The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-11

way are reasons assigned by Mai. R.
Neil Rain for the trouble at Augusta
and Eldorado. Major Rain, who was
Il commissioned TO go to Butler county
and ascertain the exact cause of trou-
BILE. returned TO Topeka today with
story that would make a proper set
ting for Bret Harte novel.
Citizens in Butler county are clam
orinE to state authorities for relief
from the liquor that is flooding the
county and also demand that women
who aid in demoralizing the peace of
tho community be driven from the
| coafines of Kansas. Another demand
4 is that county commissioners appoint
deputies sufficient in number to aid
Sferiff Newt Purcell, one of the ner-
vi&st officials in Kansas, to properly
. handle the thousands of rockies from
the Oklahoma oil fields who have
1 poured into Butler county in the last
few months.
Good Natured Lawlessness.
Cnsanitary ana good natured law
less conditions described by Major
Rain today existing in a county in
a prohibition state. seem almost un-
4 believable Unless prompt action be
taken Major Rain predicts that de-
Predictions of magnitude that will stir
the state viii be enacted in the coun-
~ which in n single night, so to speak,
has sprung from a sleepy agricultural
community to one in which exists all
the elements of the widest mining
camps of early days.
Furthermore. Major Rain declares
the perplexing problems facing the
q Law -abiding citizens are in their in
fancy. Frantic efforts are being
made by the producers to erect 101
more tanks with 100. 900 gallon ca
pa'city within a year. This will neces-
state the bringing of thousands of adj
diGonal rockies from the slums of the
cities, from the railroad camps and
from the oil fields of Oklahoma.
sheriff and One Deputy.
When Major Rain arrived at Au-
giista he found a plucky sheriff and
one deputy attempting to maintain
order in the big county. which has
nearly quadrupled in population in a
year. One other deputy has been ap-
pointed since Major Rahn's visit who
VIII look after conditions south of
Augusta
sThere are thousands of rockies in
the oil fields living in the bushes in
caves. in improvised houses and huts.''
said Major Rain. THE rockies work
in Srelays, one band a certain number
ofl days and then another.
Immediately after one band is paid
loft booze is poured in in wagonloads
5from Wichita, eighteen miles away.
Then a wild time begins. Women in
fest the camps and add much to the
trouble encountered by the officials
\ Fight Is Ordinary.
t'It is one fight after another in the
Notk camps. The producers are power
Hes to obtain men wanted They en-
ploy hundreds of rockies who stick
foEether and when an official wants
one of the rockies the producers can
dot little to aid. They have to live
there and live off the work of the
men.
"As I walked down the streets of
Augusta with the sheriff there was
Fighting going on. We saw one man
Knocked down. The sheriff saw that
he was not hurt and walked on. A
mere fight is a trivial affair and un-
less man be hurt. the officials have
no time to investigate.
Built Fire in Jail.
f'The night I was there they ar
rested four men at Augusta. where the
Ian has been torn down. Just for a
loke. the big fellows. all good natured
Ma rough way. set fire to the mat
Lresses in an improvised Jail. The
srI1oke became Suffocating and forced
hem to act as their own fire depart
mtnt Then they decided to play
sople more and tore down the plumb
ng and piled the fixtures on the floor.
IKE sheriff finally conveyed them to
Eldorado and placed them in a jail
+. 1lready overcrowded.
-Four women were arrested that
hight and placed in a room. and four
blankets were given to them. The
women tied the blankets together and
broke thru a window. tied the blankets
20 a he'd post and crawled to the
Streets"
Good natured lawIessness abounds
hruout the oil camps which spread
III over the county looking much like