Political Conspiracies in America by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780253350794
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 2008-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

“The ‘Red’ Sisterhood,” from Michael Schaack’s Anarchy and Anarchists (1889), depicts plotting anarchist women. Note the death mask in the background and the mannish figure of the women in the coven.

From the many meetings I learned that the Anarchists were discussing plans to revenge themselves on the police, but in each case, as soon as they were about to take some definite action, some one would move an adjournment or suggest the appointment of a committee to work out the plan in some better shape. When the next meeting was held the fellows who had done the loudest shouting would be absent, and then those who happened to be on hand would vent their wrath upon the absentees by calling them cowards. In many of the smaller meetings held on Milwaukee Avenue [Chicago] or in that vicinity, a lot of crazy women were usually present, and whenever a proposition arose to kill some one or blow up the city with dynamite, these “squaws” proved the most bloodthirsty. In fact, if any man laid out a plan to perpetrate mischief, they would show themselves much more eager to carry it out than the men, and it always seemed a pleasure to the Anarchists to have them present. They were always invited to the “war dances.” Judge [Joseph E.] Gary, [Illinois State Attorney Julius] Grinnell, [Chicago Police Captain John] Bonfield, and myself were usually remembered at these gatherings, and they fairly went wild whenever bloodthirsty sentiments were uttered against us. The reporters and the so-called capitalistic press also shared in the general denunciations. At one meeting ... there were thirteen of these creatures in petticoats present, the most hideous-looking females that could possibly be found. If a reward of money had been offered for an uglier set, no one could have profited upon the collection. Some of them were pockmarked, others freckle-faced and red-haired, and others again held their snuff-boxes in their hands while the congress was in session. One female appeared at one of these meetings with her husband’s boots on, and there was another one about six feet tall. She was a beauty! She was rawboned, had a turn-up nose, and looked as though she might have carried the red flag in Paris during the reign of the Commune.

This meeting continued all right for about two hours. Then a rap came on the locked door. The guard reported that one of their cause desired admittance, giving his name at the same time—and the new arrival was permitted to enter. He was a large man with a black beard and large eyes, and very shabbily dressed.... As soon as he reached the interior of the hall he blurted out hastily, in a loud voice:

“Ladies and brothers of our cause! Please stop all proceedings.... I was informed that you were holding a meeting here this evening, and that there is a spy in your midst.”

He looked around for a moment and finally said, pointing to the man addressed:

“If I am not damnably mistaken, you are the man .

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