Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-27
Lute and Important. from knuza..
ANo TIER FORCESTER MAN IN THE HANDS
OF THE BORDER RUFFIANS.
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A WORCESTER WOMAN

a
The New York Tribune of the Goth, con-
tuins the following:
We have conversed with Mr.. Charles H.
Branscombe, who lett Lawrence on the
morning of the 10th inst, on a mission TO the
President at Washington, TO impore him to
interfere and save the people of Lawrence
from butchery, and their property from total
destruction By the infatuated Border. Rufian
mob mission on whose success the melan-
choly intelligence which we have received by
telegraph and publish in another column, af-
lords conclusive commentary.
Mr.. Branscombe sees no reason to hope that
the news of the destruction of Lawrence is
not corr ect. Indeed, he says that no one not
an eve witness to the facts can well conceive
the constant and varied outrages to which the
Free ) ate men of Kanzas have tor some time
past been subjected Thus, for instance, on
the 10th inst, party of eleven Free State
settl RS were quietly at work. without arms
in field at Benic,a, some four miles from
Lawrence, when they were suddenly sur.
rounded by twenty five Mssourlans, armed
to the teeth, who took them prisoners, with
out any warrant or other authority. The Mis-
sourlans carried them into neighboriug cab
in, and with many oaths, ordered them to
leave the Territory on paiu of death. Cd
d. II you, if you are ever caught here again
you shall be strung up! Go to Nebraska.
d-n you! You have 10 right in Kamza> ="
Such wa, the language of these ruffians who
concluded by saying that they were coming
TO Lawrence in few days to wipe out the
id abolition city, and to kill or drive off
every one of the inhabitants. After this adj
monition, they released all their prisoners but
one, MI. Simmons, formerly from Wor-
cester Co., Mass, who had answered them
with some spirit, and whom they carried
away with them for further discipline.
Another fact reported by Mr.. Branscombe
affords an illustration of The spirit of the
women of the Free State settlers. Previous
to thus arresting the men in the field part of
the same gang had visited the cabin of MIR.
Simmons for the purpose of stealing his re.
volver and Snaps rife. HIS wife was alone,
and refused &c give them up. She leveled the
revolver at the leader, but Just as she was
about to pull the trigger one OF the ruffians
seized her arm from be ind aud took the wea-
pons from her, after which they left her with
the same brutal menaces as were addressed to
the men in the field
Robbery has been practced without restraint
upon the Free State people. Cows and other
animals have continually been killed and car
ried off to the camp OF the ruffians at LIE.
compton. One man was forced to drive his
own COW there, when she was taken from him
and killed before his eyes. these instances
are giveh as specimens from among many
Others, and are by means the worst that
might be reported, as those who have read our
recent Kanzas letters are well aware.
Mr., Branscombe was at Lawrence when
they received the reply of Marshal Donaldson
to the request of the people to be informed IS
to the precise nature of his demands, and de.
claring that they contemplated no resistance
10 the laws. OF TINS document, it may be
ltmemher5d, our special correspondent was
unable to forward copy. Mr. BIanscombe
describes it as exceedingly coarse and insolent
III its manner. The only points of complaint
which the Marshal brought against the peo-
pie of Lawrence were: /. The shooting of
Jones; The applause of the people when
Reeder declared he would not be arrested
on the process for contempt of court; and
3. the existence OF military organization
III the town.
Gov. Reeder, Mr.. Branscombe believes, is
safe in Iowa. He left Kanzas. our readers
will remember we were informed by our spe-
cial correspondent, OH the earnest advice Of
Messrs. Howard and Sherman, of the Con-
gressional Committee. who thought that his
absence would remove a cause of collision
between the people of Lawrence and the Uni
ted States troops of Border marauders. We
now learn that his assassination had been de.
teImined GU by the latter, and that it was for
that purpose that he was to be taken to Le-
compton. For this the subpoena was issued to
bring him before the Court, and for this the
witt OF arrest for contempt, and the indict-
ment for high treason wei also arranged. The
indie nent was found by the Grand Jury with.
out hearing a single witness. Mr.. Brans-
combe fears that Gov Robinson will also be
as assinated. He was to be taken from Lex
ington, Mo-. where 1t will be remembered he
was detained by mob, up to Lecompton. on
the requistion Of Gov. Shannon, OH Sunday
last, the 18th inst.
Such is the aspect of Kansas as described
by this gentleman. The reign of terror there
lacks nothing of being perfect, Assassina-
tions robberies, outaages, and violence of ev.
cry description are freely practiced, while the
United States troops, fully authorised to a
and support the Border Ruffian authorities,
are forbidden by the orders they have received
from the President to do anything to protect
the Free State settlers from slaughter and
their fields and houses from devastation. Such
is the result of Popular Sovereignty as ex-
pounded by Senator Douglas, and enforced
With all the power of the Government by
President Pierce.
F,nrfher pnrficuIura.