The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation Part 9

Chas. W. Simmons, 9:35 a. m., Tuesday, January 15, 1901.

I could tell of many interesting incidents in jail.

There were five singers, one a graduate of the conservatory of music in Boston, and Mr. Dodd was a fine singer himself; he would often sing with the prisoners and it was a great pleasure to me. One song he would have the boys sing was: "My Old Kentucky Home." We had a genuine poet there, and I here give you a poem he sent up to me one day, by the trusty:

SOLEMN THOUGHTS.

'Twas an aged and Christian martyr, Sat alone in a prison cell, Where the law of state had brought her, For wrecking an earthly h.e.l.l.

Day by day, and night she dwelt there, Singing songs of Christ's dear love; At His cross she pray'd and knelt there, As an angel from above.

In the cells and 'round about her, Prisoners stood, deep stained in sin; Listening to the prayers she'd offer, Looking for her Christ within.

Some who'd never known a mother, Ne'er had learned to kneel and pray, Raised their hands, their face to cover, Till her words had died away.

In the silent midnight hours, Came a voice in heavenly strain, Floating o'er in peaceful showers, Bringing suns.h.i.+ne after rain.

Each one rose from out his slumber, Listening to her songs of cheer, Then the stillness rent asunder, With their praises loud and clear.

Praise from those whose crimes had led them, O'er a dark and stormy sea, Where its waves had lashed and tossed them Into "h.e.l.l's" captivity.

Wine it was, the drink that led them, From the tender Shepherd's fold, Now they hear His voice call them, With His precious words of gold.

Like the sheep that went astray, Twice we've heard the story told, They heard His voice, they saw the way, That leads to His pastured fold.

The first time I was put in jail, after everything was quiet, I heard some prisoner down below, swearing, and I called out: "What do you mean boys by asking G.o.d to d.a.m.n this place? I think he has done so and we don't want any more d.a.m.ns here. Get down on your knees and ask G.o.d to bless you." And all the rest of time I never heard an oath.

In a week or so I heard them singing hymns; and I called to them: "How are you boys?"

"We have all been converted since the first of January," was their reply.

One of those young men got out while I was there, and came to my cell and told me that it was true about their conversion.

Oh! the sad hearts behind the bars! Oh! the injustice! I am glad I have been a prisoner for one thing, I never see a face behind the bars that my heart does not pity. I have heard so many tales of ruined lives; have seen men with muscles and brain, bowed into tears. Oh, if we would only love each other more; if we would feel as Paul: "To owe love to all we meet, and pay the debt. 'Tis the most pleasant debt to pay and the indebtedness blesses both parties, especially the one who pays." I used to think that birth and other circ.u.mstances made one person better than another. I do not see it that way now. The man with many opportunities is not ent.i.tled to as much consideration as one with fewer. I am the defender of the one who needs help most. The great need of the world is Love.

CHAPTER IX.

OUT OF JAIL.--EGGS AND STONE.--SMAs.h.i.+NG STILLING'S JOINT AT ENTERPRISE.-- WHIPPED BY HIRED PROSt.i.tUTES.--PLOT AT HOLT BY HOTEL KEEPER AND JOINTIST TO POISON AND SLUG ME.--AT CONEY ISLAND.--HAND BROKEN AND HANDCUFFS.

I got out of Wichita jail about the last week in January, 1901, under a writ of habeas corpus. I got bail,--I forget who went my bail, but G.o.d bless them; and left on the evening train about seven o'clock.

While in jail I got a letter asking me to come to Enterprise, d.i.c.kinson County, and break up saloons there. I said the name ENTERPRISE, is good and I will go; so I left jail with the intention of going there.

It was dark when I started for the train. Many of the Salvation Army were near me. The streets were almost impa.s.sable, and the whole city seemed to be on the streets marching down to the station, yelling and laughing.

Many said: "Are you not afraid?" Perfect love casteth out all fear I love the people, I do not fear them.

There walked by my side, a man keeping the crowd back. "Are you one of the Salvation Army?" I said to him.

He said: "No, I am only a tin horn gambler."

I asked him: "Why do you seem to be such a friend of mine."

He answered: "Because I intend that no one shall hurt you, for you are a good woman, and I will see you safe. They all know me, and they will not hurt you." He carried my valise and put me on the train.

There were several thousand at the depot and the crowding was dangerous. I wanted to see the crowd, so I raised the window, waved my hand and as the train pulled out, the eggs began to come; the window fell down and I did not get a spatter. G.o.d said: "I'll stand by you."

explains this. In two minutes a rock the size of my fist came cras.h.i.+ng in at the window; s.h.i.+vered the gla.s.s, and the rock fell down at my side; which was a miracle. Not once did I feel alarmed but smiled; while all the pa.s.sengers were on their feet with fright.

I got to Enterprise at night. I stayed all night with Mrs. Hoffman and next morning, I went down to a dive kept by a man named Stillings.

He had closed to go out to a baseball game. The door was locked, so I broke the front gla.s.s and climbed in. Several ladies were on the outside, and were friendly to my smas.h.i.+ng. I broke the place up. There were twelve cases of beer and I destroyed them and piled them up in the center of the room on the floor. At the close, the marshal came in, took me out and would not let me break up the other dive near by. Neither did he arrest me.

I came down on the corner of the street that night, to tell the people why I did this, when Stillings pa.s.sed, cursing and shaking his fist at me, saying: "My wife will settle you." Just then a furious woman came around the corner, rushed up to me and struck me a fearful blow in the eye, then ran to her husband, Stillings, and in a frantic manner said: "I have done what you asked me, now let us go home." I stopped speaking long enough to go into a meat shop and have a piece of fresh meat bound on my eye, which was already very dark and painful. Then I finished my address on the street, and went up to a meeting in the church, gave an address, and we organized a society to smash saloons, if they did not close. Next morning we went down the street in a body, Mrs. Hoffman and other women, and the other dive keeper talked to us and promised to go out of business. This Stillings came to me again cursing and threatening, saying: "His wife would fix me." Although this man was disturbing the peace, disorderly and dangerous, no one offered to arrest him. He held me, while four women ran from some place with whips and sticks. One beat me with her fist, another with a whip, one with a raw-hide, while one pulled my hair and kicked me into the gutter, nearly killing me.

I said: "Women, will you let me be murdered." For although there were men and women present, not one did a thing, until at last, an old lady, the mother of the saloon-keeper's wife, picked up a brick and said: "If anyone strikes that woman again I will hit them with this." Then all rushed to defend me.

I was almost breathless. My hair was down, much of it being pulled out. I went home with my friend, Mrs. Hoffman. These parties were arrested. The trial brought out the fact that this dive-keeper, Stillings, had hired these women. To the gambler's wife he was to give twenty- five dollars, to use the raw-hide. Two women were prost.i.tutes, whom this Stillings had brought to town for this purpose. They were fined a small sum, and the whole of them given a few hours to leave town.

My body was bruised and sore. My limbs were striped with bruises; but I was only disabled two days.

While in Enterprise I got a telegram from Holt, signed by the "Temperance Committee," it read: "Come here and help us break up dives."

This little town was only twelve miles from Enterprise. In going to the train that night there seemed to have been some one hiding on every corner throwing eggs. My dress was covered with them. I got to Holt at midnight. When I got off the train, I then knew it was a plot to injure me for no one was there to meet me, and I saw some suspicious men keeping in the dark. I got in a hack and went to a hotel.

I asked for the women but all had retired. I went up to my room, which was very small. It had one window which was raised an inch with a lath under it, and I thought it strange at the time that the landlord should have let the window down, but I was very tired and dropped asleep almost as soon as I touched the bed. About two o'clock I was awakened with a smothered feeling, struggling for breath. I jumped for the window, which I threw up, for the room was full of the most poisonous odor, as of cigarettes, and other smells. I knew that there were persons at the door puffing the poison in. I sat at the window and listened and in about fifteen minutes I heard some one whistling and saw through the transom that a light was coming. A man stopped at my door and knocked.

"What do you want?"

"I want to speak to you," he replied.

"What is it?"

"I want to speak to you."

G.o.d showed me in a vision two men crouched on each side of the door ready to either catch or slug me, if the door was opened.

"I see you sluggers on each side of the door. You villain, you have tried to murder me by throwing poison in my room and now you are trying something else."

"There is a mob here after you."

"You are a liar," I answered.

"There is a committee wants to speak to you."

"You are telling lies in order to have me open my door."

He left and went down below, and for ten minutes there was a great tramping of feet and I could hear the landlord making out as if he was dispersing a crowd. I watched from my window and saw two men walking away. I certainly was thankful for a lock on my door.

Next morning when ready to leave my room, I looked up and down the pa.s.sages well; then I hurried and did not feel safe, until I got on the outside. I asked a little boy if there were any Christians in Holt.