The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-22
NORTH SIDE Ne VS.
In Topeka Forty-Two Years
Ago Today.
FOUGHT Describes Arrival in
Sand Storm.
WIND BLEW HARD.
Build 5000 Motor Boat for Use
on Raw.
"Child Needs Direction Not Sub
jection"-ReY. Cole.

This is the forty-second anniversary
of the arrival of ]. H. FOUGHT in To-
peka from Sandusky, o. Mr.. FOUGHT
remembers the details of that long ago
even as well as girl of eighteen re-
calls her first love affairs. He says
that that day was much like today,
only colder and windier.
About noon forty-two years ago
today, I got off of the train at what
was then the passenger depot for the
Kansas Pacific, now the freight depot
for the Union Pacific. AS I stepped
from the cars a gust of cold wind
blew a cloud of white sand into my
face.
1.-THE stuff smarted and gave me
disagreeab1e impression of Kansas, but
pulled my broad-brimmed hat down
over my eyes and grasping my old
fashioned oilcloth grip. trudged on.
Between the depot and the river was
my face continually.
"As I crossed the old pontoon
bridge I thought that the wind would
blow me off. I had never felt the
favorably impressed with Kansas And
by the way, I had also been disap-
pointed before getting here. I had
heard so much of the levelness of
Kansas, but when I saw the bluffs be-
tween Kansas City and Topeka I
thought it wasn't nearly as level as
the country I had left.
with these reflections in mind I
walked up Kansas avenue. By this
time I was getting hungry. 1 stopped
nue-on the northeast corner. Then
Father Laurent, father of Mrs. J. B.
Billiard, was running candy stand
and I bought a popcorn ball from him.
The building still stands.
ct stopped at the old Gordon house
for while. It was on the site of the
present Throop hotel and was a COM
Portable two story brick building.
hotel and had dinner, but for while
felt that I was very young and a
long ways from home.
'dThe following Monday I was en-
gagged to teach school If it had not
been for that 1 would have likely re-
turned home Why did come? I
had heard so much of the west and
decided to locate in Topeka. Here
We're several relatives, Jake Smith
Frank Frank Tom and William Whitmere.
The Whitmere men are now dead"
A motor boat to cost $500 is being
built by the North Topeka Cycle COM
pany for use on the Kaw. It will be
Ioneaof the largest and most elaborateAg
finished of any seen on the Kansas
river here. It will 20 feet long. but de-
signed not to draw more than IL inches
of water with IL passengers A 1910
horse power gasoline engine will be in
stalled. 1t is calculated that the boat
will make 20 miles an hour in still wa
ter.
1t is of the type known as the Michi-
gan steel boat. It will be trimmed with
brass and carry curtains after the style
of an automobile hood. These Will be
furnished with isinglass windows and
arranged to buckle down over the sides,
thus making d coy cabin in rainy
weather.
down the Kaw to Kansas City and per-
haps further
A party was given at the home of r.
M. Bowerman of 1921 Central avenue
last flight in honor of Mr.. Bowerman
who will leave Saturday night for Chi
cago to engaged in civil engineering
work He has been craftsman at the
Capital Iron works for about a year.
Miss Bessie Bowerman, his sister, will
remain in Topeka to finish her year out
In the high school. Those present at
the party were: Mr.. and Mrs. F. b.
Denny, Mr.. and Mrs. A. E. Lee, Mr.. and
Mrs Raw Diffenderfer, Mr. and Mrs.
IrI Boyce, Miss Bess Bowerman, Miss
Marie Bobb, Miss Gertrude Hannah
Miss frankie Ward, Miss Ruth Emert,
Miss Edna Kincaid, Miss Hazel Kin
caid, Miss Marjarie Cole, Mr.. Don Bobb,
Mr.. Edgar Critics, Mr.. Leland Schenk
i. Ed Messenger, Mr.. Ralph Zarker
and Mr.. r. Bowerman.