Carrie Nation Again
Title
Carrie Nation Again
Subject
Carrie Nation, Myra McHenry, Lucy Wilhoite, Lydia Mountz arrested for smashing windows at a liquor supply company.
Creator
Wichita Daily Eagle
Source
Wichita Daily Eagle
Wichita, KS
Oct. 1, 1904
Page 5
Accessed at Newspapers.com
Wichita, KS
Oct. 1, 1904
Page 5
Accessed at Newspapers.com
Rights
Public Domain
Format
image/jpeg
Text
“Carrie Nation Again”
With Three Companions She Smashes Some Windows
Carrie Nation, Mrs. Myra McHenry, Mrs. Lucy Wilhoite and Mrs. Lydia Mountz were arrested yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock and taken to the city jail, where they are charged with the destruction of two large windows, the property of the Mahan Supply company.
Armed with hatchet, axe, hammer and stones, the four women proceeded quietly down a back street to the office of the Mahan Supply company on Rock Island avenue. The company had received notice from the police station to be on their guard, and when Mrs. Nation and her assistants appeared there were four or five men standing before the doors to keep them from entering the building.
When the leader found that she would not be permitted to enter the building she opened her satchel and took out two stones, which she threw, breaking the glass out of the large office window. Mrs. McHenry, who was armed with a hammer, made an attempt to break out another window but was frustrated in the attempt by one of the officers. A large crowd collected and a telephone message was sent to the police station for the patrol. Until the arrival of the officers, Mr. Mahan succeeded in holding Mrs. Nation so that she was unable to throw any more stones.
Upon the arrival of the patrol the women were placed in the wagon and on the way to the station hundreds of people followed hooting and yelling and calling loudly the name of Carrie Nation. Arrived at the station the four prisoners were locked in a cell on the lower floor. Immediately after their confinement in the cell a short prayer service was held, the women knelling on the cement floor. At the conclusion of the prayer service a hymn was sung, after which they proceeded to investigate their surroundings. Mrs. Nation stepped quickly to the iron door and through the grating addressed an Eagle reporter who was standing just outside. “It seems to me this cell is rather damp. Can’t you get us a better one? I am getting very hoarse already from this dampness, and I know that there are better cells than this one in the building.” Upon being reminded that she was in the city prison instead of the county jail, Mrs. Nation said: “Oh, yes. I am mistaken. It was at the county jail where I stayed a month. This is my first trip to the city jail.”
The cell in which the women were placed had been thoroughly cleaned out earlier in the day, and in one or two little places there was some water standing in the slight indentations in the floor. Failing to procure a different cell, Mrs. Nation opened her hand satchel and produced a dressing sacque with which she proceeded to mop the floor.
“We could do nothing but what we did today,” she said. “God called us to do this work. There were nine cases on the court docket this morning, and we feel that we shall have too much to answer for if we sit quietly by and see such deadly work go on. The only way to accomplish our ends is to smash the hell keepers’ places.
“What have they done with my hatchet?” she demanded suddenly, her eyes sparkling. “They have no right to that hatchet, and when I get out they must return it to me. I have work to do with it. I did not get to use my hatchet today. Oh, no. I did not have to. I used stones.”
“That reminds me,” broke in Mrs. McHenry. “I had a hammer and it is one that I do not wish to lose. I cleaned out Derby with it, and upon the handle of it is, ‘Used by Myra McHenry when she cleaned out Derby.’ I hope they will take care of that hatchet because I want to keep it always.”
It was suggested to Mrs. Nation that an entrance fee be charged and the crowd outside be allowed to come in and see her. When the reporter said this, Mrs. Nation turned and said: “Yes, I expect we could make money, but I’m not in the menagerie. I may be some day, but I am not on exhibition now. I would not do it even if there were people on the outside with $300 to pay as a fee of admission.”
Mrs. Nation, Mrs. McHenry and Mrs. Wilhoit appeared to be excited and elated over their venture, but Mrs. Mountz say by herself in one corner of the room with an exceedingly thoughtful and, albeit, wistful look on her countenance. The frst three having had previous experience, did not seem to feel badly about being in jail, but on the contrary were very jolly and talkative.
When it became known over the city that Mrs. Nation and her companions were locked up in the city jail, immense crowds gathered and it required the assistance of several policemen to clear the office of the police department. Charles Prince, a man about 36 years of age, asked if he could put up a bond for the women and he was told by the chief that any bond would not be accepted. He then went outside the office, where he is charged with having made some profane remarks about the policemen. He was arrested and locked in a cell on the lower floor.
The four women are being detained at the station until warrants are issued for them in the city court, when they will be removed to the county jail.
With Three Companions She Smashes Some Windows
Carrie Nation, Mrs. Myra McHenry, Mrs. Lucy Wilhoite and Mrs. Lydia Mountz were arrested yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock and taken to the city jail, where they are charged with the destruction of two large windows, the property of the Mahan Supply company.
Armed with hatchet, axe, hammer and stones, the four women proceeded quietly down a back street to the office of the Mahan Supply company on Rock Island avenue. The company had received notice from the police station to be on their guard, and when Mrs. Nation and her assistants appeared there were four or five men standing before the doors to keep them from entering the building.
When the leader found that she would not be permitted to enter the building she opened her satchel and took out two stones, which she threw, breaking the glass out of the large office window. Mrs. McHenry, who was armed with a hammer, made an attempt to break out another window but was frustrated in the attempt by one of the officers. A large crowd collected and a telephone message was sent to the police station for the patrol. Until the arrival of the officers, Mr. Mahan succeeded in holding Mrs. Nation so that she was unable to throw any more stones.
Upon the arrival of the patrol the women were placed in the wagon and on the way to the station hundreds of people followed hooting and yelling and calling loudly the name of Carrie Nation. Arrived at the station the four prisoners were locked in a cell on the lower floor. Immediately after their confinement in the cell a short prayer service was held, the women knelling on the cement floor. At the conclusion of the prayer service a hymn was sung, after which they proceeded to investigate their surroundings. Mrs. Nation stepped quickly to the iron door and through the grating addressed an Eagle reporter who was standing just outside. “It seems to me this cell is rather damp. Can’t you get us a better one? I am getting very hoarse already from this dampness, and I know that there are better cells than this one in the building.” Upon being reminded that she was in the city prison instead of the county jail, Mrs. Nation said: “Oh, yes. I am mistaken. It was at the county jail where I stayed a month. This is my first trip to the city jail.”
The cell in which the women were placed had been thoroughly cleaned out earlier in the day, and in one or two little places there was some water standing in the slight indentations in the floor. Failing to procure a different cell, Mrs. Nation opened her hand satchel and produced a dressing sacque with which she proceeded to mop the floor.
“We could do nothing but what we did today,” she said. “God called us to do this work. There were nine cases on the court docket this morning, and we feel that we shall have too much to answer for if we sit quietly by and see such deadly work go on. The only way to accomplish our ends is to smash the hell keepers’ places.
“What have they done with my hatchet?” she demanded suddenly, her eyes sparkling. “They have no right to that hatchet, and when I get out they must return it to me. I have work to do with it. I did not get to use my hatchet today. Oh, no. I did not have to. I used stones.”
“That reminds me,” broke in Mrs. McHenry. “I had a hammer and it is one that I do not wish to lose. I cleaned out Derby with it, and upon the handle of it is, ‘Used by Myra McHenry when she cleaned out Derby.’ I hope they will take care of that hatchet because I want to keep it always.”
It was suggested to Mrs. Nation that an entrance fee be charged and the crowd outside be allowed to come in and see her. When the reporter said this, Mrs. Nation turned and said: “Yes, I expect we could make money, but I’m not in the menagerie. I may be some day, but I am not on exhibition now. I would not do it even if there were people on the outside with $300 to pay as a fee of admission.”
Mrs. Nation, Mrs. McHenry and Mrs. Wilhoit appeared to be excited and elated over their venture, but Mrs. Mountz say by herself in one corner of the room with an exceedingly thoughtful and, albeit, wistful look on her countenance. The frst three having had previous experience, did not seem to feel badly about being in jail, but on the contrary were very jolly and talkative.
When it became known over the city that Mrs. Nation and her companions were locked up in the city jail, immense crowds gathered and it required the assistance of several policemen to clear the office of the police department. Charles Prince, a man about 36 years of age, asked if he could put up a bond for the women and he was told by the chief that any bond would not be accepted. He then went outside the office, where he is charged with having made some profane remarks about the policemen. He was arrested and locked in a cell on the lower floor.
The four women are being detained at the station until warrants are issued for them in the city court, when they will be removed to the county jail.
Citation
Wichita Daily Eagle, “Carrie Nation Again,” Derbykshistory, accessed December 22, 2024, https://derbykshistory.com/items/show/49.