The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-12-20
Possible Collision between y.
Troops and NissOurians.
IFrom tho Missonri d mocral ]

city, we have been shown n private letter from
Leavenworth City, under date of Dec. sth,
giving the following startling intelligence
The people of Leavenworth are greatly
excited-bands Of Mlssourians from the Dor.
der counties, known here as .'r ufhans,v have
come over into Kansas and are threatening
Lawrence with destruction 4 company Of
some fifty, headed by man called Easton.
editor If the Herald of this city. all drunk
and majority Of them border Mssourians.
started from here and marched off for the
seat o. tcar, rs eur sister city is now called.
The origin OF the grave calamity which now
threatens to stir up strife was as follows: IA
private difficulty arose between two individ-
/ uals about the rights of both to a claim. The
upshot Of the matter was. one Of the two rot
killed. A false rulnor from this circum-
stance, reached the ears Of the Governor.
that the Sheriff was resisted in executing the
laws. At this time no writ had been issued
aud no complaint made bv which TO arrest
any person supposed to have been guilty of
violating the law.
Those who bore the report 10 the ears Of
the Governor, however, knew their man, and
as he had clustered d great deal at the hust-
ngs and on the stump, that he would enforce
the laws and SO on. he seized the occasion on
the faith Of Il flying and partizan report,
without making inquiry, rs a prudent man
should have done. 10 learn how the diligently
was, foolishiy and hurriedlyto order out the
militia Of the territory and TO publish a ter
rible proclamation calling upon claw and or
der men" 10 aid in enforcing the law This
proclamation Of the Governor did the work
it was intended to do by those who were in
strumcnta in having him issue it, II was
intended rs a cover for an attack long since
medItated on Lawrence by the fire. eaters.-
1t has swept the scum of the border coup
ties Of Missouri over into our territory, VOW
| ing death 70 cyery man in Lawrence
| ten. Richardson, II well disposed man.
and Of some prominence ia cur Territory
since the excitement. has been TO Lawrence
and had talk with her people He reports
| that they declared that they were always, and
are now ready TO deliver up to the author
| ties any one OF their number for whom those
authorities had a writ; bur refused. rs sen
! sible men would, 10 suffer one Of their num-
| Der to be arrested by an irresponsible mob
II Is perfectly understood here that Gov
Shannon's proclamation and buster were in
tended to play into the hands Of Atchison.
! Strlngfe!low, and gang. Volunteer compa-
MES were raised in the border counties If
| Missouri with wonderful alacrity immediate
| " upon It's promul cation. 1t Is said there
are now cneamped near Lawrence from one
70 twd4housand armed men, and other com
panies are hurrylng on to ioin them Most
| Of them are resident Missourians. and Atch-
| lson and StrinGfellow arc out urging an at
tack.
/ The Lawrence men stand firm and will not
| yield till they are forced. They have nicely
| calculated their strength, and they hold 10
i the belief that II Will take 5000 10 take Law
! 4 ~ -
! blood. The Lawrence men arc entrenched.
have experienced commanders. and are well
armed TO man. They are calmly and reso
! luteiy waiting an ATTACK. Col. Lane, Of Law
renee, has sent dispatch requesting aid
/ from this city. He saws fight Is inevitable.
Col. sumner. eammandant Of the Fort, is
awaiting orders from Washington. Richard
son, comm lndcr Of the militia. has been
striving 10 bring about an amcaba settle
/ ment, bat Strlngfell0w, Easton aud gang say
| no. Although the Lawrence men have shown
4 disposition TO do what il right. il seems
/ that they must fight, or take the alternative
Of beng massacred. Lawrence has at this
time 500 men under muster; their weapons
OF defence are Sharps rifles and reyolyers.
1t is said that the Mlssournns have five ME
ces of cannon IN addition 10 their small arms
These cannon We're got by them in the fol-
loving manner: About one hundred Of them
broke INTO the arsenal at Liberty. Clay coun-
", Missouri. secured the man in charge by
tying him, took the cannon. shells, ETC.. on
nand, and marched off ~ Lawrence. Col.
Sumner has sent force 10 recover the arms
stolen, and to protect the arsenal from fur
ther plumber. Atchison, il is said, is encamp-
ed with some - men, about l. miles from
Lawrence, waiting for endorsements There
/ - APT az hat
tated, and is trying to advise the Missourians
to 90 home, having ut last convinced himsel If
that this Is the only way to avoid collision.
tie rs obliged. however, 10 advise with Atch-
ison and Stnngielow, and they, believe, re-
: quire the Lawrence men TO surrender their
arms. This they consider as equivalent TO
laying down their lives, and of course they
Will not consent. Negotiation and compro-
mise thus far have been frutless Il ID
thought that the crisis in Kansas affairs has
come at last. The fight is expected to begin
tomorrow, and if so it must be BLOODY one
tor the Lawrence men viii fight with no ex-
pcctatlon OF quarter. Ii is thought by the
T Free State men here that the Missourians will
attack this city, whether successful or not at
Lawrence. They have vowed the destruction
OF the Register press, and may throw it into
the river, as they did the Parkyille Luminary
Possibly Col. sumner. in endeavoring tc
retake the arms stolen from the arsenal, may
bring about collision between the United
States troops and the border rufhans.
In the present condition Of the public mind
a trile may turn the strife into quite fer
ent channel from that anticipated by thos,
who originated it, To give YOU an idea Of
the excitement in this place, need only state
; that business Is entirely suspended, anc
groups of men arc on the streets talking OF
I, the war, as If Il terrible calamity was impend
ing. which cannot be ayerted