The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-23
Waters Indian Massacre.

Long before John Waters went into
the business of helping to get met set
straight who had met with thrllllns
experiences one came his way that ne
can remember almost as v1Vldly To-Day
as the day it occurred
Young John Waters, with several
companions older than himself, went
down the Kaw river on a hunting trip
= The party planned to camp out that
night and carried along the perequis-
lite equipment. Late in the afternoon
a spot that met with approval OF all
the members of the expedition was 10
Gated and temporary quarters were
put up.
Then theelder members of the par
ty started in on Waters. They first
notified him that they were on an
Indian observation-disclosures in fact the
nearest reservation was several coun-
ties away. Next they painted for the
young man, who was then spending
his first night away from home,
word picture of Indian characteristics
that curdled his blood.
When they believed that Waters
had been worked up to the right men
tai condition, one of tie boys took up
his gun and started out to get lay
of the land and find out, if he could,
how the red men were behaving. Very
quietly the other companions followed
the first and in short time it dawned
on the yocthfula Waters that he was
alone in the woods and it was dark
as pitch. Cold alone didn't cause his
limbs to shake and the quake became
more pronounced as time sped on.
Suddenly from out of the black void
came a fearful Shrek. Another much
more effective than the first followed
1t and then they came in rapid sue
cession.
Young John Waters was paralyzed
by the first one but having reached
the limit of fearfulness, rushing into
his tent, snatched gun, loaded 1T and
fired into the darkness.
And then John Waters suffered the
most thrilling moment of his life.
One of the companions who had
started out to spy on the Indians
staggered into camp, his hands cover
ing his chest and groaned, MY God,
John, you've shot me-"
Only regard for the welfare of
young Waters prompted his friends to
make that period of suspense as short
as possible.
Several days later when camp broke
Waters found a little package. On in
quiry he was told, "Oh those are the
lead from the cartridges that we left
in the tent the night we went out to
hunt Indians
He Faced an Angry German.
The summer preceding his Junior
year in college. Louis Floyd, general
secretary of the Provident asSocfa-
ton, put in his vacation selling books.
He was assigned territory in the city
of Chicago and met with a number of
peculiar experiences. One, however,
stands out clearer than all the rest.
In his official capacity as book
salesman, he called one day on
happy looking woman of German
stock He adjusted himself rapidly
to conditions as all good salesman
must do and sailed in on his selling
talk. He explained in detail to the
woman the futility of sending her
children to school to get an education
if they were denied the store house
of knowledge that his book con-
tanned. The woman followed his tale
with interest and appeared TO nave
reached that condition where she had
only to have a pencil thrust at her
to sign the document that meant the
book for the children and drain on
the family purse
But at the crucial moment-at that |
psychological instant when the wom- |
an had only to see the penclF-ln |
tumbled the frau's spouse supporting |
a we'll nursed jag and loudly demand |
ing dinner. In an instant not only |
was the spell broken but the husband |
getting the lay of the land sug- /
gested that Floyd leave the place |
sake a good prospect and stood his |
ground. Then the gentleman de-
livered his ultimatum get out or I'll
throw you down stairs.
For one moment Floyd stopped.
That moment was to consider the dis
lance between the ground and the
third floor where ne was Ihen locaIeu
His meditation closed with jerk
The big, burly, soused, Infatuated nus
band Iurched toward him and Louis
FLOYD stepped into the hall.
Ed McKeever's Blow Up.
One time a whole armful of dyna-
mite exploded right under Edwin Nc
Keever. Topeka lawyer. Exciting?
Think it over. Ask McKeever.
That was long, long ago-away back
in the days when McKeever worked
on his fathers farm and he was help