Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-21

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From the Kansas Correspondence Of the 81 Louis
Democrat
Kansas-Thc Unhappy Death Of CLARK
Origin of the Anray--Narr0w Escape of
McCrca-Additi0naiP Particulars.
PAoLI, Kansas TxRRIroRY, May 8, 1855.
DEAR SIR: The greatest, indeed, the most in
tense excitement is now prevailing among our
neighbors Of Leavcnworth City, and also Of Wes-
ton and ParkviIls, in Platte county, Missouri.
AT Leavenworth. on the last day Of April, . most
fearful tragedy occurred, which has aroused feel
ing of keen anxiety and apprehension in the minds
OF tho whole community.
You saw the resolutions Of the Parkville meet.
ing at the time that the press Of the Luminary was
thrown into the river They directed Park and
Patterson to leave Parkvillo In three weeks, and
not to come TO Kansas.
A few DAYS after wards, Z squatter Meeting was
held at Leavenworth City, to take into considers
ton the propriety Of giving further time 70 claim
ants TO come and live upon their claims. Mr.. Nc
Crea lawyer Of that place, opposed the extension
Of time. Mr.. Malcolm Clark replied TO Mr.. McCres,
and said that AcCrea was Did rascal anyway.
McCrea went or aud got pistol Wien he re-
turned, few more words passed, and Clarkstruck
him. McCrea drew hin pistol; Clark picked up a
board; McCrea ran, and Clark pursued him. In
the chase, Clark dropped his board, when McCrca
turned, and, holding his pistol within foot of
Clarks breast, fired, and shot him through the
heart.
The crowd, greatly incenssd, rushed upon Nc
Cres with sticks andstones, and began TO beat him
teribly--knocking out his front teeth, &c. He ran
to the river and jumped In, but Il happened to be
a miry spot, and he stuck up TO bis arms In mud.
He was dragged out andavote was taken whether
he should be hanged on the spot, or sent to Fort
Leavenworth for trial II was decided 10 send him
to the Fort. He was placed in carriage for that
purpose. The crowd by this time had greatly In
creased, and II was proposed to reconsider the
vote, which was done.
1t WAS then, by large majority, voted that he
should hang. A rope was immediately sent for,
but before 1t was brought, gentleman jumped
into the carriage beside McCrea, drew revolver
Leavenworth as fast as possible, or he would blow
his brains out, and said to the crowd that II they
hung McCres they would have 70 hang him also.
have not yet been able TO learn the name of
this gentleman, but hear he Is from Virginia or
Kentucky. No matter whence he came, he ID
bold and generous fellow.
On the next day, viz on the LIST day Of this
inonth--day before yesterday--the corpse Of Clark
was taken TO Weston, Missouri, Of which place he
had been citizen before his recent residence at
Leavenworth City. The people there gathered
over 1t, and made violent speeches. and passed
strong resolutions--one OF which was that they
would proceed to Fort Leavenworth and take NC
Crea and hang him. Friday, the 4th instant, was
fixed upon as the day OF his execution. OF course
he will be protected by the officers Of the Fort.
Clark was about thirty-eght or forty years Of
age, very athletic, bold and sclfconfdent and was
a strong pro-slavery man. McCrea was an aboli-
ZIONIST He was saved by pro-slavcry man.