The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-13
NORTH SIDE news
How John Wilkerson ssSwiped"
q Vine From President.
1t Covered Old Fire Station for
Many Years.

Topeka know just how it came to pass
that the old No. fire station pos
sessed beautiful clinging vine as an
ornament to its north wall. Here Is
the story. John NJ. .Wilkerson. on E
day in June more than twenty year:
ago, was wandering aimlessly about
the White House in Washington, then
occupied by Benjamin Harrison.
Wflkerson. sheriff Of Shawnee county
at that time, was on an eastern trip tC
apprehend a criminal wanted in To-
peka, but not having got his man.
was taking in the sights Of the ma
tional capital. Outside Of the execu-
tive mansion his attention was at
tlacted to the beauty Of a peculiar
vine that had fastened its tentacles
and was dourishing upon a section Of
wall on the west side of the presi-
dents bungalow, and being a loyal
kansan naturally coveted the ram
bling flora for his home city. Moth
ing daunted-for John Wilkerson in
| those days feared nothing on legs-he
whipped out his Barlow and ampu-
| tated quarter section Of one Of the
! numerous feelers from the main body
| OF the plant This while a White
House gendarme looked on.
Stop" shouted the uniformed Gus
todian. his voice trembling with a fine
vehemence born in the presence of
| detected vandalism.
| You mind your own business" re-
torted the grizzled Kansan. land we'll
get along all right
| The slip" was brought to Topeka,
presented to the flremen Of No. 1 sta
| ton. who planted and carefully nour-
tshed it through the varied vicissi-
tudes of a strenuous twenty odd
years. During the summer Of 1903,
again in 1918. the plant was arrested
in its growth by untoward seasons,
but managed to survive the devastat-
ing effect of natural causes, only to
feel the cold and ruthless hand of
man laid upon 1t a few weeks ago
when the work of razing the old fire
station building begun Human inter-
est stories do not grow on every bush,
and II the new structure which is to
1 take the place OF the old, has a vine,
some one will have to create a human
interest story for it-Shawnee Chief.
| James Spetter Dead.
| Word was received in North Topeka
late Thursday evening of the death of
James Spetter of Slayton, Texas. Spet-
ter was q locomotive engineer and
was killed in a wreck on the Santa Fe
between Slayton and Amarillo. He Is
well known in North Topeka and was
raised in this city. When he was 18
years OF age he left North Topeka and
went to Atchtson. where he started his
railroad career. Mr.. Spetter was 32
years of age when he met his death.
He is survived by his wife and the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: F. E.
/ Spetter Of Amarillo. Tex, Oscar Spet-
all Of Topeka. He is also survived by
three brothers and one sister who do
not live in North Topeka They are:
John Spetter of Akron. Ohio; Clemon
speter Of Amarillo. Tex, Oscar, Spet-
ter of Albuquerque, N. M. and Miss
Marie spetter of Siayton, Texas. The
body will be brought to Topeka fol
burial and will arrive tomorrow at ]
I o'clock over the Santa Fe. The fu-
neral arrangements have not beer
fcompleted, but will be made later.
Mourn Death OF Their Chief.
. All is quiet In the quarters of the
boys Of fire station No. / this morn.
ing. There is solemn air hoverine
about the place. There is none of the
customary joking among the fire
boys. They are mourning the deatl
Of their chief. Most Of the boys o
| and their love for Topeka's veteran
, chief was great. There will be no ligh
remark pass the lips of these boys To-
many days.
? Many Hunters.
There is much polishing Of fire
arms in North Topeka this morning
! Duck coats and flannel shirts wer'
taken from the clothes presses AM
donned by those who would answe
the call Of the open country. Not I
few North siders left this morninl
. on hunting expeditions. The SNOW
which fell Thursday was the larges
this year and not a few sportsmen ar
making the best Of 1t.
Smallpox Scare.
: There is something Of a smallpo,
: scare in a number of the neighbor
hoods located north Of the city. tn
scare began when two men showe'
? signs of the disease at couple of pub
l lie sales held near North Topeka
l Fairview, Indian Creek and Pleasan
Hill are the three neighborhoods il
which smallpox is much discussed.
Personal Mention.
IL NJ H, and Samuel Martin have re