The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-21

carry out every detail in keeping with
high standard already set, the
but Oh, horrors! when they arrived
it was found that an extra "l' had
crept into the word military"
Some Of us thought that it would
never be noticed, so those programs
otherwise very elaborate, were dis
tributed among the patrons of the ball.
By the addition of one letter we had
good excuse for not paying the bill
and the company which did the work
agreed with us on that point.
The first number on the program
was fancy drill by the guards in full
dress, with elastic step and military
bearing. 1t was visible to the casual
observer that seven months of drill
ing by an expert like Captain Need
ham had wrought changes among raw
recruits little less than magic. By a
nom entary delay in executing one of
the commands caused by the whole
company having eyes focused on a
stylishly dressed and handsome young
lady who sat in the front row brought
forth a ripple of merriment among the
audience and a sharp repetition of the
command by the captain. The execu-
ton of the command "Order arms"
was done so perfectly as to sound like
one gun striking the floor with a heavy
| thud. This brought out hearty APP
plause from the spectators. The oft
repeated command of fright forward
fours, right march" still rings in my
ears. The first grand military ball
was great success and made some
money for the guards.
Many of the citizens of Topeka still
remember Writ w. Walton, who was
the first president of the Civic
branch, formed as an aid to cooper
ate with the military organization. He
was one of the most ardent workers
in the company until his removal to
Clay Center in 1880, where he and
Dell Valentine conducted the Dis
patch Soon after this Walton served
as chief clerk in the house for one
term and was afterwards elected as
representative to the legislature. IN
the fall of 1884, while riding on To-
connective between Clay Center and
was so badly scalded that death re-
suited on the following day.
| Old timers well remember Big Kin
ney, whose business was to collect
fares on the bus line from the depots
and up town points. Kinney's head
quarters were at the old Tefft house.
His gigantic size made him conspicu-
Gus figure around that ancient hos
telry, as he weighed some two hundred
and fifty pounds and stood about six
feet six inches.
The "Big Four"
| By curious trend of circumstances
the first four on the right of the COM
pany was composed of men the short
est of whom was six feet two inches,
and the combined height was twenty
five feet and four inches. The four
were as follows: N. N. Kinney, J. w.
Campbell. B. F. Jones and A E. Jones.
Campbell and B. B. Jones died of con-
sumption; in 1881 Kinney went to
fancy county, Missouri and there came
in contact with a sect known as ''Bald
Knobbers." He was a witness in court
where many of their depredations
were exposed. Never forgetting this
sudden exposure 1.-The band" had Kin
ney marked as a victim and eventual
ly he was shot in the back, killing him
instantly. B. F. Jones was selected
from the company as the first drum
major of MarshalFs band and was
commissioned by John P. st John,
then governor. with the title of major.
A. E. Jones at this time is the only
survivor Of the original big four
A remarkable character was the