The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-08-04
The Sequel.


of Lawrence, where it was said body of !
Missourians, seyentyfye strong, had !
assembled for the purpose OF committing
depredations upon the free State inhabit- !
ants. We arrived at the place of our des-
tination between eight and nine O'Clock |
in the. evening, finding beautiful coun-
try between. and many unoccupied
claims. though the prairie everywhere
gave evidence that the Yankee was abroad |
in the land. Cabins Of various forms OF /
structure greeted the eye on either hand, |
whilst fields of waving corn, from ten to
twelve feetin height, gave evidence ofthe
produetiveness of the soil.
We found our friends, fifty strong, had
gathered at Palmyra, a little village laid
out by free State men. on the Santa Fe
road. and were prepared with rifles and
such other weapons as they could gather
up in hurry, resolved fan attempt was
made to destroy their homes to defend
them to the death. They had previously
experienced some difficulty there, and
suffered one or two houses TO be burned
by a horde of marau:lers who had resolved
that no free State men should settle In
that locality. They had picket guard
out, and exhibited qui.e wariike front.
They reported that the enemy was en-
camped some thrce-fou:ths OF mile west
of their village, but what their inten-
tons were, other than as they were OBJ
tanned in the morning. they had no means
of knowing. Some of the company had
counted them. and found they numbered
forty-two; others had taken the same
method to ascertain their strength and
they were sure there wers fifty. and all
were loaded with bowic-knivas. revolvers,
and either rifles or double-barrel shot
guns
We found, on thorough examination
of the whole matter, the facts TO be IS
follows -
A party of between forty and fifty per-
sons, we'll armed as described above, ar
rived within mile of Palmyra, from
Missouri, with twelve covered wagons,
drawn by horses and mules. and eneamP-
cd in a ravine for the night. They spent
their time, quietly until morning; when
they all discharged their guns, reloade d
them with balls, and marched-up to Pal
myra. Here they stopped and enquircd
for Mr.. BARRAckLow Not getting salts
faction as to his whereabouts, they en-
quEed for his property, and were very
urgent tohave it poin.ed out. Not being
gratifed in this respect, they vented then
wrath upon the people in the vicinity
whom they met, threatening to drive ev'
ery ..d-d aboiitionist- from the country
aud not leave one to tell the tale of theil
destruction. Kansas they said, "be
longsd to Missouri, aud id if the!
wouldn't take possession of it, and xii
the serfs and paupers who had settled
around there in such numbers.
Messengers were Immediately dispatch,
ed to different points for help, as the blus-
ter and threats were supposed to be II
earnest. Those in the immediate yicin
ity began to arrive with their guns, ane
place themselves in a position to be az
useful as possible in free fight"
Between ten and eleven O'Clock. tn
party started on, without committing an
violence, and camped in ravine west o
the town. where they were supposed {
have remained until night. 1t was con
cluded they we're reconnoiIering' ant
making observations where free o'ae
men resided. The body was wa.che'
through the night, whilst the principa
portion of our friends remained at Pal
myFa, sleeping on their arms, ready 10
instant service.
In the morning, with another gentle
man from Lawrence and one of the sci
tiers, we resolved on visiting the camp
and learning the intentions of the IN
vaders. In deep rasine, on the SAINT
Fe road, about three .ourihs of mil
from Palmyra, We came upon a camp
four wagons and two tents. Several pei
sons were sitting around, and amonl
Others We observed quite a number
svomea and children. After conyersin
with the party for while. we learne
that they were a company of yirgiIian
who had keen exploring the country fuI
ther south and west. and were returnin
to the eastern part of the Territory tha
they had arrived tie morning previous
found good country, determined upo
locating in the vicinity, and consequent
had pitched their tents, and commence
living; that soon after party oil ges
hunters, bound fer the mountains, wit
twelve covered wagons. came along froI
the east, and camped with them; that th
gold hunters remained until about tw
O'Clock, when they started on upon the
journey:sthat they purposed encampin
al Willow Springs. or few miles beyon
that point, that night.
We followed them about three miles Q
the Santa Fe road to Mud Springs. whel
we learned from an acquaintance resi-
ing there that the3 had thrown off the
war-like altitude. and that there was !
doubt tie party were bent on tour
earch of gold II is hoped, anon