Winfield massacre

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Winfield massacre
GilbertTwigg.png
Undated photograph of Twigg
Location Winfield, Kansas, U.S.
DateAugust 13, 1903
c. 9:00 p.m. (CT)
Target Civilians
Attack type
 Mass murder, mass shooting, murder–suicide
Weapon12-gauge double-barreled shotgun [1]
Revolver
Deaths10 (including the perpetrator)
Injured25+
PerpetratorGilbert A. Twigg

On August 13, 1903, a mass shooting occurred at a concert in Winfield, Kansas, United States. The perpetrator, 35-year-old Gilbert A. Twigg, fatally shot nine people and injured at least 25 others with a shotgun before committing suicide. [2]

Contents

The indiscriminate attack, uncommon for its time, has been described as "the precursor of modern mass shootings". [3]

Perpetrator

Twigg, born in Maryland in 1868, [2] was a miller and an Army veteran who served in the Philippine–American War and the American occupation of Cuba. [4] [5] Prior to his military service, he had lived in Great Falls, Montana, the Territory of New Mexico, and Burden, Kansas. [1] [6]

While in Winfield, he was an employee of Baden Mills and was known locally as "Crazy Twigg", though he was considered harmless, agreeable, and a hard worker. [6]

Massacre

At about 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 1903, a concert was being held by W.H. Caman and his military band at the corner of Ninth Street and Main Street in Winfield for a crowd of approximately 2,000–5,000 people. [6] [7] [8] Twigg, who was hiding in a dark alley behind the city's Odd Fellows building, fired shots into the crowd in rapid succession with a double-barreled shotgun. [7] Six died at the scene or shortly thereafter, and three later died in the hospital. [3] [9] After two men who were attending the concert entered the alley to disarm Twigg, he fatally shot himself with his revolver. [1]

In his boarding room, police found a letter written by Twigg addressed to the public in which he expressed disappointment following a breakup, as well as a desire to "[get] even" with residents of Winfield who he felt had shunned him and interfered in his personal life. [1] [3] [9]

Victims

The nine deceased victims were: [5] [10] [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Vengeance of a Maniac". Winfield Courier . August 20, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "A Twigg Snaps". New York Daily News . June 19, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Johnk, Zach (October 11, 2017). "Mass Killings of Long Ago: 3 Early Eruptions of 'Suppressed Rage'". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ Dickey, Christopher (April 24, 2003). "Shadowland: Beware Long Occupations". Newsweek . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Tragedy at Winfield". The Sharon Advocate. August 19, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 "Maniac's Awful Deed". The Sun (Chanute, KS). August 14, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Five Are Dead at Winfield". The Wichita Eagle . August 14, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Weinman, Sarah (August 24, 2016). "The Winfield Massacre". The Cowley Courier Traveler . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Twigg Killed Six Men". The New York Times . August 16, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Six Were Killed!". Weekly Republican-Traveler. August 20, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Funeral of Otis Carter". The Industrial Free Press. August 20, 1903. Retrieved March 7, 2025– via newspapers.com.
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