tricts where they are most needed.