Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-11-21
The KanxusPrisoners.

The telegraphic announcement In our pa
per to-day that twenty of the Free State
prisoners at Lecompton have been sentenc-
ed to five years imprisonment at hard labor
in the chain gang, for the high crime Oflov-
ing liberty more than slavery, is only anoth-
er added to the thousand proofs already
given, that the administration will carry out
its policy for the enslavement of Kansas to
the bitter end. These prisoners were part
of lOI from Lawrence under command of
Col. Harry, who werc arrested by Col. Cook
last September. At that time several bands
of Border Ruffians were securing the coun-
try in the vincity of Lawrence, committing
ing the most atrocious robberies and mur-
ders, burning the dwellings of the settlers
and desolating the country. To stop these
atrocities, Col. Harry and his party sailed
forth and at Hickory Point they found two
gangs of the deprcdators, one commanded
by Capt. Robinson and the other by Capt.
Lowe. An engagement followed, though
the testimony at the Lecompton trials, have
been contradictory as to which party fired
the first gun. Several were wounded and
one of the Rufians by the name of Charles
G. Newman was killed. The Rufians were
defeated and disarmed-rot robbed or
butchered by their cenquerers. The Law
renee men found plenty of plunder which
had been taken by the robbers from the
Free State settlers and this they recovered.
On their return to Lawrence, they were met
by Col. Cook and his U. S. troops, were
without resistance arrested and taken pris-
oners to Lecompton. There they were
guarded, not by U. s. troops, but by the
Territorial Militia, composed of Missourians,
most of whom have been engaged in the
border Rufian outrages. Of their prison,
the Kansas correspondent of the St. Louis
Democrat says ut is truly horrible place.
1t is a frame house, poorly enclosed, without
windows, and surrounded on all sides with
filth and the Titus Militia" Speaking OF
the death of one of the prisoners, Mr.. Bow
les he saws, "The miserable food and expos
ure and the loathsome nature of the prison.
induced terrible disease, resembling yel-
low fever, which carried him away in two
DAYS. Others grew sick and though nc
more have died, yet there Is no denying the
fact that the sickness which exists there
more or less among the prisoners all the
time. can be accounted for in no other way
than by the treatment which they receive
In their address to the American People
the prisoners speak of their condition thus
awe allude 10 our treatment and condi-
ton since our confinement here, any descrip,
tion of which must come far short of the
terrible reality. A few of our guard will
ever be remembered by us with emotions ot
the deepest gratitude for their kindness, but
the greatest portion of them are drunken
brawling demons, too vile and wicked for
portrayal. Times without number have
thev threatened to shoot us or stab us
and not unfrequently have they attempted
to carry out their helish threats. Severa
nights have the guards amused themselve;
throughout their different watches by ours
ing us, throwing stones at the house, anc
breaking glass, sash, DC. Two cannon
stand planted but few yards from our pris
on, and two nights has the match beer
swung several hours in the hands of the gun
ners with orders to fire both cannon (oadeC
with shot and sIugs) upon us, in case ou
friends should come to avenge our wrongs
These, however, are only slight, compared
with other insults and sufarings heaped up
on us daily. Most of us are but poorly claC
few have any bedding, our prison is opel
and exposed, and is surrounded with filth
} Within all is covered with vermin and every
thing is mixed with misery. in CHILDHOOD
we listened with doubt to the dark storie
of the Jersey prison ships and the Blacl
Hole of Calcutta, never dreaming that W
should at last be actual prisoners IN thel
counterpart. More than once have we pre-
phesied to each other that all would no
, leave this charnel house alive. Our assel
tions have been verified. Several have bee
sick-dangerously sick-ono died"
i, The trial of the prisoners has been as III
I famous as their imprisonment. 1t has bee
! thus far. and will continue to the end hid
eous mockery of justice. To find a jury f
for the loathsome work, the Ruffian Ma
> shall secured the county, and summoned 6
men, every one of whom he believed to b
the ready tool, slave and knave of Atchiso
and Stringfellow. By accident one of thel
: ), was Free State man. He was immediate
u " challenged and removed by the Distri'
Il Attorney. From this array thus CAREFUL
!, selected, the jury was impannelled. The
! ! stood up first, and took the prescribed oat
i i to support TIM Fugitive Slave Law, and til
Black code of Kansas, fitting preface
: this tragedy of official crime, and this di
{ bolical farce of Justice. Among that j
: nv were seen the faces of men, notorious Fl
i their Border Rufian exploits and outrage
o The Judge was the malignant enemy of tt
= prisoners, believing and avowing in his of
II cial character the doctrine that resistence
the Slavery laws of the Territory, is co
" structivc treason, to be punished with deaf
\ The officers of the Court were nearly {
,e Missourians, and distinguished as Bord
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