The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-09-12
STATEMENT OF J. A. DAVIS.

About 100 men, composed of Georsians,
South Carolinians, Mssourions and Alaba-
nians, have been camping within six miles
Of the city of Leavenworth. On saturday
and Sunday, 3oth and 3lst ult., they all
came into the city to vote at the municipal
election, and to prevent the free State men
from voting. There was great excitement
in the city all day Saturday and Sunday
night by the firing of guns, and shooting by
the mob necessarily. They would enter
the groceries sndimperatively demand liquor
from those who kept them. No Tree State
man dared show his head in the streets, but
we're making their way out OF the city ss
well as they could, into the bushes, or any
where they could eecrete themselves, wives
and children. Many of the free State men
left their wives and childreE behind them
in the city, hoping that they would receive
no harms from the hands Of those in posses
| sion OF the city.
On Sunday night companies OF thirty TO
| fifty or more went all over the city, crying
| out in loud voice for all those who would
| not take up arms TO enforce the territorial
laws and repel the abolitionists 10 leave the
territory Immediately or suffer the conse-
auences They halted before my door /
did not 90 to the door, although was up.
In fact, / did not retire at all that night nor
the following night. Monday night. between
IL and le O'Clock, Cspt. Emory's company
came to my front door. opened the back
door with the intention of making my escape
into the bushes with my little child, two
years Of age, in my arms, but found the
house surrounded by armed men. Oae of
them touched my breast with his bayonet
and swore that II should not run away that
way" Invent back into the room and
half dozen of them rushed into the rom
and commenced searching the house-in-
suited the women by cursing and swearing
and pushing them with their guns. Two
men took hold of me and took me out doors
to Captain Emory, who asked me If was
x-sbiding citzent My answer was that
had never violated the law in the least de-
gree. He asked me if would take up arms
and fall into their ranks. told him would
not take up arms to fight. He then told me
| had better leave. About O'Clock, A. NJ
! ventured down street. | went TO the
Mayor, VIM f. Murphy, and asked him TO
extend his protection TO me. He said he had
no power TO protect any one who would not
take up arms on their side. He told me to
go to WIN H. Russell and Mccarthy. l.
went to see these gentlemen. told Dir.
Mccarthy that !, as brother Mason,
claimed bis protection and assistance, and
told him that ! gave him the grand hailing
sign Of distress, but he utterly refused to as
sist me. They were well acquainted with
me, and told me that if was willing to fight
on their side might stay.
am printer by trade. was there
working for the Catholic bishop at the Ca
lholic church; | did not 60 to my work on
Monday. was afraid 10 leave my house
and my family, for disorder, CONSERVATION
and dismay reigned all over the city. About
twenty women passed me with their chill
dsen aud budgets, running for dear life into
the bushes towards the fort. When ] went
down to see the Mayor, had TO 90 by Mr..
Phillips' house. saw seventy men drawn
up 10 front of the house. did not 90 near
enough TO hear the conversation, but saw
these men firing into the house, and heard
the women who were in the house scream
ing and crying, "hep, help, murder, muir
der" The excitement was extreme at the
time. asked one OF those who came run
ming towards me, what the trouble was, he
sid that the two Phillips were killed, and
that two Of Capt. Emory's men were killed
By Phillips. ] saw the people carrying the
furniture out Of Phillips house, in order 10
burn il up, but they were prevented by some
one. then left aud soon went home. On
Tuesday morning ! went TO my work. |
had not been al il more than ten minutes,
when ten men on horseback came and ask
ed for me. came out, aud they told me |
must 20 down to the levee with them.
was marched down between the horses, and
when got there ! was told to leave on
that boat Immediately. asked permission
to get my vie and child. They gave me
twenty minutes to do so, left house and
lot, and quantity Of furniture, and left q
board the steamer Emma, with seven dol
lars in my pocket, every cent of which !
Psid for our passage on deck to ST. Louis.
IA. DAWES.