The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-12-27

two men, by name johnson and Brown,
not soldiers ineensed beyond control
over the ontrRges in the city, had fired
On squad Of German soldiers. They
were caught. stripped, and killed by
pinning their bodies 70 planks with bay
onets. Then their hands and feet were
hacked off, and the feet Of johnson
clnmsily tied 70 the stumps Of Brown 4
legs, and Browns feet thus disposed
on the stumps Of johnson = legs
The firing Of johnson and Brown on
the German soldiers greatly incensed
the German Officers, and they covered
the walls with a proclamation which
read. Atrocities have been committed
by American shnrpshooters If any
shing happens 10 the German troops the
whole population viii be held respon-
sibie. Doors must be left open az night.
Windows fronting the street must be
Lighted up. Inhabitants must be within
doors between ,. ma. and g. m. - Sew
cral of the leading clergymen, and 9th.
cr rtfSzens-inclnding David Mnlvane,
Charles Blbod Smith and the editor Of
the State Jaurnal-were added TO the
number Of hostages The Germans
made a house toulouse search for arms,
and each man who had a gun Of any
kind was killed
Help Coming
On the evening Of August twenty
fourth word came that an American ar
my Was advancing from the west. The
Germans In Topeka became apprehen-
sive. Orders were sent to Lawrence 70
the troops there 70 come to Topeka.
They came on commandeered trains and
arrived IN Topeka after nightfall Ru-
A
In definiteneSs. The Germans IN Tope-
ka were formed in the wide spaces
round the state house, commanding all
four approaches. The electric-Ight
works was shut down, and the city was
in darkness. The troops from Lawrence
disemharked at the Santa Fe Station 1
and proceeded toward the state house. |
Meanwhile the troops at the state house 1
were visibly az great tension. Two
roeketA-fhe first green and the second
up; and immediately after
ward the troops az the state house fir 4
ed several volleys, which were returned
from the direction Of Kansas Avenue.
What happened was that the nervous
troops in Topeka, fancying the ineom-
ing Germans from the Santa Fe Station
were Americans, fired on their own
comrades. There was q panic, q great
deal of firing, and II was daylight be-
fore anything like order was restored. Z
Meantime the Germans in occupation Of
The city assumed that they had been fir
ID upon by residents Of Topeka, and
squads Of men ransacked house after
house and shot many citizens. Ineen-
iiarism began. The Germans broke into
houses, apresd benxine and petroleum.
md set numerous places afire. Much Of
he business section was burned, as
we're the churches. The state house
otunda containing the battle flags the
Kansas soldiers carried in the Civil
Na4 were broken open. the flags torn
lown, defiied. and burned in bonfire
N the lawn.
Citizens were burned to death in their
Iouses. Others were shot when they ran
nt0 the street OF while they were try
ng 20 exfinguish the fires. Squads Of
serman soldiers drove men. women and
hildren 90 the park about the state
onse. beating them with the butts Of
ifles The streets leading up 70 the ]
tate house were stfcwn with corpsee.
When the prisoners were at the state :
ouse the women and children were T
cnf to the north side and the men 10 &
he south side Of the building German Z
oldiers threatened the women contin-
ally, and beat them with their rifles.
leading banker was placed against I
he wall Of a church that was next to
"A house and ordered to watch his y
ouse burning. We was compelled 70 Z
old his hands above hiss head for half
n hour, then was bayoneted, and fin
~ shot aAd killed His son was kill Z
4 at the same time. The Germans said !
A - d
ad been fired from this man 5 house. g
There was a general massacre. Six
mnloyees Of the sfreet.car company,
rying 10 gee TO their homes. were shot =
1 their backs and killed Other citizens =
'cre taken, their hands tied behind q
heir backs and turned loose ta be shot g
) they tried to escape. A woman was Y
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