The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-04-18

around the south end of the building.
| We were To iali upon the guard, regard
'oss Of whether he was a government oil J
fetal or Zion guard In the ease o. his
being the former, we would apologize
and call it Joke. but in the latter ease.
we would take tn keys from the lone
watch and force an entrance to the ilil.
If the boys werc t.ere.
Thel We approached the guard. II,
saw us coming and as we were ah'ut
to rush upon him he called out deer
lily,
did any of you fellows succeed in
getting into the meeting?"
We recognized the grizzly beard OF our
told our troubles and then he said that
the boys were not locked up but were
being held inside the building until train
! time and would then be escorted to the
train and sent TO Chicago. We made a
demand for them and upon promising
that they would not be allowed to re-
main in the city limits longer than time
enough to get out, they were released
and there was much rejoicing.
But, there was a pitched battle when
Collins left the tabernacle. lie was dis
covered without any effort. His notes
were taken from him, lie was tied with
ropes and, although a big man, he was
carried kicking and screaming to the
Jail The boys who were there to re-
lease him were absolutely helpless. II
would have been folly to have attempt
ed to rescue him. They were outnum-
bcred four to one.
But they could not keep Collins from
making good use of his mouth. The
boys walked along in the rear. ready at
any moment to make quick defense il
they were attacked. and listened to
Collins as he called out to them what
had been done in the meeting. In vain
the guards tried to cover his mouth and
gag him, but each time lie freed his
tongue long enough to tell the story in a
way that reporters, familiar with the
situation could understand it. We prom
ised to protect his paper and hurriedly
made our way to the telegraph Office
The depot was on railroad property, and
the Western Union Office was located
there. We felt absolute safety in that
place and got together in pool and de-
tailed all of our experiences. Collins
story was put on the wire first and
then the rest of lis followed.
The following morning, the Chicago
papers had the most sensational story
of thrilling experiences that ever came
out of Zion. We were all heroes but we
had earned the reputation and without
exception, requested that our papers
send men to relieve us. We had been
without food for nearly SO hours, were
denied the hospitality of even wood
shed and even the United States off
Gals, who were in custody of the entire
city, refused to intervene in our behalf
But Collins was released before morn
ing. The papers in the city joined in a
telegram addressed to Or" Dowie, re-
questing that he release the reporter at
once. The message was shown to him
and he refused. We wired his reply to
the Chicago papers. Then came the most
peremptory message that ever came
from the combined press of the city Of
Chicago. 1t read, as near as can re
member:
"Release Collins Immediately upon re-
ceipt of this message or the combined
press of this country will expose and
destroy you."
Collins was released and went home
with the rest of us.
Mote: Next week the Herald will
continue this series of Dowie articles.
dealing particularly with personal rem
iniscences of the man himself, together
with complete exposure of his Austral-