Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-17
From the St. Louis Central Advocated
LETTER FROM REV. WIN. SELLERS
THE ROCHESTER, TRAGEDY.

|
herein transmit to you for the benefit of
your readers, plain statement of facts
connected with the recent mob al Ro-
chester. as they came under my own
observation. .re --. -E5 -- --- &
L had appointed Saturday. June 14th,
to commence series of meetings at Ro-
chester, and had written to several min
listers to come and assist me. On We'd
nesday or Thursday previous, pro-sla.
very man by the name of Sims, was shot
by free soil man, Zone Hsrdesty,) be-
cause Sims attempted to drive him from
his home or kill him. / arrived in Ro-
chester on Thursday, about l2 o'clock.
Soon after my arrival 1 was waited upon
in Bro. Strock's store, by committee
of three individuals, who said they were
authorized by the citizens of Rochester
and vicinity, to inform me not to preach
again in Rochester, and endeayored by
threatening to extort promise from me
to that effect; declaring at the same
time that this North Methodist preaching
would not be tolerated longer in the
county. l asked them for few names
of the citizens who had given them this
authority they had no names to give.
] have better friends in Rochester. l
then asked them if they claimed to be
American citizens. They said 1 was a
fool, and had better promise not to preach
again in Rochester. / told them | would
not make that promise; that l was guilty
of no crime, had violated no law, and
would obey God rather than men. l
asked them what rights or privileges
they claimed as American citizens by
virtue of their citizenship, that were su-
perior to other American citizens. At
this remark, without giving me an an
swer. they left the store, muttering that
force would be used to stop me. r'E e~s
/ had some pastoral visiting to do in
the country, and after attending to that
important duty, on Saturday morning |
started for Rochester, for the purpose of
holding my meeting at the time appoint
ed. As we rode into town, we observed
groups of men collected at the corners
of the streets engaged in conversation.
The excitement appeared to be general.
/ rode through the village to Brother
Strock's stable to put up my horse, and
Bro. Holland, who was in company with
me, went Immediately into Bro. Strock's
store. l came into the store in ten or
fifteen minutes, and found several of my
Rochester friends and some from the
country, who had come to attend the
meeting. Old Bro. Holland, a sainted
martyr now,) was standing near the front
door. One of the leaders, with several
others of the mob, were standing near
Bro. Holland and myself, having in their
hands late number of the Western
Christian AdvOeate, containing the report
of the majority of the committee on sla-
very in the General Conference. told
them how that matter was adjusted, but
all to no purpose ; We were abolitionists
still, and 1 must promsie not TO preach,
or else be mobbed. said would not
do it. About this time, the mob began
to collect in front of the door. sup
pose there were from seventy-fve to one
hundred of them, some from Platte |
county, some from Buchanan, some from
Savannah, and others from the vicinity
of Rochester. Some were armed with
reYolvers, others had knives and clubs,
while others had picked up stones in the
streets. One fellow cried out that "if1
he had me out OF the store he would
soon kill me."' AT that remark, one fell
low got me by the arm and drew me TO
the door. Three others came to his as
sistance, and seizing hold of each arm
and leg, they carried me to the middle
Of the street, where they halted, raying,
,ursing and yelling like body of.saya1
ges who had rescued prisoner. .iasuo1
While this was transpirings Bro. Hol.
and was shot, the ball striking him on
he chin. passing through and breaking
his neck. He expired in about thirty
l afterwards understood that
Bro. Strock was shot, also, the ball cut