The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-19
KANSAN SEES LIFE
Kansan, Now Police Lieutenant,
Widely Travelled Officer.
Headhunters andChinesePirates
on Acquaintance List.
MAKES GOOD RECORD
Promoted to Sergeancy Before
Enlistment Term Expires.
Lindsborg Boy Plays Tag With
WaterspOut.
MAKES GOOD RECORD

Kansas City, Dec. 19.-Pursuing re-
creant tribesmen and vicious head
hunters through their chilly forests,
searching the ocean for a lost drydocl1
and mingling with all classes of men
In all parts of the world is good train
ing for Kansas City policeman.
Oscar Edwin Johnson was so
schooled and in twenty months the
police commissioners made him a
probationary patrOlman. a "pop-pop"
officer, a sergeant and now lieuten-
ant Of police. At 26 Lieutenant John
son is, under the direction of Captain
Charles Edwards, in day command at
No. 4 station.
Lieutenant Johnson is the most
Travelled policeman in Kansas City. In
four years service in the marine corps
in which time he rose to the rank of
sergeant. Johnson circled the globe,
crossed the Atlantic three times the
Pacific twice and not only mingled
with all manner of people under vary
ing circumstances but had spirited ad-
venture in actual service on shore and
afloat.
A Native OF Kansas
Lieutenant Johnson was reared
peacefully enough in Lindsborg, Kan,
where his father served eight success
sive terms as mayor. Seeking expert
corps. that peculiar and elite branch
of the service dubbed the national
teeth" always the landing force and
the first fighting line.
He saw President Roosevelt inaugu-
rated.
From the Maryland off the Cuban
range he was distant witness to the
tragic gun explosion on the battleship
Kearsarge.
He explored the ruins around
Mount Pelee-
He participated in the ocean-wide
search for the lost Dewey drydock,
with which the Maryland finally gain
ed Geographic communication 1900
miles from Gibraltar.
He picked up a smattering of many
languages and q knowledge of many
peoples.
Saw Chinese Pirates Die.
He witnessed in China the execu-
ton Of sixteen river pirates and even
clipped the queue from pirate head
which rolled to his feet. That queue
is an ornament Of the Johnson home
rather distasteful to the Heutenants
wife.
He had year and a half of island
service in the Philippines From Pol
loo in the island of NIindaniao he took
part in the pursuit through their hilly
retreats of thieving and treacherouS
tribesmen.
He formed acquaintance with the
hunters of the islands and visited their
grewsome inland collections of skull
heaps
lie prayed tag with WaterSpOut Off
Colombo, Ceylon.
He visited all sea possessions of the
United States and took part in the
holidays of many nations.
Was an Athlete, Too.
He was port stroke in the marine
racing cutter on the Maryland and was
one of the twelve men that sent the
Maryland's light cutter spinning
through the sea in the races that are
the life of the navy when two or more
battleships or cruisers are together
In one three-mile race that he and his
comrades won from the PENNSYLVANIA
crew $4,000 changed hands The
purses almost always ran we'll into the
thousands.
Promoted to r sergeancy and placed |
in charge of a branch recruiting sta
ton in Chicago. johnson left the ma
rine service on the expiration of his
fourth year
He joined the Kansas City police