Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-30
Destruction of Lawrence.
The TOxn in Flames.
z9e Dtad Lzinq y the Streets.


Tho Chicago Tribune publishes an extra
based upon intelligence brought by three
men directly from Lawrence, from which we
learn that a company of mounted Missouri
ans made their appearance near Lawrence
on Wednesday. They were reinforced until
they numbered over 400. They bore flags
and banners with all devices except the
stass and s.ripeso of the United States. Dur
ine tho forenoon the Committee Of Public
Safety sent note to the Marshal at the
head Of his army assuring him that they
would make no resistance to any processes
be might wish to serve, and asked him if
protection would be given for their lives and
property.
He made no answer. About IL o'clock
a Deputy Marshal with posse of 10 men,
made his appearance, summoned four men
to assist him IN making arrests, and took
G. w. Dietzler and G. Smith, Prisoners.
This posse took dinner at the Free State
Hotel, and afterwards removed their prison
ers without molestation.
Sheriff Jones soon after made his appear
ance with Is men; did not e..--smpt any ar
rests, but insultingly demanded all the pub
lie and private arms, and gave the people
five minutes to aceede to this demand,
threatening in case Of q refusal to sack the
town.
One field piece was given up, but the
people refused TO surrender their private
arms. In half an hour he returned with
:au overwhelming force and two pieces of ar
fillery, and commenced the work of destruc-
rtion by a cannonade upon the Free State
Hotel and the Herald Of Freedom printing
Office. The former was burned, and the
types and press of the latter broken and de-
stroyed.
Women and children fled in all directions
No time was given to save property. The
Missourians were yelling through the streets
like so many demons, threatening every man
with death.
The 7Ti6uae's informant left at O'Clock.
Fifteen miles from Lawrence he saw vol
ume of smoke and great light in its direc-
ton, and he has no doubt that the town is
.destoyed.
LATER.-Another messenger, who left
Leavenworth Just before the departure of
the boat, says that several men had been
killed by Jones and his party, and their
bodies were lying in the streets.
It is feared that Gen. Pomeroy has been
hung by the mob.
Gov. Robinson is at Lecompton in the
hands Of the authorities.
Shannon, it is said, is no more than a
prisoner in the hands Of the Missourians.-
He is only thing to sign papers with.
One thousand or 1900 MissourianS are in
the Territory.
Reeder is supposed to be in place of safe
ty. He is daily expected here, eia Iowa
and Nebraska.
The mob threatened to hang Robinson,
Dietzler and G. Brown all on one tree.
The Free State men will make stand
at Topeka, and fight it out. They are
now gathering to that point.
Atchison IS in the Territory, with the
cannon used in the invasion.
The U. S. troops are not allowed to leave
their quarters, although anxious to protect
the settlers.
A civil war RACES on the frontier.
Chicago, May 81.
The St Louis Republican, of yesterday,
has the following dispatch: @Artillery fir
ing and fire still spreading at Lawrence at
the latest accounts" 1t has also a letter
announcing the return of Robinson, Sehuy-
Ter and Conway, under charge of the terri
torial authorities.
A Mass meeting is called here this P NJ,
to consider measures for public safety.
LATER-Chicago, May 27th.-The St.
Louis Democrat learns from the passengers
Of the Morning Star that it is the intention
of sheriff Jones to proceed upon Topeka,
which also VIII be destroyed. The Demo-
crat has letters from Leavenworth, of the
2lst stating that the South Carolinians had
determined to destroy that town. FOUR
selC murders had been brought TO light!
St. Louis, MAY %.
Tho steamer aMorning Star" from the
Missouri river yesterday, brought an extra
from Lexington No, which says Lawrence
was destroyed on Wednesday last. The
U. S. Marshal, with five to seven hundred
men, entered the town, and made arrests of
all for whom he had writs He then turned
the forces over to Sheriff Jones, who had
arrests to make, when the. people resisted
and fired on his men. Jones then turned
his artillery on the Free State Hotel, after
which his men charged aud set the Hotel on
fire. They then destroyed the printing
presses and set fire to the Office.
There were only about 200 in Lawrence
when the messenger left The artillery
was still firing and the fire still spreading
But few lives lost.
This is the testimony Of Radcliffe and
Hutchison, Free State men.
St. Louis, May %.
From an extra issued from the Kansas CITY
Enterprise Border Rufian) Office, on the
22d inst, received here this evening, we
learn that JOKES took about twenty men in
to Lawrence, and at his demand, Gen.
Pomeroy surrendered all the rifles and can
non he could get, which were stacked in the
streets Jones then requested Eldndge to
move his furl.tlre from the Free State
Hotel. He declined and the posse entered
and carried most of it into the street,
Jones gave express orders that no private
nronertv sbould be iniur ID. and particularly