Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-03
From the Chicago Tribune
THE DISARMING OF THE CHICAGO
COMPANY.

A great many valorous people have said with
a sneer "why did the Chicago Company of Emil
grants Surrender their arms TO the Missourians
ut Lexington" adding the chivalrous remark,
chad been there my arms would not have been
surrendered" A member of the company, who
returned on Saturday, gave MS in substance
the following statement of the affair: The COM
pany proceeded from Alton up the river quietly
and without molestation, until the boat got with
in fifteen miles of Lexington ,on Saturday even
ing, where pass enger got ashore, who, as was
afterwards discovered, procured fleet horse
and galloped to that place at pace that killed
the horse. He Immediately announced that
company of Chicago Emigrants were coming up
the river ON the "Star of the Vest The whole
town forthwith beat 10 arms. Some days pre-
viously, Col Sumner had driven out of the
territory four OF five hundred armed South Caro-
linians Georgians and Missourians, who had
been Iuccaneering and plundering in Kansas
Those cut Threats had gone down to Lexington,
where they encamped at the time the Chicago
company reached that place, which was ABOUT
III 2. M. Sunday night.
The Don't STONED to unload some freight. A
chain cable was taken on shore and made fast.
In few minutes COMMITTEE of % men came
on board and were introduced to j. H.Andrews,
President of the company, who demanded the
arms of the men, which demand was stoutly re-
fused. 4 long controversy or parley ens9ed
which lasted until o'clock next morning before
any definite arrangement was made. The force
of the enemy were 90Q to 1000 armed men,
They had three cannon loaded to the muzzle
bearing directly on the boat from the leyee, and
fourth on the wharf-boatso planted as to rake
the steamer from stem to stern. The captain and
crew become alarmed. The former sent his wife
and children ashore. All this while the mob
roared and howled ON the levee. To fight would
have been sheer madness, as the Chicago men
b,y tan iproc their number
and with all the advantages Of position on the
side of the rutfians The boat could have been
sunk intwo minutes, and the whole company an
initiated in very brief time.
AT last it was agreed that the carbines, so in
number, in the possession of the company, should
be delivered to merchant of Lexington, who
receipted for them. 1t was further stipulated
that the arms should be restored in the Territory.
1t was claimed by the Missourians that the ear
bines were not the private property of tho men,
but were taken from some State Arsenal. The
idea was suggested by their own practices last
winter in robbing the State Arsenal at Jefferson,
Mo. There were fourteen rifles, and thirty or
forty rcyolvers in possession of the company
These W ere not taken or surrendered, but treated
as private property.
The boat was then unmoored and proceeded
up the river. When she reached Parkville, our
informant went ashore and assembled the bluff
looking over the stream, where he stood enjoying
the fresh breeze, as the day was hot and sultry,
waiting the signal for starting. While standing
there three armed Missourians came up to him
and inquired if he had come up the river on the
Star of the West He replied in the ALTERNATIVES;
whereupon they seized him, and marched him
back from the river a halfa mile and detained
him until after the boat had gone. They then
brought him down the levee, where he was de-
tanned until the Polar Star came along on her
trip down. He was then put aboard, and start
ed for st. Louis. He concluded TO return to
Chicago and relate the facts concerning the diff
iculty at Lexington. He starts tomorrow bach
to Kansas.