The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-31
NO INDIANS GAME.
Stage Coach Wandered About
Streets UnmOIested.
Fierce Fiery Red Men We're
Evidently Afraid.
CROWD WAS LARGE.
Several Thousand People Wait
ed in Rain for Attack.
Soldiers Amuse Themselves by
Shooting at Each Other.
Rain Interferes With Parade
The Programme.

The wild, wicket, vicious, viIlainous
Indians who were to attack the Wells
Fargo stage coach as it made it's peri
/ lous flying trip down Kansas avenue at
II o'clock this morning, got scared just
at the time they were to be killed, and
despite the fearful appealing prayers of
w. Scott Bird, their chieftain, they
would not fight. So it was decided to
give them another chance. The Wells
Fargo people have consented to let the
redskins make another deadly assault
upon their coach on Thursday after
noon, in division six of the trades pa
rade, where the fight will actually be
pulled off. This division will be COM
posed of the entire Wells-Fargo equip
ment and promises to be one of the
features of the display. A company of
regulars have been obtained to again
guard the coach. and the Semi-Centen-
! NAL committee will at once go to work
to find a chief and some good Indians
who will really turn up at the scene
| of the fracas.
1 More than 5000 people were crowded
! about the corners of Seventh street
and Kansas avenue waiting for the
fight, which was scheduled for half
/ past ten. MarshalPs band took its
place in the stand in front of the Ma
tional hotel and helped out the tedium
| with a. concert. Rain began to fall just
| about that time, but the crowd was
undaunted and stood in the rain, wait
ing A few of the fOrtunates had
| brought their umbrellas. Chief of PO-
lice Stahl had all of his available men
| around to push back the crowd, and he
| was aided by Fire Chief Wilmarth with
1 two of his crews, and about dozen
regular soldiers. But it was like suck
ing back water and it is a miracle that
no one was hurt when the run was fin
ally made.
The young Americans, and they were
plentiful, lodged about under the feet
of the horses utterly oblivious to the
danger in which they were. The crowd
was too big for the sidewalks of four
blocks to hold. The windows of the ad-
joining stores were filed with onloOlk-
ers and the roof tops held another con-
tingeut.
Just at II o'clock the first run of the
coach was made. A skirmish line of
soldiers preceded at full gallop and
then came the old coach, looking as
natural as a Remington sketch. Inside
were number of Topeka people, in
Guiding Mayor Bergundthal, Frank
Foster, J. T. Lytle and P. 3. Henry,
the latter two of the Wells-Fargo COM
pany. On the top Of the coach were
J. E. Wilson, the driver, dressed in
the picturesque garb of a Mexican with
sombrerO, leather OVer-breeches and
all, by his side Frank Root, who Al
years ago was a Wells-FargO employe
and was an actual shotgun messenger
l on LnG Olu COaGn IN LnOSG Gays. bGnluu
the two sat Gordon King and r. s..
Brimer, armed with big shotguns and
dressed in blue flannel shirts and wide
brimmed hats, a la cowboy. The run
ended at Fifth street and a wait was
made for somebody to scare up the In
dians. After is minutes search not a
redslxin could be found Back came the
coach again, this time the soldiers and
guards firing at each other with blank
cartridges. Again a hunt was made
for the aborigines, and again it was
fruitless. Back came the coach for its
third run, the soldiers again making
targets of one another with their
blank cartridges. The Indians were
given three chances to attack the stage
and each time they failed to get up
enough courage. The Semi Centennial
committee is still hunting for them to-
night but the chances are about 10 to 1
that they viii never be found. They
were to have come from WeStpOrt,
Mo, and w. A S. Bird and Bob Sem
pie We're to have been the big chiefs.
Upon inquiry it was discovered that
Mr.. Bird is not even in the city.
So the coach was taken back to the
! livery barn and the promoters Of the
l / fight repaired to the city building for
consultation It was decided to have
| another fight on Thursday and at this
time redskins will actually be there.
! III see to it," said J. B. McAfee, one
l of the guards of the coach We'll
have some, just tell the people So
But the crowd enjoyed it. There is
nothing under the sun that pleases peo-
= pie better than a crowd of regular sol
diers on horseback in their natty uni
forms and care free riding. For that
matter the soldiers seemed to have just
as much fun out of it as anybody. They
goOd-naturedly put the crowd back for
! the run, and then came down pell-
.. nell laughing and shooting as though
= it was the most enjoyable thing which
they ever did in their lives. The crowd
8 stood on the streets for over an hour
3 to watch the battle and enjoyed it.
4 It is likely that a special attempt will
4 be made to give the crowd more chance
to see the soldiers This. seems to be
popular At the Commercial club
rooms. a number of the members Ol
the committee got together to discuss
the matter this morning and it is like
: ly that some special arrangements viii
s be made tomorrow to get the soldiers
y down on the streets. On Thursday
: morning they will give a sham battle
a at the fair grounds and this is looked
> forward to by both visitors and the
people of this city as one of the fea-
tures of the festivities
Parade Is Postponed.
The Old Settlers parade scheduled
g for this morning at IL o'clock was post
+ poned until Thursday on account O.
y | the rain. 1t will be the sixth division
4 Of the Industrial parade at 1870 p. m
= The Programme.
s Following is the programme for to
d night and the remainder of the week
EVENING=S:15 O'CLOCK.
Auditorium.
Stereopticon views of old Kansa
= scenes and people. Explanatory re
marks by 7. A McNeal-