The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-08-25
BY G. w. BROWN & co.

known him." said one old man, ''for
seventeen years; he believed, as every
body did, until within the last six oreight
years, that slavery was curse to State,
and that Missouri would go ahead faster
if she was free soil; but as for interfering
with slavery. sir, or running negroes
away. he was as far from that as any hu-
man being is.'' 'sThe fact of the mat
ter is" said another citizen, che was
strong Benton man; he interfered too
much with Dayy Atchison's schemes; it
was necessary TO rujn-him if Dayy was
10 succeed. and Davy soon found pre-
text for running him. .
But, to return to Mr.. Park. So in
tense is the pro-slavery feeling at Park
vile, as well as at Kansas City, at West
port and thro'out the Territory, that men
are capable of believing anything against
their political opponents. a gentleman
la member ofa lcgislature-who in Or
dinary times would be conservative cit
izen, and laugh at such astory-gravely
told me that it was believed by many
persons in Platte county, and that he be-
lieved that Mr.. Park was one of Murrill's
men! He said that Mr.. Park came to
that settlement seventeen years ago, and
bought out an original squatter for a
small sum. For six or eight years he
lived in little log cabin, which hadn't
more furniture in it than one man could
carry. He left every fall, added the mar
rator, ont the pretense of paying the taxes
on his lands in Texas; but it was observed
that he always brought more money back
with him than he took away. Now, if
he had any lands at all, they must have
been wild lands, which couldn't sell for
much: then where did be get the money?
That's the rub-a-dub- dub, as Hamlet OBJ
served-isn'tit, o Sir? This gentleman
stated that Mr.. Park had continued to in
crease in wealth, although apparently he
had never carried on any lucrative or ex-
tensive business.
Industrious men generally do continue
to increase in wealth, | thought, even
when unconnected with highway gangs.
Another gentleman said that Mr.. Park,
before the city was laid out, used to sell
whiskey to the Indians in eontravention
of the provisions of the United States
laws on the subject, and tiathe was tried
for the offense several times, and escaped
only with extraordinary exertions. He
said, also, that he had heard that Mr..
Park and a brother-in-law of his, once
sunk barrel of salt in the sand on the
opposite side of the river, and used to |
catch the Indian ponies and swim them
across to Missouri whenever tfey came I
up to hex the salt. "Did you ever?''-
NO! l neyer!''
Another slavery citizen told me,
that few days after the Luminary was
thrown into the Missouri, a stranger
came to the city, and heard people talk
ing about Mr. Park. lie asked if it was
Mr.. Park who had lands in Texas?-I
Yes. Well. that man, said the stranger,
was tied up to tree in Texas in 1882 or
'33. and whipped for stealing negroes!-
"Would you know him asain?" He
did not know that; twenty three years
made great change in mans appear
ance Soon after, Park approached in
company with several citizens. That's
the man, said the mysterious stranger,
pointing to Mr. Park, or it was brother
of his. This mans affidavit was taken
and published. but what is more singu-
lar, it was believed! The word of an un-
known man, most probably the paid tool
of politician, was taken against the es-
tablished character of well knowR, old
and respected citizen!
Such is theexeited state OF feeling along
that border, that men, otherwise clear
sighted and sensible, believe these RI
dicufous stories. Thank Heaven there is
only one subject that can excite me; and
thank Heaven, too, that politics can't be
put up in muslin!
/ visited the churchyard of Parkville.
1t is a thoroughly democratic burying-
place. No costly monuments or expen-
sive grave-trappings remind one of the
miserable social distinctions which divide
men, or the puerile pride which charac-
terize so many of them. The headstones
are plain aud simple. saw no evidence
of bad taste except the word ''consort"
for wife, on headstone, which | instant
ly turned my eyes away from in con-
tempt
There is one graceful little marble OBJ
elisk standing on a pedestal of granite,
opposite the gate. Both are not over
four feet high. 1t is surmounted by a
dove. 1t looks very pretty and appro-
PIRATE; appropriate, because cheerful
looking and unpretending. as everything
in the churehyards of believers in mer-
eiful God should be.
Standing at the foot of the grave, you
read:
ELIZA was kind and good. Her
memory is sweet
On the right hand side
"0n this side lies her infant son.
| On the other
Bury her husband near to this side.
In life they were one; let not death sep
arate''
As You turn to the remaining side,
with your feet near the head of the grave,
you read:
/ Sacred to the memory of Eliza Ann
Park, wife of George S Park, who died
April %. 1855, aged 27 wears. % /
ana so happy nowi Praise the Lord
Blessed Jesus!'''
The last words quoted were spoken By
Mrs. Park on her DEATH bed last year,
during her husbands visit TO Texas.
| Unfortunate Park-calamit;es have
accumulated on his head OF late. Within
a year past, death has deprived him of
| his wile-a woman, as his friends aud
enemies alike confess. universally below
ed-of his sister-in-law. and two infant
sons. A political conspiracy has driven
him from his home, and robbed him of
thousands of dollars. His last surviving
child died ten days ago. and his sister
on Saturday. She had come up to see
after his property a
Dayy has raised storm which viii
vet shatter his hopes. trust. So yenge-
| fui is he In Platte county at present. that
some citizens who wish to subscribe for