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*Project Gutenberg\'s Etext of Volume 12 of Brann The Iconoclast*
W >> William Cowper Brann >> *Project Gutenberg\'s Etext of Volume 12 of Brann The Iconoclast* Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 Scanned by Charles Keller with
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THE COMPLETE WORKS OF BRANN THE ICONOCLAST
VOLUME XII
CONTENTS
A CHAPTER WRITTEN IN THE LIFE BLOOD OF W. C. BRANN AND
THOS. E. DAVIS
OTHER STATEMENTS
BRANN'S DEATH
DAVIS FOLLOWS BRANN
W. H. WARD
THE OBSEQUIES
THE LATEST TRAGEDY
BRANN AND BAYLOR
TERRIFIC DEADLY CONFLICT
THE LATE TRAGEDY
THE PASSING OF WILLIAM COWPER BRANN
REST--REST IN PEACE
A MEMORIAL TO W. C. BRANN
DEATH OF W. C. BRANN
A PEN PICTURE OF BRANN
SEMPER VIVATIM MEMORIAM
BRANN'S BRAVE BATTLE
BRANN IS NO MORE
BRAVE AND BRAINY BRANN
BRANN, OF THE ICONOCLAST
A MARTYR TO FREE SPEECH
EDITORIAL ETCHINGS
SIMPLE STATEMENT OF FACTS
LET THE PLAIN TRUTH BE TOLD
THE LAST LESSON
SALMAGUNDI
THE DEATH OF BRANN
PRIVATE VENGEANCE
BRANN, THE FOOL
WILLIAM COWPER BRANN
SPEAKING OF GALL
BLUE AND GRAY
HUMBUGS AND HUMBUGGERY
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BRANN'S REPLY TO SLATTERY
THE LOCAL OPTION LUNACY
OLD GLORY
THE LONE STAR
SLAVE OR SOVEREIGN
RAINBOW CHASERS
Extracts from The Waco "Weekly Tribune," Issue of
Saturday, April 2, 1898.
A CHAPTER WRITTEN IN THE LIFE
BLOOD OF W. C. BRANN AND
THOS. E. DAVIS.
THE STREET DUEL TO THE DEATH
IN WACO STREETS.
THERE ARE TWO MORE WIDOWS
AND EIGHT MORE ORPHANS.
The Full Recital of the Double Tragedy, the Deaths, the
Burials and Subsequent Events--Will This End It?
In God's Name Let Us Hope It Will.
Died--At 1.55 o'clock A.M., April 2nd, W. C. BRANN.
Died--At 2.30 o'clock P.M., T. E. DAVIS.
Friday afternoon, November 19, 1897, marked a
street duel and tragedy in which two men were killed,
one lost an arm, and an innocent by-stander was injured.
Friday afternoon, April 1st, 1898, within an hour of
the time of the first tragedy, and within a half block of
the locality of the other, W. C. Brann and Tom E.
Davis engaged in a street duel in which each of them was
mortally wounded, and three others received slight
wounds. Four fatalities within five months of each other
are bloody records in the history of the city of Waco,
all of which can be traced to the same source, all of which
were born of the same cause. The publication last
year in the ICONOCLAST and the incidents following the
publication are well known. They have been published
far and wide, the kidnaping of Brann, the assault upon
him by the Scarboroughs, the Gerald-Harris affair, and
the hurried departure of Brann on one occasion. During
all these incidents Tom E. Davis was an outspoken citizen
of Waco. He denounced the author of the ICONOCLAST
articles and said he should be run out of town
and had continued throughout it all to condemn the
"Apostle." This caused bad blood between them, and
although Davis had remained in the city all the time,
and Brann had been on the street constantly, there had
been no outbreak or conflict. Each knew the feeling of
the other in the matter. Such are incidents preceding
the shooting and leading up to it.
. . .
To trace the movements of the two men during Friday
afternoon appears easy at first, but as the investigator
proceeds in his search for information he meets conflicting
statements. Tom Davis left his office on South
Fourth Street, No. 111, about 5 o'clock or a few
minutes later. Brann, accompanied by W. H. Ward, his
business manager, is alleged to have been standing at
the corner of Fourth and Franklin Streets as Davis
passed to the postoffice corner, en route to the transfer
stables. In his ante mortem statement Davis says that
he heard Brann remark, "There is the s----of a b----
who caused my trouble." Davis didn't stop or resent the
insult, but passed on. Soon after he called on James I.
Moore at his office in the Pacific Hotel building and
together they were discussing the city campaign. According
to Mr. Moore's statement, he was standing with his
back to the south facing the door and was looking toward
Austin Avenue. Davis was facing him, his back to the
avenue, and in a position which prevented him seeing
anyone approaching from Austin Avenue. Brann and
his companion approached coming south, and as they
passed, Mr. Moore says, Brann halted, looked him
squarely in the face and passed on. Davis did not see
the editor and his manager, as he chanced to turn
just as they came up and as it happened he kept his back
to the "Apostle" and his companion. From Mr. Moore's
office, Davis passed into the Pacific Hotel bar and thence
to his office. Brann and Ward soon after returned to
the Pacific; there they met Joe Earp of Laco, from the
western part of the county, and the three walked together
to Geo. Laneri's saloon. Brann and Ward passed into
the saloon, Earp remaining on the outside. They passed
out within a short time and passed down Fourth Street to
the Cotton Belt ticket office. Thence on to the newsstand
of Jake French, and while there the shooting occurred.
. . .
As to the shooting there are conflicting statements.
As in every tragedy eye-witnesses differ and citizens of
equal reputation for veracity and conservatism tell
different stories. They are all honest in what they say,
they all believe they saw what they relate, but the
conflict in statements is yet there.
Messrs. W. W. Dugger, Joe Earp, M. C. Insley and
S. S. Hall agree as to the first shot. They say it was
fired by T. E. Davis at W. C. Brann, when Brann's back
was turned. Others say Ward participated in the shooting,
while numbers say that Ward did not. Here a conflict
occurs. At any rate, the first shot was fired by
Davis, and it was immediately returned by Brann. Ward
got between the two and in the firing he was shot in the
right hand. Davis fell at the first shot from Brann's
pistol and writhed in agony. He soon recovered presence
of mind and raising himself upon his elbow returned
the fire, Brann standing off shooting into the prostrate
form, while Davis with unsteady aim was returning the
fire. Every bullet from the "Apostle's" pistol found
lodgment in the form of the duelist engaged with him.
All was excitement. It was an hour, 6 P.M., when South
Fourth Street was crowded, and the rapid report of the
pistols caused a stampede of pedestrians, each of which
feared contact with a stray bullet. In it all there was
one who displayed his devotion to duty, his bravery and
coolness--Police Officer Sam S. Hall. Mr. Hall was
standing near the insurance office of George Willig, not
forty feet away. He turned at the first report, and
seeing the duel in progress, bravely made his way toward
the men. Brann was shooting from the north, and it
was toward the north the officer started. Davis was
facing north. At each fire of the gun Officer Hall would
screen himself in a doorway, dart out and rush to the
next, gradually nearing them. Officer Dave Durie was
across the street, and he started also, but Officer Hall
reached them first, but too late. Each man had finished
shooting, Davis had fallen back upon the pavement and
his pistol rolled from his hand. Brann was standing,
pistol in hand, its six chambers empty, looking upon the
lengthened form of his antagonist. He had not spoken.
Wounded in three places, blood was soiling his linen and
his clothes. He was yet upon his feet, and Officer Hall,
not knowing how serious were his wounds, started with
him to the city hall, being joined almost immediately
by Officer Durie.
Davis was wounded in many places. Bullets had
plowed their way through flesh and bone, and unable
himself to move, blood flowing freely from various wounds,
his friends lifted him tenderly and gave him comfort as
best they could, surgeons responding quickly to the call.
Ward had been in the midst of the fray, but received
but one wound, in the hand. He was between the two
men at one time and then sought safety against the wall.
When the smoke cleared away he went to the Old Corner
drug store to have his hand dressed. Here he was arrested
later by Deputy-Sheriff James Lockwood.
During the shooting Eugene Kempner, a musician of
Kansas City, was struck in the sole of the right foot by
a stray bullet, and a street car motorman, Kennedy by
name, was struck in the left leg by a bullet. Neither of
these injuries are serious.
While in the news stand, Mr. Davis became conscious
of approaching dissolution and desired to make an ante
mortem statement. Assistant County Attorney Sluder
was present, and County Clerk Joney Jones, and to them
he gave the following version of the affair:
DAVIS STATEMENT.
"I left my office and started to Manchester's livery
stable. At the corner of Franklin and Fourth Streets
passed Brann and Ward. Brann remarked, there goes
the damn s---- of a b---- that has caused all my trouble.
Passed on and went to Manchester's stable on some
business, then came back to Waite's saloon and stopped for a
drink. I then started for my office, but near Haber's
store on Bankers' Alley I met them again. They began
to curse and abuse me again.
"Went on to the office; they followed me and I went
to the urinal in the rear, then came to the front of the
office. At the door Brann said, 'There comes the dirty
cur and s---- of a b----; he will take anything.' Brann
then pulled his gun and I shot at him; my gun hung in
the scabbard. The reason he shot me was because I was
loyal to my town and always expressed myself. He murdered
me. They both shot me after I fell. They shot
in my back, blinded me and I could not see. I make
this statement, for I know I am dying. He has been
trying to kill me for three months."
* * *
OTHER STATEMENTS.
EYE-WITNESSES GIVE SOMEWHAT CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS.
Joe Earp, a young fellow from the western part of the
county, who was in town that day, said:
"I met Mr. Brann in front of the Pacific Hotel, and
having heard of him and read after him, I was curious
to know him. It was our first meeting; in fact, the first
time I had ever seen him. We talked together, Mr.
Ward with us, to Laneri's saloon. They went inside and
I left them. In a few minutes they came out and crossed
the street, going to the Cotton Belt ticket office. They
moved together towards Austin Avenue, but half turned,
conversing one with the other. They reached the newsstand
and stopped. I saw a man whom I have been told
was Tom E. Davis, come out a door and shoot. Brann's
back was turned to the man, and while I did not see the
bullet strike him, I supposed he was shooting at Brann.
Ward turned as soon as the shot was fired and reached
for the pistol. Brann turned instantly, gun in hand,
and commenced shooting. Ward got in between the two
and then jumped away, against the wall. Davis fell at
Brann's first fire and rolled over a time or two, and
raising himself on his elbow, returned Brann's fire. They
emptied their pistols. When Davis fell Brann stepped
back a short distance and then advanced toward Davis,
shooting at him, but he never approached nearer than six
feet. Ward never fired a shot. I saw the whole affair and never
did he fire or produce a pistol. When the
shooting was over a man came out of the office and took
Davis' pistol from the walk."
J. C. Patterson was seen. He stated:
"I was with R. H. Brown of Calvert. We walked
into the street from the Pacific Hotel sidewalk, and were
walking north when we heard a shot. Three shots were
fired quickly and I saw Davis fall. I remarked, 'They
have killed Tom Davis.' I saw two men shooting, or
Brann had two pistols. Davis raised on his elbow and
returned the fire. I did not see the first shot."
Sherman Vaughan said:
"I was passing along Fourth Street and reached a
spot just in front of Geo. Laneri's saloon. I heard a shot,
and looking toward the place from whence the sound
came, I saw Tom Davis reeling backward toward the wall
in front of his place of business. He either fell against
the sign in front of his office or the wall, I could not tell
which. Mr. Brann was standing some eight or ten feet
from him with a pistol in his hand and smoke was between
them. Then followed a rapid succession of shots.
I could not see Mr. Davis shoot for the smoke, but could
see Mr. Brann plainly. Mr. Davis fell to the sidewalk
and then almost rose to his feet and fell again. He then
rolled along the sidewalk towards the alley and must
have turned over half a dozen times. Then another man,
whom I do not know, joined in, and he and Brann fired
shot after shot at Mr. Davis as he rolled along the
sidewalk. The police then came up and took Brann away.
I did not see what became of the other man."
Mr. James I. Moore said:
"I had met Tom Davis in front of my office in the
Pacific Hotel building, and we discussed the proposed
meeting at the city hall. He and I walked out on the
sidewalk just in front of my office. I stood at the south
side of the door facing north and Mr. Davis stood directly
in front of me on the sidewalk by the wall. We were
about two feet apart. While talking, W. C. Brann came
down the sidewalk from the direction of Austin Street.
He advanced within two feet of Mr. Davis and myself and
stopped; looked me squarely in the face and then at Mr.
Davis. I did not speak to Brann and don't think Davis
saw him until after he passed on. Brann passed on in
the direction of the postoffice. Almost immediately after
Brann left, Davis left me and walked up Fourth Street
towards his office, and I saw him cross the street to his
office. I then advanced to the edge of the sidewalk and
stood there alone about four or five minutes, when I
heard a shot in the direction of Davis' office. I looked
that way and three shots seemed to be fired almost
simultaneously. Davis fell to the sidewalk and writhed as
if in terrible agony. Brann seemed to be nearest to
Davis, a very large man being close in Brann's rear.
This man, I learned afterwards, was W. H. Ward. While
Davis was rolling on the sidewalk both of these men were
very rapidly firing upon Davis. They seemed to poke
their pistols almost against Davis' body as they fired.
After the first four or five shots the smoke became too
dense to see all that occurred. The first sight seemed to
chill my blood and I became too horrified to move."
H. C. Chase, 509 North Ninth Street:
"I was standing at the alley near Geo. Laneri's saloon
and heard somebody say, 'Look out!' I glanced across
the street and saw Tom Davis on the sidewalk. He had a
gun in his hand and fired at once. Brann and Ward
were a few feet distant. Brann had turned slightly,
but his back was still towards Davis when the latter fired.
Ward jumped back and grabbed at Davis' gun as the
latter fired the second time. Brann fired as soon as he
turned around and at his second shot Davis fell backwards.
Ward, it seemed to me, had gotten to one side of
Davis and was reaching for Davis' gun. As the latter
fell back, Ward backed up to the building. He did not
have a gun and did not shoot."
M. C. Insley, shipping clerk for Brann:
"I was standing in the doorway of Sam French's
cigar store as Brann and Ward reached it. They had
just passed the doorway, going toward Austin Street,
when Davis appeared with a gun in his hand. He fired
at once. I could not see Brann at this time. Davis
fired the first shot and immediately I heard another shot,
I suppose from Brann, and almost simultaneously a second
shot from Davis. As the latter fired the first shot Ward
jumped and grabbed the muzzle of Davis' gun. He let
go as the shot was fired. He did not have a gun. I
backed away from the door. The shooting was thick and
fast. Davis fell back at the door of French's as Brann
fired the last shot and his gun dropped from his grasp.
John Williams, who appeared quickly, grabbed it, and
screening himself with the door-facing of the cigar store,
tried twice to shoot it and then somebody grabbed him."
W. W. Dugger, employed in the feed store of J. P.
Nichols, on North Second Street, said:
"I was talking with Policeman Sam Hall at the alley
next to the Cotton Belt ticket office when the first shot
was fired. We were close to the scene. I glanced
instantly in that direction and saw Tom Davis with a
smoking pistol in his hand. At the same time I saw
Brann turn around and face Davis, from whom he appeared
to be distant about fifteen feet, I should judge.
He fired and fired again almost at the same time. In the
meantime, the man with Brann, whom I learned afterward
was Ward, had rushed up and caught Davis and it
seemed as if he struggled with him a moment. When
Brann fired a second shot, Davis fell. Ward had turned
him loose at this time. Davis rolled over and over on
the sidewalk and fired, I think, two shots while he was
down. While he was rolling over, Brann kept shooting at
him as fast as he could work the trigger. Mr. Ward did
not fire a shot. I saw the whole affair and know that
he did not and he did not exhibit a weapon of any kind.
He slipped back close to the building when he let go of
Davis, and when the shooting was over walked up the
street. I saw a man come out of Williams' place and
make an effort to get Davis' pistol. I can't say whether
or not he got it. I don't know where he went. Policeman
had reached the scene and arrested Brann."
Policeman Sam Hall said:
"I was standing in front of George Willig's office at
the alley and Fourth Street on the same side of the street
and say forty or forty-five feet away from the place
where the shooting took place. I was talking to Mr.
Dugger and was standing out on the sidewalk. Some
four or five minutes before the shooting occurred I looked
across the street and saw Brann and Ward standing in
front of the haberdasher store of L. Krauss, and at that
time Davis passed them and went on a couple of doors
and stepped inside of the storeroom at that point. I
then looked away, not having any idea at all of any
trouble, but just happened to see them. The next thing
I noticed was the men were close together in front of
French's newsstand with Davis between me and Brann
and Ward. The first of the trouble I saw Davis had his
pistol in his hand and instantly fired. Brann whirled and
commenced firing at Davis. I immediately started to
them, but had to work my way in and out of one door to
the other and work my way along the wall of the building,
as Brann was shooting directly toward me all the
time. I hallooed several times at them to stop shooting,
and just before I reached them Davis fell on the sidewalk
and Brann was still shooting. Davis attempted to
rise and Ward caught Davis by the shoulders and pulled
him back down on the sidewalk. Davis turned with his
face towards Brann and kept trying to fire, but his pistol
snapped. I jumped over Davis and caught Brann and
took the pistol out of his hands. Brann's pistol is a
Colts .41, latest improved, and was loaded all around
and all chambers were freshly fired. When I caught
Brann, Ward was standing up by the wall holding his
hand that was shot. I saw Ward fire no shots and I saw
no pistol in his hand. I then started with Brann to the
city hall, and as I crossed the street towards the Citizens
National Bank, Police Officer Durie came up and assisted
me in taking Brann on to the city hall."
* * *
BRANN'S DEATH.
IT CAME AS PEACEFULLY AS SLEEP TO A BABE.
After being taken to the city hall, Mr. Brann was
removed to his home, where Drs. Foscue, Hale, Graves and
C. E. Smith attended him. Soon after arriving there he
appeared to have reacted from the shock and there was
every indication of an improvement. At 11 o'clock there
was a change, hemorrhage of the lungs occurring
frequently. In addition to the immediate family circle a
number of devoted friends (and no man ever had more devoted
friends than Brann) were at the home, anxious to render
the offices of friendship. At midnight the physicians
said there was no chance and the family gathered about
the bedside. During the long minutes which followed, a
loving wife and two children sat by that bedside and
watched the unconscious man. His life hung by a thread
and while surgeon's science was being used to strengthen
the strand that held the life, Death's knife was on it.
They watched by his side, and as they watched they saw
him seek sweet repose. The anguish of the wife and
those children was terrible, but they awaited the visitation
to that happy home, kind friends being near to speak
sweet words of comfort. At 1.55 A.M. he died. His
features showed no pain, and when life left his body, the
face appeared as that of one in a sweet, peaceful sleep.
The remains of W. C. Brann were prepared early
Saturday morning and lay in state all day at the residence
on North Fifth Street. Hundreds of ladies visited the
home and viewed the face of the Apostle. It was natural
as life itself. He lay upon a catafalque in the parlors
at home and the visitors passed around the lifeless form,
looked upon the face and passed out.
Surviving Mr. Brann are his wife and two children,
Grace, aged 11 years, and Willie, a son, aged 6 years.
Brann himself was 44 years old.
Mr. Brann came to Texas about twelve years ago and
has been engaged in the newspaper business ever since.
He was connected in an editorial capacity with the Galveston
News, Houston Post, San Antonio Express and
Waco Daily News. In 1890, during the Hogg-Clark
campaign, he established the ICONOCLAST in Austin, Texas,
and made a fight for Hogg, making his first appearance
in the character which has made him famous. The paper
suspended publication and Mr. Brann accepted a position
on the San Antonio Express, which he held until the
latter part of 1894. He came to Waco in 1895 and began
editorial writing on the Waco Daily News. He decided
to reestablish the ICONOCLAST and it has been a great
success, reaching a phenomenal circulation, having readers
all over this country. The tragedy of Friday can
be traced to the attack which was made on Baylor
University in the ICONOCLAST. It was in Brann's peculiar
style, and attracted considerable attention throughout
the country. Mr. Brann is a native of Southern Illinois.
* * *
DAVIS FOLLOWS BRANN.
THE DEATH STRUGGLE AND KINDRED INCIDENTS.
While breaking hearts watched by Mr. Brann's bedside
there was a loving wife, a dutiful son and kind friends
sitting by the bedside of Tom E. Davis. For the first
six hours Dr. J. C. J. King, Dr. Curtis and Dr. Olive
endeavored to bring their patient about. He was
perfectly conscious, but was yet suffering from the shock.
At midnight he was no better and a change for the
worse was soon noted. The patient would awake from
the effect of opiates, talk with those about him and then
relapse again into slumber. He knew his son and wife,
friends who called and friends who spoke to him, but there
was rapid pulse and a labored breathing that indicated
the approach of death. Throughout the small hours of
the new-born day the wife sat by that couch, and with her
sat kind friends. Everything known to science was done
to save the life that fleeting breath told was fast ebbing
away. There was not a continued loss of blood, but
with a perforated frame, the creature of nature could
not exist, and it was evident he was fast nearing the end.
The dawn of early morning found the faithful watchers
yet at the bedside, and the rising sun peeped into the room
and shed a glow about the sick room, appearing to light
the way for the soul which was soon to wing its flight
to realms beyond. The circle about the couch enlarged,
children of the wounded man gathering about their weeping
mother, his sister and other relatives coming to watch
and wait. During the early hours of the morning and
until the forenoon was advanced, friends paced the lobby
of the Pacific hoping every moment for a report that the
patient was better. Each minute passed as an hour, and
the hours seemed as long drawn out days. Each report
from the sick room was "no change."
At noon it became evident that but a short time
remained. A. C. Riddle sat upon one side of the couch
and Richard Selman at the other, the first rubbing the
injured portion of the wounded right arm, while the other
moistened the parched lips with constant applications of
cold water. By Mr. Riddle sat the weeping wife, soon
to be a widow, and about the apartment were gathered
the children. The last hour of the citizen was one which
will never be forgotten by those who watched his last
moments. Labored was the breathing and every breath
was a gasp and a groan. His children stood by the couch
and saw the pain-racked form, and his wife held his hand
and prayed to the God of all people to spare him to her
for a longer time. Prayers were of no avail and tears
did not soothe the pain. He was in agony, and
accompanied with that agony was a desire to say something.
He relapsed into slumber at times and would at intervals
awake. His eyes would roll about the gathered friends
and relatives, and an unintelligible sound would escape.
There seemed to be no control of the tongue except at
times he could utter the words, "Wife" and "Molly."
The silence in the sick room was disturbed by the gasp
of the dying man and the weeping of his family.
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