The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-15


We were then marched to the prison
house, where we now are, guarded by
the Territorial militia, nine.tenths of
whom are non-residents, and who intend
leaving the Territory as soon as the
time of their three months enlistment,
under Geary, shall expire. A number
have escaped from this den of horror,
few have been discharged. and one was
released this morning by the Great
Deliverer Our number is now ninety
eight, eigthy-seven of whom are held
on the Hickory Point charge. The re-
naming eleven are suspected of having
been engaged in feeding their starving
families with bread forcibly taken from
those who were endeavoring to destroy
them. Tina after time has Governor
Geary said that no action should be
taken concerning political offenses COM
mitted previous to his proclamation.
vet more than once since has he used
that portion of the Federal army under
his command, to make seizures of per-
sons so charged. We are all held
either against this promise, or for fol-
lowing the advice of one supposed to
speak by authority, and during all this
time not Pro Slavery man has been
arrested, although Gov. Geary and the
q. S. Marshal cannot help knowing
that murders, and other crimes without
number, have been committed by the
leaders of that party. Even Geary's
militia, after the murder of David Buff
fun, passed through Lecompton under
black flag, the emblem of pirates, no
one daring to modest them.
A portion of our number have farni-
lies depending upon our earnings for
support. We have also, outstanding
crops. of great value, going to waste,
or suffering heavy loss.
We now come to speak of subject
too vital to admit of our passing it un-
noticed, yet too full of horror to dwell
upon. We allude to our treatment and
condition since our confinement here,
any description of which must come far
short of the terrible reality. A few of
our guard will ever be remembered by
us with emotions of the deepest graf
itude for their Kindness, but the great
est portion of them are drunken, brawl-
ing demons, too vile and wicked for
portrayal. Times without number
have they threatened to shoot us, or
stab US, and not unfrequently have they
attempted to carry out their hellish
threats. Several nights have the guards
amused themselves throughout their
different watches by cursing US, throw
ing stones at the house, and breaking
glass, sash, &c. Two large cannon
stand planted but few yards from
our prison, and two nights has the
match been swung several hours in the
hands of the gunners, with order to fire
both cannon (loaded with shot and
lslugs) upon us, in case our friends
should come III sufficient force to avenge
| our wrongs. These, however, are only
slight, compared with other insults and
sutfcrings heaped upon US daily. Most
of us are poorly clad-few have any
bedding-our prison is open and ex-
posed, and is surrounded with filth
| Within, all is covered with vermin,
and everything is mixed with misery.
In childhood we listened with doubt TO
the dark stories of the Jersey prison
ships and the Black Hole of Calcutta.
never dreaming that we should at last
be actual prisoners in their counterpart.
More than once have we propheeied
that all would not leave this charnel
house alive. Our predictions have been
verified. Several have been sick, dan
gerously sick-one has died. His
name was WILLIAM BowLEs, formerly
from St. Charles, Missouri. He labor
ed with US nobly in defending our God
given rights. and it was with feelings
of unutterable sorrow that we parted
with him. After an illness of two days,
he left his suferings this morning at
| l O'Clock. Before his death We request
ed the officer of the guard to have him
removed to place OF quiet. We talked
and became tired, yet nothing was
done. Last night all the physicians in
town were sent for, and each refused to
come and attend upon them. DIR. Jno.
P. Wood, who is a Justice Of the Peace
and Judge of Probate, could not come
because he was sick" We. he was
seen that evening, as well as the follow
ing morning, doing hard labor. Others
had reasons, we know not what. DIR.
Brooks was sent for five times, but as
he was at a card table playing poker.
he swore that he 50 would not leave the
game to save every Cd id Aboli-
ZIONIST in the Territory" Many thanks
are due, however, to Mr. Caldwell a
Pro-Slavery man, and Mr. Marshal, of
the town of Lecompton, for the kind
aid they gave us.
The Governor paid Us visit yester-
day morning, which is the third since
our incarceration. We showed him
young Bowles, and told him we feared
this was the beginning of an epidemic
which would prove fatal to not few.
We showed him our scanty clothing.
He said that the Grand Jury, which
was in session all last week, would pro-
baby finish its business by night that
all against whom no bills were found
would be Immediately released !; and
that although he was going away, and
should be absent several days, yet he
should leave orders that all those re-
tanned should be provided with every
comfort that could be procured. But
the Grand Jury has not ended its ex-
animation, and none can tell when it
will. Sickness and death IN their most
horrid forms are IN our midst-the
serapings of pandemonium surround us,
We can see no hope left us but an ap-
peal to the last Tribunal with God as
our Judge, and our Jury the great Ame-