In the late summer of 1903, the town of Winfield, Kansas, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 19-year-old Port B. Smith. On the evening of August 13th, a large crowd of around 2,000 people had gathered at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Main Street for a weekly concert by Caman's Band. The festive atmosphere was tragically cut short when Gilbert Twigg, a 35-year-old Army veteran and local mill employee, opened fire on the unsuspecting audience from a nearby alley.
Port B. Smith, a young man and the son of B. E. Smith who resided just southeast of the town, was among those struck by the gunfire. He was seriously wounded in the attack and was transported to a local hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts to save him, Smith succumbed to his injuries the following day, on August 14, 1903. His funeral was later held at his family's home.
The perpetrator, Gilbert Twigg, used a shotgun to carry out the indiscriminate attack, resulting in the deaths of eight other individuals and injuring at least 25 more. After firing into the crowd, Twigg was pursued by two men from the concert. Before he could be apprehended, he took his own life with a revolver. In his boarding room, police discovered letters that indicated his motives stemmed from a past failed relationship and a desire for revenge against the residents of Winfield, whom he felt had ostracized him. There were no arrests to be made, as the sole suspect in the massacre was deceased.
