Carrie Nation Visits Ottawa

Mission Here Peaceful

Will Give a Public Lecture Tonight at the First Baptist Church.

("Ottawa Daily Republican," 25 Jan 1901, page 3, column 3)

A modestly dressed, pleasant faced lady in black traveling suit debarked from the east bound Missouri Pacific train this afternoon. She was instantly noticable from the fact that under the right eye was a heavy black bruise, and over the breadth of her dress were the evidence of a campaign of decayed eggs.

It was Mrs. Carrie Nation.

She was driven to the Centennial, and thence to the residence of Rev. Mr. Cain on Poplar; Mrs. Cain is a friend, and it was Mrs. Nation's mission to pay her a visit. Mrs. Cain is absent, and the famous visitor was then driven the residence of Mr. Mel Hand, 836 East Seventh.

Here she was almost immediately the center of a veritable throng of people: news of her arrival spread rapidly, and many interested people called.

To a Republican report Mrs. Nation talked freely and pleasantly. She related in detail a sensational experience at Hope, Kas., last night.

After the Abilene episode, when she was assaulted by the irate wives of saloon keepers and received a black eye, she received a telegram from Hope stating that there were two saloons there and asking her to come. Accompanied by a supposed body-guard - for several newspaper reporters are now in her train - she went on to Hope. To her surprise no one met her; she drove - alone, for the reporters all rushed to the telegraph office - to a hotel suggested by the hackman. The landlord was of forbidding appearance and gave her a surly welcome. When escorted to her room she observed that the window was up; at her request the host closed (but did not fasten it).

About 2 a.m. Mrs Nation awoke, through a sense of choking; the room was full of smoke, of a specially vile and nauseating odor. She investigated, and discovered that the smoke was being blown through the again opened window, and through the key-hole of the door. Presently a rap came to her door, and on her demand a voice stated that it was the landlord, and hwanted to toak to her. She refused him admittance. He then said she was wanted down stairs; "a committee desired to see her." The plucky woman plumply informed him that in her opinion he was a liar - she heard no indications of the presence of people. Instantly there was a prodigious tramping about, but of too mechanical a character to deceive - she remained in the room. At an early hour she left the inhospitable house, and sought asylum at another hotel. Here she received the same cavilier treatment, and indignantly retired. Of a small boy she met on the street she anxiously asked, "My little fellow, are there no Christian women in the place?" and received the pert reply, "N-no marm, but they's some in the country."

She secured breakfast at a restaurant, and on arrival fo the train took passage for Ottawa. Not until daylight did she discover that her dress was plentifully spattered with rotten eggs, the effects of a burbardment the night before at Enterprise.

Mrs. National has a brother, C. H. Moore, at Louisburg, whom she will visit: it is her purpose to rest up a bit.

"I am badly beaten up, and fatigued," she said, "and want to rest. I will do no more individual work. But as long as I can get women to saloons. It is my purpose to organize leagues of women in all towns, who will give the saloon keepers to understand that they must close or suffer consequences."

Mrs. Nation will lecture tonight, at 7:30, at the First Baptist church, under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. All ministers and the public invited.