Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-07
Ernrc.nonaencc Of tic St. Louis Democrat. Ma.
The sacking Of Lawrence,

- lihSNNNS anu 'aAi'tth' Nf'ii '''' '''
about thrce-fourths of mile southeast from
the town Of LeHrcncc. additional forces
continued to arrive for several hours from the
direction of Lccoml,ton, and also from Frank
lin. Between eight and nine O'Clock, part Of
the troops moved down to the north, by Gov.
Rob;nsoIl's house, 10 a hill Immediately over
looking the town. About eleven O'clock [.
S. Deputy Marshal ". F. Fam (threo weeks
from Georgian with posse of cightmCn came
into Lawrence. They were respectfully re-
ccived at the Eldridge House.
The Marshal first summoned sevcral promi-
nent citizens TO aid his posse, and then pro
cccded to arrest Judge Smith and Col. Detitz-
Ter on charge of high treason Judge Smith
was sitting in the reading room of the hotel,
and when Informed that the Marshal wanted
10 see him. he cheerfully went into his room
aud submitted himself to the arrest, During
these proceedings there was no stir or excite
ment in the town, and not more than twenty
or thirty men were about the streets. The
Marshal and his posse took dinner at the ho-
tel. after which Col EIdrdgc went with his
hack, and conveyed the prisoners and part
Of the posse to the camp
The Marshal now dismissed his entire posse,
and Sheriff Jones Immediately summoned them
all And then commenced the scenes disgrace
fu to humanity, destructive to Kansas, and
the end of which God only knows
About one O'Clock, P. NJ, Jones rode into
town with a posse Of twenty-five mounted men,
armed with muskets and bayonets Thty pro-
cceded to the hotel, and Jones called for Gen.
Pomeroy. He came to the door. Jones stat
ed he had several times been resisted in that
place-attcmpts had been made to assasSinate
him-and he now declared that he was de-
termined to execute the law if he lost his life"
And now, said he, | demand Of you, as the
most prominent man in the place, the surren-
der Of all the cannon and Sharp'S rifles that
YOU have, and | give you five minutes to de
eide whether YOU will give them up--taking
out his watch, aud noting the time.
The General went up to the committee
room, and returned in a few minutes, aud re
piled that the cannon would be given, but that
there were no Sharpc'S rifles in the place, ex-
ccPt such as were private property, and that
those could not bo surrendered. Jones seem
cd to he Of opinion that they had rifles which
were not private property, and requested him
TO stack all they had in the street, and said
that such as could be proved private property
would be returned By this time the whole
posse yariousy estimated at from five to eight
hundred men, were marching down the hill
and coming into town on the south side
The cannon flour pieces were produced
aud carried through the street One was
brass siX-poundcr ; the Others little pop-guns,
which n man could comfortably carry on his
shoulders. No rifles were delivered up
Jones now told Col Eldridgc, who occupied
the hotel and owned the furniture, that the
hotel must be destroyed that he was acting
strictly under orders. The grand Jury at Le-
compton had declared the hotel and presses at
Lawrence nuisance, and ordered him to de-
stroy them. He would give Col Eldridge an
opportunity TO remove his furniture, and for
that purpose he might have until FIVE o'clock.
It was then fifteen minutes past three
Col. Eldrdgc replied that the furniture
conld not. be removed in less time than half
day, and desired a longer time. Jones refus-
ed. Then said Eldrdge, give me time to re-
move my family, that is all | ask. A part of
the furniture was afterwards removed by the
posse as plumber, hut most of it was burned
with the house BY this time the :" law and
order" mob was pouring into the streets, and
the residents, men, women and children sought
shelter in the adjoining woods
The first property destroyed was the press
of the kaHSaS Free State which was throwH
into the river, and everything pertaining to
the Office, with exchanges, paper, and large
quantity Of miscellaneous books, was thrown
into the street, mutilated and destroyed The
flag of the lone star ('' South Carolina and
Southern Rights was hoSted first upon the
house of &. ". Brown, Of the HeraH of Free
dom, aud afterwards upon the hotel Browns
press and everything in the Office shared the
same fate as the other, and a wagon load Of
books and papers was tramplcd in the streets.
Jones promised iu the commencement that
no private property should be destroyed But
houses we're broken open and riRed Of what
ever suited the fancy Of the mob Locks,
bolts or bars were no security. Windows and
doors were broken and DESTROYED, and money
and valuables to a large amount were missing
1t was currently reported and uncontradicted,
that eight thousand dollars, chiefly in money,
was lost from one house.
About five O'Clock three cannon were placed
in the street, twelve or ffreen rods east of the
hotel, and some thirty shots were fired shat
tcring the wall considerably, but proving alto
gcther too slow method for these 4" law and
order men They then set Gre to the build
ing in different places, and put several kegs of
powder under it. The flames and smoke soon
OuTSt out at Che WlnuONS, ana TIE WllO'C Ouild-
Ing Was in blaze. The walls trembcd and
fell, and the shouts and ycIls of the mob pr
claimed the triumph of law and ordc; in Law
renee While the hotel was burning the house
of c. W Brown was twice set on fire. The
floor was burned through.
The fire was finally cxtinguished by some
young men Of Lawrence The mob threaten
ed to shoot them, but they were not deferred
If his house had burned, several others must
certainly have been destroyed, and there would
have been danger of bnrning nearly half the
town Many of the mob were bent on des-
troying every horse in the place, and speeches
were made urging the destruction of the town