The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-02
Original Correspondence.
Far the Herald af Frssdom.
The Butchery of r. P. Brown.
LEAvENwoRTH. Jan. 25, '56.

seen in The Kansas Herald (Leavenworth
City J what PROCESSES to be an account oil
the difficulty at Stranger Creek, so en-
iirely destitute of truth, that I have con-
eluded to give correct statement of what
did take place there, in order to do JUS
tice to the Free State men engaged, and
also to the memory of the brave and
noble-hearted BRowN-one of the first
martyrs to freedom in Kansas, who was
murdered by party of Border Ruff
fans in most brutal and cowardly
manner.
The election was held on Thursday
the 18th, and passed off without any diff
ficulty, except that two men on theirway
to the polls. were stopped by party
which had collected on the east side OF
the creek. and robbed of their rifles
and one man was taken by another party
and conducted nearly to Kickapoo, rob-
bed of his pistol, and was then released.
During the day large company had
collected at Daw>on's, and soon after
sunset came up within short distance
of Mr.. Minard's house, where the elee-
ton was held, and demanded the ballot
box, but were met in so resolute man.
ner that they thought best to retire with
out it, and made no further attempt ex-
cept to send two or three threatening
messages in writing demanding the bal.
lot-box, and threatening to come and
take 1t IT it was not given up. They did
not come however, and no further dis
turbance took place till about two or three
O'Clock In the morning. when word was
brought that Mr.. Sparks aud his sons,
who had started for home, had been
taken, and that they were threatening to
hang Mr.. Sparks. Mr. Brown immedi-
ately took party of fifteen men and
went to rescue Mr.. S., which was done
without violence or much resistance from
those who held him prisoner, and had
proceeded about one hundred yards OIL
his return 10 Minard's, when the pro
slavery party fired upon Brown and his
party. They Immediately returned the
fire, when their assailsnts SO suddenly
disappeared that they could see no enc
my to fight, and accordingly returned to
Minard's. One of Sparks sons was
slightly wounded by the first FIRE of the
pro-slavery party, and one or two oil
Browns party had some shot-holes in
their hats and clothes, but otherwise sus-
tained no injury.
No further disturbance took place
during the night, and in the morning all
seemed quiet, and the party from Leav-
enworth, eight in number, of which Mr.
Brown was one. started for home, and
had proceeded ab Ut half way when they
were met by the Kickapoo Rangers, con-
sisting of thirty mounted men, and about
the same number in wagons. They sur
rounded the wagon of the Free State
party, and yelling and shouting like de-
nous ordered them to surrender. Brown
and his companions jumped from the
wagon, and some of the party were fol
fighting, but a moments reflection con-
vinced them of the hopelessness of a
conflict of eight men with sixty or sew
enty, armed as they were with guns. re-
volvers aud hatchets, and concluded tc
make the best terms they could. The
guns belonging to BRowN's party were
Immediately seized, and everything il
the wagon also.
One of BRowN's party was knocked
down, and his head twice saved from
the hatchet of fiend by the name g
Gibson. They were then all taken back
to Dawson's, with the comforting asSur
ance that they should all be hung, if i
proved true, as they had heard, that two
or three pro-slavery men were killed il
the affray the night previous. On reach
ing Dawson's they were all shut up il
his store with strong guard, both in
side and out. and parties were sent in pur-
suit of Mr.. Minard and Mr.. Sparks. They
were to share the fate of the rest of the
prisoners.
One of BRowS's party was released ii
about an hour after reaching Dawson's
and Immediately left with the hope o
getting Brown outof their hands by le
~al process, as he had been assured by
the leaders after his own release that al
but Brown should be set at liberty
BRowN, Minard and Sparks they intima
ted their purpose to hang if they coult
catch the two last.
The party were sll discharged abou
sunset, except poor BRowN-he wa
detained, and after being insulted anC
abused was finally barbarously murder
ed. tits not known by his friends ex
actly what took place after the other;
left, but he was brought to his home
about midnight, with three gashes cut il
the side of his face-no doubt with {
hatchet-exhausted. bleeding and be-
Humbed with cold. He fingered al
hour or two. perfectly sensible though
very weak. 1t is believed that he died
from loss of blood from the temporal ar
terry. He leaves wife and one child.
Judge Lecompt, on being applied to
promptly issued a writ to take BRowN IN
to custody, but no officer could be found
to serve it. An effort was made to have
an inquest held, but no officer could bt
found willing to hold one
Mr.. BRowN had resided here bu
a few months, but in that time
he had secured the respect and esteem o
all who knew him. He was candidate
J ~ do,,bt ala.tad to tha sSoo,hiv