The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-06-23
CARRIE NATION DIES
DEATH ENDS CAREER OF NOTED
WOMAN WREckER OF
SALOONS.
MIND A BLANK FOR MONTHS
Prohibition Worker, sueeumbs TO
Paresis In sanItsrlum at Leaven-
worth, kan.-only Physician and
Nurse at Bedside When End Comes.

Leavenworth. Kan. June l0.-Car-
RE f. Nation, sixty-six years old. who
gained celebrity by her use OF
Ratchet in the cause OF prohibition.
died here last night OF paresis in the
Evergreen sanitarium. She was ad-
mitted to the sanitarium January %
suffering from nervous breakdown.
Although IL has been reported sew
eral times since she came here that
she was dead. her death was not ex-
pected until several days ago.
Spends Months In Secluslon.
Mrs. Nation in the sanitarium was
Incapable OF even managing her own
business affairs. all trace of the bold
prohibition worker had disappeared
when her iron constitution began TO
fail. and she spent the last five months
OF her life in seclusion, no one but
relatives and hospital attendants be-
ing allowed to see her
When told several days ago that
she would die. Mrs. Nation made no
comment. Only DR.. A. L. Suwalksy
and a nurse were with her when death
came.
Was Born In Kentucky.
Mrs. Nation was born In Kentucky
in 1876. Her maiden name was Carr
Moore. and as girl, It is said. she
was absolutely fearless. In her early
life she married a man addicted TO the
use OF intoxicants. which created in
her an intense aversion TO the saloon.
When he died she determined TO de-
vote her life to the suppression OF the
liquor traffic.
Later she moved to Kansas and
married David Nation. who sympa-
thized with her temperance principles.
Mrs. Nations first saloon smashing
was done in the barroom of the Carey
hotel at Wichita December q, 1900
She was arrested and remained in Jail
several days before she was released
on bond
On January 81. 1901. armed with her
favorite weapon. Ratchet, Mrs. Ma
ton made another raid in Wichita.
This time she smashed two saloons.
During the next two months Mrs.
Nation surprised the liquor trafiickers
unheralded and leaving a trail of
ruined barroom fixtures wherever she
went Many saloonists became ter
ror-stricken when the militant tenn
perance advocate appeared in their
neighborhood and locked their places
and fed before the faithful Ratchet
could get into action.
Hurt In Wreeking Saloon.
Remarkably few Of the saloon men
used violence in resisting Mrs. Ma
ton. although she was assaulted and
badly hurt while wrecking a saloon at
Enterprise. Kan.
BY this time the state OF Kansas
was in a ferment.
Aroused by the spirit OF the daunt-
less woman from Kentucky. the peo-
pie began to demand that all the sa-
looms and joints be closed at once.
Smashing parties were organized all
over the state. The saloon power was
being wrecked. AS result OF the
agitation bills were passed by the
legislature which strengthened the
state prohibitory law.
mus, erratlc as hef lire mas Deen.
Mrs. Nation was responsible for the
greatest temperance awakening in
Kansas.
Demands Money From vanderbllts.
Mrs Nation. after her activities in
Kansas. became lecturer and the
editor OF a paper called the Smash
ers' Mail She did little smashing
outside OF Kansas.
While lecturing in New York city
she created sensation by appearing
at the horse show in Madison Square
garden and demanding that the occu-
pants of the Vanderbilt box contribute
money for homo for drunkards'
wives. which she founded in Kansas
City, Kan.
The home recently was taken over
by the Associated Charities.