The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-21
Sketch of an Interesting Topeka
Company.
For Peace and PrOtectiOn-S2
Years Ago.
MANYWELLKNOWNMEN
Incidents of President Hayes
Visit Here.
Kansas Girls Kiss General Sher-
man by Proxy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

IN the early part Oh april 10 O. IAAo
A T & S. F. railway had strike
over its entire system, which at that
time extended from Atchison and
Kansas City, through Topeka TO
Pueblo, the latter place being the
western terminus until a year or so
later. when the heavy steam exhausts
could be heard as the giant locomo-
tives begun climbing the Ration noun
tains, aiming for Santa Fe and the
Pacific coast.
without previous warning the road
found itself without engineers, VINO
had abandoned their trains at the run s
end; the initial strike was reality IN
full force which in the pioneer days
of the Santa Fe threatened to be rath-
er a serious matter, but in comparison
to strikes of later years was very
tame.
AS most of the belligerents made
their homes in Topeka. and rearing
that the railroad property might be
in danger and some difficulty arise In
getting out trains it was thought best
BY officials Of the company to apply to
the state for protection in case any
violence was attempted. therefore
about fifty citizens many OF them rail-
road employees, were asked to appear
at the state house, and were sworn IN
by the adjutant general. P. s. Noble
as special police for guard duty. The
temporary organization was calIeo the
"Morse Rifles"
For time not a wheel was turning
for want of men to handle the trains,
as the striking engineers were hold
ing the fort and the firemen were in
full sympathy with them. About the
second or third day an engineer from
an Eastern road came along and said
he would man an engine, If fireman
and conductor could be found. Very
soon someone volunteered as fireman
and after examination he was permit
ted to shovel coal for the trip; also
a conductor from the Illinois Central
by the name of Saunders, who had
been on a vacation and returning home
met PaymaSter James Moore at Pueblo
and rode to Topeka on the pay car,
just as the strike was started having
several narrow escapes and delays,
but finally came through by playing
some sharp tactics.
Paymaster Moore introduced Mr..
Saunders to one of the railroad Off
Gals and after a few delays and some
difficulty took out the first train for
the East over the Atchison branch
It was while this train was being
made up that big Jerry Taylor, form
er fireman who deserted his post with
the engineers, put a short piece of bar
iron on the slide, expecting to see the
cylinder head go out as the engine
backed over the Fourth street cross
ing to couple before starting, but
Taylor missed his calculations by
small margin. as the iron was too mar
row to do the damage he had in
tended.
After four or five days delay several
engineers came in from other lines
taking the places made vacant by the
strikers and business resumed it's
usual activity and later on some of the
older engineers were restored to their
former positions.
Saunders, who took out the first
train. stayed with the road for num-
Der of years, doing his duty with entire
satisfaction. James N Branham, an
engineer who came here from Illinois
after the strike, stuck to his post un-
til 1898, when he was killed in the
terrible wreck at Lang.
The Guards Organized.
1 started in to tell about the
Capital guards as the central figure
in this article. but merely give these
incidents to show what led up to the
formation of this company soon after
the first strike ever pulled off in KAN
sas. Some of the boys, imbued by
q spirit of patriotism and having
toted a fifty caliber Springfield for
five days, thought 1t would be the
proper thing to form a permanent or
ganization which should answer all
the purposes of military discipline and
also as a vehicle for social func-
tions Acting on these suggestions a
meeting was called where c. F. Morse
was elected captain, Eugene Smith first
lieutenant, and James Moore second
lieutenant. Recruits were solicited and
the company obtained its fun quota in
a few months. Captain Morse served
only a short time and Lew Hanback,
was elected to fill the vacancy Cap
tain Hanback, served until some time
in the fall of rs, when H. A. Need
ham, who had earned a good supply
of military experience IN the Civil
war, was elected captain and served
as such until mustered out in 1881.
AS the company was composed
mostly of the leading young men In
Topeka, and the state did moi
furnish uniforms. it was ordered that
clothes suitable for the "elite" of the
capital city must be made in Boston
In compliance with this resolution
spike tail coats, pants and hats OF
cadet gray were ordered. The hats
we're set or with white plumes tipped