Tag: Butler County KS

WE NEVER FORGET: FW James Gossard Who Died October 30, 1918, Awaiting Trial in Harvey County Jail, Newton, Kansas

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.
-Mother Jones
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WNF, IWW Martyr James Gossard, Harvey County Jail KS, Oct 30, 1918

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James Robert Gossard-25, IWW Martyr

IWW Emblem wiki

James Gossard was one of the members of the Industrial Workers of the World who were rounded up, in the fall of 1917, on the oil fields of Butler County, Kansas, and held under terrible conditions in the jails of Kansas while awaiting trial in federal court. Fellow Worker Gossard survived for about one year under these brutal conditions before dying of influenza and pneumonia on October 30, 1918, at Newton, Kansas, in the Harvey County Jail.

The story of his long ordeal is here told through newspaper and magazine accounts of the day.

From The Towanda News (Kansas) of December 20, 1917:

Arrest Four More I. W. W.-Four more I. W. W. were picked up by federal authorities in the Butler county oil fields and brought to the Sedgwick county jail [in Wichita]. They were James Gossard, John Gresbach, Morris Hunt and John Vagtch. There now are twenty-nine I. W. W. in the Sedgwick county jail.

From The Survey of September 6, 1919:

The Sedgwick County Jail Described by Winthrop Lane

WWIR, In Here For You, Ralph Chaplin, Sol Aug 4, Sept 1, 1917

The Sedgwick county jail is the worst place for incarcerating human beings that I have ever been in. Built forty years ago, it has undergone additions from time to time, so that to day it is not the compact structure that many jails are but has many wings and cages. There are cells for approximately 100 prisoners. It is filthy with the accumulated filth of decades. No longer would it be possible to give the jail a decent cleaning. The metal floors are periodically “laraped” with black jack, a greasy substance the chief effect of which is to fill the corners with a coagulated mass of dust and floor sweepings, hardened by the glue-like action of the black-jack. The toilets throughout are covered with dirt. Many of them are encrusted with excreta and a few actually stink. The men declare that they do not dare to sit down on them, because of the vermin. [Drawing added. For more on Sedgwick County Jail and worse of it, see below at “See also”.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Fellow Worker James Gossard Dies of Pneumonia in Harvey County Jail at Newton, Kansas

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little
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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday November 24, 1918
Harvey County Jail, Newton, Kansas – Fellow Worker James Gossard Dies

From New Solidarity of November 16, 1918 comes the sad news that another Fellow Worker has died behind bars. The headline reads:

Member Dies While Incarcerated

I. W. W. member jailed in the raids of the Butler county [Kansas] oil fields died of influenza and pneumonia while incarcerated.

From the Newton Evening Kansan-Republican of October 30, 1918:

FEDERAL PRISONER PNEUMONIA VICTIM
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James Gossard, I. W. W., at Least
Passed Last Days In Good Hands
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WWIR, In Here For You, Ralph Chaplin, Sol Aug 4, Sept 1, 1917

James Gossard, aged about 25, whose home is at Urbana, Ill., died at the county jail this morning about 5 o’clock, and he was turned over to the Duff undertaking firm, pending instructions from the federal authorities.

And herein lies a human interest story of unusual setting.

Gossard was a federal prisoner, being held here at the expense of the government, pending trial in court as an I. W. W. disturber, having been arrested in the raids of the Butler county oil fields. When the recent term of federal court was adjourned and seven of these men were sent here for safe keeping, five of them were ill with colds. Gossard was not sick then. The five recovered under treatment of Dr. Bennett, government physician. Then Gossard became ill with influenza and pneumonia set in. Sheriff Smith and wife forgot that he was one of the despised I. W. W. gang. He was given the best bed in the jail building, and placed to himself on the second floor. Dr. Bennett visited him several times daily, and nothing that could be done to relieve him was withheld. His fellow prisoners nursed him with the greatest care and devotion, taking turns at watching at his bedside and giving the medicines.

“You don’t need to bother about doctoring me,” he said. “I feel just like my time had come, and I am certain I am going to die.”

He made good on his hunch. His relatives live at Urbana, and the disposition of his body is up to them and Uncle Sam.

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[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Federal Agents Move Against IWWs in Kansas Oil Fields, Fifty Arrested in Butler County

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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IWW on War and Class Solidarity, Dec 1, 1916

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Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday November 21, 1917
Butler County, Kansas – I. W. W. Oil Workers Seized by Feds

IWW Label, IWWC Proceedings held Nov-Dec 1916

A round-up by federal agents of members of the Industrial Workers of the World has commenced in Butler County, Kansas. Reports from Kansas indicates that most of those taken into custody were members of the Oil Workers Industrial Union. Butler County is located just east of Wichita. The county seat is located at El Dorado.

From The Topeka State Journal of November 20, 1917:

FEDERAL AGENTS START A ROUNDUP
I.W.W. IN KANSAS
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Fifty Arrests Made in Butler
Oil Fields Today.
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Starts Gigantic Drive Thru
Forest of Derricks.
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ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES CLEANUP
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“Workers” Won’t Get Chance to
Duplicate Okla. Trouble.
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Robertson, U. S. District Attorney,
Will See to It.
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Kansas City, Nov. 20.-A roundup of I. W. W’s in the oil fields of Kansas is to be made immediately, Fred Robertson, district attorney for Kansas, announced late today. Already more than fifty alleged I. W. W.’s were arrested in the Butler county oil fields today, it was announced.

The arrests today were made in the vicinity of Augusta by state and federal agents, it was announced. A tent alleged to have been used for I. W. W. meetings there was raided and a great quantity of literature was seized.

The purpose of the raids will be to rid the oil fields of the state of undesirables, federal officers say, and each man arrested will be examined as to whether he was registered.

The presence of alleged I. W. W.’s in the Butler county fields recently led to the placing of armed guards.

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