Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-10-02
From the 81. Louis (,IethodsD Advocate of Aug Il.
Border Ruffian Outrages upOn
Methodist Ministers.


Mr. Sellers-Letter from tie Latter.
We have at length obtained full and
reliable account of the late difficulties in
Rochester, Mo-, which resulted in the tar
sing of Rev. w. Sellers, and the shooting
of Benjamin Holland, an aged and below
ed member of the Church. The account
has been DELAYED till this time by the Sc
we're sickness of Mr.. Sellers, the consequence
mainly of his inhuman treatment:
MR. EDIToR your solicitation, l
herein transmit to you, for the benefit of
your readers, plain statement ofthe facts
connected with the recent mob in Roches-
ter, as they came under my own obserya-
ton.
had appointed Saturday, June l4th, to
commence a series of meetings in Roches-
ter, Missouri, and had written to several
ministers to come and assist me. On
Wednesday or Thursday previous, a pro-
slavery man by the name of Sims, was shot
by free soil man Tone Hardesty) because
Sims attempted to drive him from his
home or kill him. l arrived in Rochester
on Thursday, at II O'Clock. Soon after
my arrival, l was waited upon in Mr..
Strock's store, by committee of three in
dividuals, who said they were authorized
by the citizens of Rochester and vicinity to
instruct me not to preach again in Roches-
ter, and endeavored by threatening to ex-
tort a promise from me 10 that effect; de-
claring at the same time that this North
ern Methodist preaching would not be tot
Grated IN the country. l asked them for
a few names of the citizens who had given
them this authority; they had no names
ro give. l then asked if they claimed to
be American citizens. They said l was
fool, and had better promise not to preach
again IN Rochester. told them l would
not make that promise; that | was guilty
of no crime, had violated no law, and would
obey God rather than man. asked them
what rights or privileges they claimed as
American citizens by virtue of their citizen
ship, that We're superior to other Americen
citizens. AT this remark, without giving
me an answer, they left the store muttering
that force would be used in order to stop
| me. @ -
| had some pastoral visiting to do in
the country, and after attending to that
important duty, on Saturday morning, l
started for Rochester, for the purpose of
holding my meeting at the time appointed.
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 Mr.. Strock's stable to put
up my horse, and Mr.. Holland, who was
in company with me, went Immediately in
to MIR. Strock's store. | came into the
state of ten OR fifteen minutes, and fonnd
several of my Rochester friends and some
from the country who had come to attend
the meeting. Old Mr.. Holland ia sainted
martyr now,) was standing near the front
door. One of the leaders, with several 9TH
ers of the mob, were standing near Mr..
Holland and myself, having in their hands
a late number of the Wistern Christian
Adcocate, containing the report of the ma
jority ofthe Committee on Slavery in the
General Conference. l totd them how
that matter was adjusted, but all to no pur-
pose; We were Abolitionists still and |
must promise not to preach, or else be
mob6ed. said would not do it. About
this time the mob began to collect in feont
of the door. l suppose there were seven
ty-five or one hundred of them, some from
Platte county, some from Buchanan, some
from Savannah, and others from the vicin-
ity of Rochester. Some were armed with
revolvers, others had knives and clubs,
white others had picked up stones in the
streets. One fellow cried out. 81 he had
me out Of the storr he aoould soon kill
me-" At that remark, one fellow got me
by the arm and drew me to the door,.
Three others then came to his assistance,
and seizing hold of each arm and LEG, they
carried me to the middle of the street,
where they haulted, raving, cursing and
yelling like a body of savages who had res
cued prisoner. ~ 2Il5-t
While this was transpiring, Mr.. Holland
acas shot, the ball striking him on the chin,
passing through and breaking Ais neck
He erpired IN about thirty minutes. af-
forwards understood that Mr.. Strock was
shot also, the ball cutting off his clothing,
and grazing the skin on his side They
also shot at Mr. Beattie and missed him;
and he.then knocked two or three of them
down and escaped at the back door. These
noble brethren stood with me in the bat
Tie, till they were driven from their posts |
While in the street the mob had con-
sultation over NE, as to the nature of the |
punishment l should receive from them, rs
the embodiment of civil power, and the
sclfconstituted guardians of society, for
thus attempting to preach Jesus and the
resurrection under the bannar of freedom.
Some said, ''cut his - threat;" others,
"scalp him." Others, "shoot him in the
head" At last they concluded to tar me.
They then carried me across the street, be-
tween another store and warehouse, to a
tar barrel which was sunk in the ground,
and throwing me down on my back with
considerable violence, hsld me there, while
they consulted as to the manner in which
the tar should be applied. Some said put
him in head foremost; Others were for strip
ping me. One fellow swore they could not
agree, and he would shoot me. He aimed
Il revolver at my head, but another wrench
ed it from him, exclaiming, 'don't shoot
him, we will give him what we think he
deserves" AT last they concluded to do
the work without stripping me. After
searching ME to sec whether was armed
or not, and finding had no arms conceal
ed about my person, they commenced put
ting on the tar with broad paddle. Af-
ter completely saturating my hair, they