I knew it meant smashing
and imprisonment, possibly, loss of life, for I wrote Sister Wilhoite, "I
am coming to do all I can to destroy the works of the devil, and if need
be to die." At first, I told her to keep things quiet. Then I thought it
best to give all an opportunity to have a part in this great work of saving
life here and hereafter, so I wrote a letter to the Topeka Journal making
a call for helpers setting Sept. 28 as the day. When I arrived in Topeka
I learned that the W. C. T. U would be in convention session on that day
in Wichita, and also that there was a carnival going on in the place, and
thought it providential to have a crowd. I arrived in Wichita the 28th,
the raid was postponed until the 29th. I took hatchets with me and we
also supplied ourselves with rocks, meeting at the M. E. church, where
the W. C. T. U. Convention was being held. I announced to them what
we intended doing and asked them to join us. Sister Lucy Wilhoite,
Myra McHenry, Miss Lydia Muntz, and Miss Blanch Boies, started for
Mahan's wholesale liquor store. Three men were on the watch for us,
we asked to go in to hold gospel services as was our intention before
destroying this den of vice, for we wanted God to save their souls, and to
give us ability and opportunity to destroy this soul damning business.
They refused to let us come near the door. I said, "Women, we will have
to use our hatchets," with this I threw a rock through the front, then we
were all seized, and a call for the police was made.
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