The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-20
Fist and Razor Fight With Ne
grOes Crap Shooters.
Fred Thomas, Negro, Knocked
Down and Placed Under Arrest.
Topeka NEEDS MORE RECRUITS
Local Company Must Have at
Least 1873 More Men.
Real Military Camp Life Be-
ginning Today.

Battery A engaged in their first
skirmish this afternoon when they
put to flight a dozen negroes who
went to the fair grounds to interest
the youths in a crap game. No sooner
had the negroes been discovered than
detachment of twelve Battery boys
was ordered to run them off the
grounds.
Down with the Mexicans!" the
youths cried.
A few curses from the negroes in
termixed with threats did not bluff
the Topeka boys, amid a fusillade
of bricks and mud hurled at them by
the crap shooters, they charged down
upon the negroes. Fists flew fast and
furiously for a few minutes and then
the negroes turned and ran. About
that time another detachment, on its
way to work at the stables, sighted
the chase and preferred fighting to
cleaning stables. Off they dashed in
pursuit.
At the gate of the fair grounds, Fred
Thomas one of the negroes angered at
the taunts of the youthful soldiers,
stopped, drew a razor and brandished
it before the charging pursuers. But
not a minute did the boys hesitate.
With a rush they overpowered the ne
gro before he could slash anyone.
Sergeant William Link struck a blow
which knocked the negro down. He
was hurled to the ground and later
taken to police headquarters.
Enlistments Still Short.
Unless Topeka rallies better than
she has Battery will not get an OPP
portunity to go to Fort Riley. In Or
der to leave Topeka Battery A must
be recruited to peace strength, at
least, 1873. About thirteen have passed
the examination and approximately
twenty-five others must enlist and be
able to pass before the battery can
be sure of taking part in mobilization
at Fort Riley or Ell Paso. That many
have enlisted but it is considered
doubtful if all will pass the eXamina-
ton. ->
Tonight a band concert will be held
at the fair grounds. The Second Regi-
ment band will furnish the music
The piercing notes of a bugle blow
ing the mess call at the fair grounds
this noon brought home to those living
in the neighborhood that for the first
time in years Topeka has a real mill
tary camp. From early in the morn
ing until late this afternoon members
of Battery A were rushing over the
city preparing their camp at the fair
ments for leaving Topeka for Fort
Riley or Ell Paso at a moments no.
tice.
Military Rule Effective
Military rules became effective the
first thing this morning and a guard
placed around the camp. Horses
drawing cannon and other warlike
equipment were seen passing along
Kansas avenue at all hours of the
morning. Auto trucks supplied by
loyal Topeka merchants also were
pressed into service in transporting
the battery's equipment from the
armory on Jackson street to the fair
grounds.
The west side of the fair grounds
was chosen as the camp site and by
. o'clock this afternoon the camp be-
gan to acquire real military appear
ance. Sergt. William A. Brady,
United States drill sergeant, proved to
be the IMAM of the hour" and under
his directions the battery boys hoisted
their tents and prepared mess quar-
tiers.
The first army dinner served was
delayed until o'clock when hte cooks
discovered that the dishes stacked
away following the Fort Leavenworth
encampment had been coated with
paraffine. The new soldiers had to
cast aside their war preparations and
for more than an hour they toiled
over the dishes endeavoring to scrape
off enough paraffine to permit them
enjoy their dinner.
Their First Dinner.
The dinner comprised steak, new
potatoes, bread and butter and coffee.
The lads seemed assured that the food
which will be served to them will be
of the same high quality all during the
campaign" To cook the dinner a
hole was dug in the ground and a
stove with a four foot stove pipe
placed inside the hole.
was in St Joseph when the call came
and has not arrived. It was necessary
for others to take charge of the cook
| ing.
Anxious mothers called upon the
youths this morning to suggest taking
underwear, socks and other necessary
garments. All these are furnished by
Uncle Sam
Charles Kouns, son of c. w. Kouns,
general manager of the Santa Fe, has
been conducting a war-like campaign
at home for two days in an endeavor
| to break down the trenches of his pa
rents objections to enlistment. AT
noon today young Kouns announced
that he had taken the first trench and
predicted complete rout of his pa
rerts' objections by nightfall. Anoth-
er well known youth with the war
| fever is Sam Stewart, captain of the
Washburn football aggregation. His
aspirations for a soldiers life does not
meet with parental approval.