New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-13
KANSAS.
An INCIDENT OF PRISON LIFE AT
I.ECOMPTON.


LECOMPTON.
PRO. Our sfssssI Correspondent
LAWRENCE, X. T., Dec. ], 1856.
A sse ,umerous escspaaes Of the prisoners a.
lxromptcn threaten 10 leave but few of the GAL
mt band arrested under arms, in defense Of the
nights Of Free Kansas in their imprisonment, every
incident connected with this NEST tyrsnical and
irregular legal persecution becomes inves.ed with
nore than usual interest.
One of the days Of weary Imprisonment. had
drawn to Close. The prisoners, like the Gagged
beasts ofa uenaserc, had varied the monotony q
tbeir confinement, now by walking impulsiTely
and sullenly through the cell, and nov by sitting
down on the filthy floor Of the prison (there being
sesbDg to cit On, with bands clssped On their
forehead; partly to balance their uneasy position
and partly to press down the little world OF 'housn'
70 their aching brsin which dreamt ei napier
Aays, for them and freedom, when our government
should once more become just and republican,
They dreamed thus even while all around them
vould have shut out everything like hope from such
Q picture; but thus they hoped white anotner day
Of light and misery wore away ihso darkneSe' anu
left them to think or grope in the prison gloom.
Co, T;tus and his militia were then guarding
them. and these partisan jaiers watched with
hawk like vigilance, which found pleasure in every
pspe vrung out Of the sons Of freedom, and who
alt qualification in thus making like Gagged beasts
Che brave prisoners whom they dared not aud could
not have captured. Guards surrounded the house,
and beside these one guard remained 10 the prison
near them to see that al remained right inside
and that no attempt at escape was made. The
force detailed that night was from that one Of
Titus'e companies which was armed with the dra-
seon arms, saber and revolver, and some OF them
had carbiDes. The blight wore later, and the pris-
Oners sought respite for their WEAKNESS, and for
getfulness for their woes in sleep, While The man on
guard within paced backward and fjrward through
the prison. Perhaps he might have been pettish at
bis dissgreesbe duty, or in bad humor from want OF
liquor or mjsfortuDes at cards. or, what is more
likely, cursed with the meanness OF a malignant
disposition. As the prisoners began to sink into
quiet repose the wickedness of his disposition made
him unwilling that they should thus enjoy tempo
rary respite in Sleep or sip the waters OF Le:he
even n such uncomfortable slumber. In his PROM
enade he began to stamp and kick his feet on the
Hoor while he made rafting noise with his saber
This weapon he would take and rattle up against
The ceiling, and then strike against the floor till he
succeeded in waking and keeping awake all of the
unfortunates. Like other petty malicious minds,
Ne did not " weary in wel-doiDg" but persever-
pgly continued his task of annoy ance with per-
severance which would have made the duty oner-
Gus had be been ordered to do il.
Now il is very tantaliziDg for lot of men to be
kept awake by the malicious folly and wickedness
Of one scoundrel. There was grinding of teeth and
angry mutteripg, and at last, as the annoyance
seemed intermnable, one of the prisoners requested
the guard TO desist and allow them to sleep.
"You Cd id Aboli ion dog" was the furious
response, I'VE get no sleep and yo1 shall have
none;" and the "sabre march" was continued more
actively.
This was past endurance, and, after little, Mr..
Gates Of Illinois and Mr.. Butler of New Hampshire
rose and went to him, and told him calmly but
sternly that he must desist. Imagine Border
Ruffan thus bearded, and in rage. He stamped,
and he swore, and exhausted his vocabulary of
abuse on them. One thing he did not dO-use bis
weapoLs-fOr he had sense enough to know that
such proceeding might not be very safe; but he
wound up his tornado Of abuse by calling vOcif-
srousy on the guard and the officer of the guard.
Soon the guards entered the prison with lights,
Nat revealed their shining weapons in threatening
at,i.udes. The guard inside was 50 furious with
rage that he could not or would not explain the
matter, but swore that there was one man (Busler)
whom he could shoot.
Some Of the prisoners explained the circum-
stances to the officer of the guard in hopes OF put
ting . stop to the annoyance, but it was in vain.
When the complaint was made the officer swore
more loudly and proaney than his inferior, and de-
eared that they had right to wear their sabers
where they pleased, and do with them what they
pleased, and that no id Abolit Onist should az
tempt to dictate to them
The inside guard still continued to swear that he
would hill Butler, and, getting light, he called,
with vocferous oaths, that the prisoner should be
brought before him. so that he could see his face
and be able to recognize him outside Thus sum
noned, the prisoner, who was not sure that the
threat to Hill him would be postponed beyond the
present moment, stepped up, and, face to face,
these men looked at each other. The bloated face
Of the guard, still more red from rage. with eyes
hashiDs in fury and the stern face Of the prisoner,
pale from confinement.
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