The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-14
NO. 476.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
THE EAsTON TRAGEDY.

clrcumSJantlal statement Vi tue rate Outrage III
Kansas than has been heretofore published.
What brave and magnanimous men these cham
pions of the Propaganda are The heroes that
the other day were shaking in their shoes be-
fore Lawrence, or throwing away their shot
guns and whiskey jugs, in their haste to escape
over the border, are now again providing around
OUTLYING precincts, tumbling down voters, and
cutting to pieces unarmed defenceless prison
ers with hatchets:
LAWRENCE, X. T., Jan. 20, 1856.
To tie Editor ofthe National Era:
You will doubtless hear, before
this reaches you, Of another inhuman and un-
provoked outrage, or rather series of outrages,
perpetrated by the bloodhounds of Atchison.
Tuesday. the 18th instant, was the day fixed
for the election of our State officers and the
members of our Legislature. Threats of vio-
Ieuce had been made by the Pro-Slavery men
at Leavenworth, Kickapoo, Atchison, and other
plases on the Missouri river, and a determine
lion had been expressed by them to prevent
the holding Of an election in these places.
The Mayor of I.eavenworth-a rather compro-
missing Free State man, had resigned sup
pose from fear of danger ahead-and the
acting Mayor, DIR. Day, issued proclamation,
iorbdding the holding Of an election in the
city of l.eavenworth. The election was held
privatey, both at that place and at kickapoo.
Al Eastou, place about twelve miles distant
from l4eavenworth, 1t was thought prudent to
adjourn the election, as the Judges are author
zed TO do, to Thursday, the 18th. On the ap-
pointed day the polls were opened. and many
Of the citizens, anticipating difficulty, had
zone 10 the election with their arms. During
the day no difficulty occurred, but threats were
made hv a number of rowdies, who were ca
ronsinS around grocery about a half mile
from ths place of voting, that as soon a COM
pany for which they were waiting, should ar
rive. they would destroy the ballot-box, and
lynch the Judges. In the evening, their num-
hers having been increased, they made sally
upon the Free State men but finding them
prepared, and determined TO defend themselves,
the mob wheeled about and rode of, without
firing any shots The mob at this time num-
bsred about forty. and the Free State men
about thirty. After retreating, they stationed
guard Of five men on the road, for the pur-
pose of stopping persons from coming to the
polls. This guard stopped, insulted and dis
armed several Free State men who were pass
ina. Mr. Brown, from Leavenworth, in compa-
ny with four others, went out and captured the
guard without using violence, and sent them
away About two clock at night, after the
business of the election had been completed,
and when ii was thought that the danger was
past, a number of those who had remained to
defend the ballot box set out for their homes.
Mr.. Sparks, one of our Representatives, his
son, and another person, were obliged, on their
way home, to pass near where the ruthans were,
and were pursued, and fired upon several times
Une of the company escaped, but Sparks was
surrounded, and taken prisoner. The Free
State men had not yet fired shot in return.
Sparks was ordered to surrender his arms, and
march off as prisoner; but he told them that
he would never give up his arms, nor could
they take him alive. While the mob were par
leyng with him, the person who had escaped
returned to Mr.. Maynards, at whose house the
election was held, and procuring the assistance
Of fifteen men, who still remained, set out to
rescue Sparks. They marched up with arms
presented, and demanded him. The mob at
first refused to release him but when they saw
the determination of the Free State men, they
suffered him to 20, although they had greatly
the advantage, numbering not less than forty
Sparks and his friends marched off and wher
they had gone some fifty or sixty yards, the mol
commenced firing on them. The firing was
returned. and kept up for some minutes, boil
aud fences. After it had ceased On the part
Of the mob the Free State men returned t.
Mayuards and remained until morning. One
oi the mob, named Cook, was shot through
the lower part Of the body, and died on Satur
day; another was wounded in the leg. TIL
only wound received on the other side was
slight one by young Sparks-a small shot era
1ing his head, and barely cutting the skin.
The next day, 1.-THE l8th,) while Mr.. Brow
and seven others were returning home to Leay
enworth IN wagon, they were pursued an
attacked by the same gang. Mr.. Brown an
another OF the company offered to fight them
and sell their lives rs dearly as possible: see
M the odds was too great, there being NOR
than forty of the mob armed and mounted
deemed 1t not prudent to offer resistance. Mr.
Brown was a prominent man, and a candidate
Tor the Legislature and they had sworn t.
lynch the candidates if they could not get tn
ballot box, and the others suffered to go. The
carried him back to Easton, and put n guar
over him, intending, as they said, to hang hin
as soon AS one oi their party who was wounded
should die. After consultation, it was deter
mined to carry him 90 grocery on Salt Creek
several miles distant and lynch him. They thel
proceeded To take him out of the house wher,
hr was guarded, when some of the rabile, aux
sous to wreak their deviish vengeance upol
him, tell on him witt, their knives and hatchets
with which they were armed, in imitation c
Their less savage neighbors-the Indians-an
4nangled him in a mos: inhuman manner Ii
vas beaten, kicked, and cut in such q manne
as to Reader him almost insensible, then tum
1ied INTO wagon, and carried some ten mile
through the cold, to the place where he was
5e lynched. Here some OF the more human
0i them tied up his wounds, and carried hir
home. Gbere he died in few hours. The
murdered lac like pack of towards, )" were tii
only words he uttered after he reached home.
Afer Brown had been arrested, Mr.. Ma,
nard set out to rally the citizens for the pu
pose of rescuing him. He had scarcely started
when he was pursued by band of fourtee
Tuihans, whOOping, yelling, and swearing tina
they would take him, dead or alive. The
came close upon him before he perceived then
ant ordered him 10 surrender. He put spun
TO his horse, and, amid the shots that wer
"hlzzing around him on every side, rode {
Rather slid down a steep bank, where bis pu
s0ers could not follow him without dismoun
eng Having thus gained on them, he escape
Ghhur. Dir. Rrownney, another prominer
inan OF the neighborhood, was also pursued an
Ared upoa. All those An the vicinity of Lea
enworth who have taken an active part in Il
Free State cause are hunted down by packs
these blood-thrsty hell-hounds, who have a
| says manifested too much cowardice to fig
halt their numbers; but when they find a ms
anarmed, or when they are ten to one, they W
iFeacherouSly disarm him, and Ren shsme b.
with their damnable barbarity. But, thar
bod, We have Lawrence, as a city of refuge,
which Free State men can flee, with our SHARP
niles cur howitzer, and our intrenchments,
protect them.
What these affairs will lead to, God on
KNOWS. The rufians avow their intention
terminating every Free State man in the IL
tIory They have raised large fund, and a