Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-06-18
LAWRENCE, Nav 26, 1856.


LAWRENCE, May &c, 1856.
Here l am at home, and rejoice to
learn that there are some circumstances
that apologize for the conduct of the
Lawrence men. All circumstances go
to prove that it was preconcerted thing
among the Territorial officials. Shannon
enrolled the Southern mob as Terrific
rial militia, TO enforce The laws. The
pro-slaverv party and all their border
papers were clamorine forth to the world
that we are resisting, and aOould reSisl
U. S. authority. Our people held meet
ings, passed resolutions, and sent as the
expr, ssicn of the meeting to Donaldson,
that they stood ready to assist him in
making arrests under the authority OF
the .. S. They sent messengers 10 him
to assure him of this; yet on last We'd
nesday he came with large posse Of
the Southern mob, and arrested jenkins
and Deitzler Jones' mob were on Cap
itol hill all day, having come there in
the morning as soon as the Marshal made
his arrests. He disbanded the wretches
In the street, and Jones joined them with
his company, proclaimed himself Dep
uty U. S. Marshal, and III the name Of
the U. S. demanded the arms, both pri.
vate and public property in town-said
that if they were not given up the town
should be destroyed-said the Court al
Lecompton had ordered it. The can
mons were hid under Jenkins tin store,
and Pomeroy like an old fool went and
and hauled them out, and ordered oul
boys to help, but not one would touch it,
until some OF them were forced to do SC
with the revolvers of the enemy at then
heads, swearing that they would elbow
their damned brains out" if they would
not obey. They only got about three
or four Sharpe's rifles. The boys hid
them as well as they could. One Of
them put his in one leg of his pants, and
limped along as though his joints were
stiff. After they had got all the arms
they could, Atchison and Jones proclaim
ed that the court at Lecompton Judge
Lecomptie, had pronounced, the Free
State Hotel, the Printing Presses and
Blanton's Bridge all nuisances, and or
dered them TO remove the same. The
presses were attacked first, and my des-
criptive powers fail TO paint to you the
scene of desolation that the offices now
present. The presses broken in every
place that could break, he papers and
books torn and strewed all over town,
the ink smeared over all, the stoves bat.
tered and broken, the type thrown into
the river, and stlewed like hail through
the streets. The hotel went next, as
have told you. Pencil sketches of ii
have been taken, tof the ruins. and ii
will soon be pictured in newspapers all
over the Union.
The work of pillage and plunder still
went on. When they first entered, the
women and Children flew like frightened
birds across the ravine to Jenkins house,
and about fifty houses were entered by
the mob. They tore up beds, ripped
them open to find arms. They smashed
looking glasses, dishes, furniture, and
even children's toys, ate everything they
could, and destroyed the rest of the pro-
visions, broke open trunks and stole
money and clothes from johnson house;
including all the boarders lost, about ten
thousand dollars were stolen in money
drafts and land warrants. Mr.. Stowell
had about $4,000 in drafts and land war;
rants stolen. They stole watches, chains,