Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-11-07
SUFFRAGIST
CASTLE
How II Was Taken by
Officers of the Law
BY MARY q. ARNOLD


A party of young men were tramp
ing through n wood in October with
guns on their shoulders, and from tho
season and the guns it is evident that
they were spOrtsmen. Presently they
emerged from among the trees and
stood on the bank of lake. A PENN
sua-at high water an island-jutted
out In front of them. In its center was
n large dwelling house inclosed within
a high wall On the roof was cupola,
and above the cupola tloated banner
on which were embroidered the words,
"Votes For Women"
What the dickens do you suppose,
fellows" said Ned Bixby, that the
suffragists are doing housed in that
fashion, with big wall all around
them?"
ITS some kind of a headquarters"
suggested Tom Singleton.
"But the sufrragists don't put them
selves away off from anywhere.
There's no hiding of their light under
a bushel They sound the loud timbrel
and advertise their cause"
MY opinion u.s." rejoined BiXby,
that there is some plotting going on
under that flag"
What kind Of plottlngT
"Fve heard through n sister of mine
who Is suffragist that the English
militant tactics are about to be inau-
gurated In this state, and I'll bet tho
women come together here to lay down
a program. You see, in that case they
wouldn't want cops and detectives
shopping around to head them Off"
81 move" said Singleton, that We
storm the citadel"
mot by force2" queried Bixby.
"Oh, no! Nobody wants to storm a
feminine citadel by force. One must
use persuasion"
Tho huntsmen resolved themselves
into n committee of the whole to con-
slider how to effect an entrance into
tho citadel, and, influenced by Bixby's
suggestion that the women were plot,
ting to set fire to or blow up something,
1t was finally agreed that the men
make themselves up for toughs and
offer their services for tho work. owen
Wagstafr, the homeliest man in tho
party, was selected to make a wedge
of himself and open the way for tho
others.
That same afternoon Wagstaff, who
had q four days growth of stubble
beard on his face and had Redeemed
his nose and torn his clothes, took ad-
vantage OF supply wagon entering
the sufrrnglst grounds to get In as a
dellveryman and, going to the front
door, rang the bell The summons was
answered by young lady with n
"Votes For Women" badge on her
bosom, and Wagstaff told her that he
would like TO see the principal of the
establishment A handsome woman,
aged about thirty, appeared, and Bixby
after telling her how hard up he was
asked If the Indy couldn't give him
something to do by which he could
turn an honest penny. The lady told
him to remain where he was and went
out Presently she returned with two
others, one Of whom Wagstaff cOnsid.
cred pretty enough to kiss Then the
principal told him that they had work
enough Of peculiar kind to give en-
ployment TO n dozen men, whereupOn
Wagstaff snid he was captain OF
gang Of half n dozen, all Of whom had
been In jail the principal part Of their
lives and were ready TO blow up or
set fire TO anything One OF the ladies'
asked where his men were. and he
said he hnd them handy.
Two Of the committee were in favor
OF dealing only through Wngstnnf, but
the other said they should not employ
men without having seen them The
single member carried the day, and
Wagstaff was directed TO bring his
men into Sufraglst castle the next
morning. when quite likely propo-
sition would be made TO the gang
That was NIL he wanted. and he took
himself away
That night the huntsmen went into
camp few hundred yards from the
castle and in order to produce a IA
vorable impression during the evening
set up bowls such as men would In.
dulge In who were carouslng and
fighting among themselves Their
yells were bloodcurdllng and were
intensified by the firing OF guns. It
did not seem to the Indies I'm the In
closure that enough men would be
alive the next morning to form cor
porals guard
However, when day came there was
no evidence Of any one having been
killed during the night and after
breakfast the toughs were seen NOV
ing in body toward the castle. They
had made themselves look as dlsrepu-
table as possible, but most Of them
were swell and found It difficult not TO
behave as such They were inspected,
and the women, Influenced by the
dreadful sounds sent up the night be-
fore, were inclined to think them 1T
ted for any Job, including murder.
The principal addressed them as fol-
lows:
1--WE propose to begin to set FIRE to
and blow up small buildings at first
and If we do not by this means secure
our rights we will destroy property Of
greater value We will pay you well
for your services. and II any OF you
are caught while doing our work we
will furnish you with money and coun-
sci for your defense. As 10 your pay,