Minnesota weekly times., 1856-11-15

From the Galena Atvertiser1
A LETTER FROM KANSAS.
LIFE IN I.ECOMPTON PRISON...
Death OF Mr.. Bowles.
LEcoNProN PRrsoN, X. T.,)
October 18th, 1856. I
EDITORS GAZETTE Your readers will doubtless
like to hear again, from the one hundred and one
Free State" criminals" and prisoners in Kansas.
regret to say that have no Aattering news to
impart; but, on the contrary, cur condition il
growing worse and worse every day. Until within
| the last few DAYS, most of US havo cnioyed rea.
sOnable heath, but now, several Of our number
are PROSTATE upon their humble couches with
burning feveis and bilious complaints, resulting
from exposure and the miserable water and food
We are compelled to use. Our ra:ions consist of
old rusty bacon, -four and coffee, and occasion
ally piece of sinking beef. We get enough
for two scant meals a day.
The brother of Mr.. Bowles, known in our city
rs recently member of the firm of Wilson &
Bowles, is lying so low with fever ,ha, his life is
despaired of. We have used everv entreaty and
persuasion with Col. Titus to have the sick re-
moved to some more comfortable quarters, but
all our entreaties have failed to produce the
much needed effect, be persisting in the grand
scheme to "subdue us.'
Imagine the horrors Of sickness under such
circumstances exposed to the cold, damp at
mos phere, our prison house barely affords shelter
from the storms. With no gentle hand to admin
lister relief, and no better couch TO case the rack
ing pain or soothe the scorching brain, than Il
single worn-out mattrass spread upon the floor.
and II blanket to cover with. Many of US who
are well, do not even enjoy these comforts.
Imagine the confusion and uproar that one
hundred caged-up men must make, crowded into
an cid, rickety building, scarcely staunch or large
enough TO contain them, and refused, as we Of
ten are, the privilege of even stepping outside
the threshold. Not only the racket in the build
ing makes it painful to the sick, but the filthy
condition of everything surrounding them. anu
the want OF palatable food, or medicine which
can be taken without the fear of its fastening,
instead of staying, the hand of de ,th. | appeal
to YOU, who are about to decide whether we are
to remain here longer, not to iengthen indefinitely
our imprisonment in this detestabe place. | ap.
peal to YOU, American citizens, in the name of
the glorious country our fathers won for us, is
not this enough to arouse the soul of every true.
hearted American
As prisoners, we do not wish to exonerate
ourselves. We are willing to let truth and JUS
tice speak for US, but how long, oh how long,
must we suffer these fendish outrages?
Allow Inc to relate an incident, which will H.
lu'tratc Our true condition, the feeling of the
enemy towards US, and the probable end of US
should any one attempt our rescue. Every Pro.
Slavery man in Kansas acknowledges the magic
terror that strikes through them ut the sound of
the name s. Jim Lane" and the single report of
gun after nightfall, for the distant approach of
IN emisrant wagon makes them quake in their
very boots, an,l the alarm is immediately sOunl.
ed that Lane is upon them. Some thre or four
times during the past week the z" Territorial Mill
TIA" have thus been called out, and the pennl,
| ta nv
sennd IN the distance, or perhaps the hootng of
an owl, which they fancy to be Lanes bugle.
But the worst alarm was caused Oh Thursday
nSht, IN the following IN inner: Some six
U. ). drigoOns came to town from their camp,
anu after celebrating the occasion until II o'cl'k
at night, they set sail for their camp with abou.
three she It's in the wind, and before fairly out of
town they began firing their revovers, which
aroused the militia and Col. Titus, who. with his
sup p,rior military skill, CONCLUDED that the enemy
was upon them sure, and began roirng OUT
"Fall Ous!' Prepare to fght!' "Comc
back, you ID cowards!' 1t is u well known
fact that most of his men are towards, but among
all he IS the ba>est coward himself. As the mill.
tia camp is only Il few yards from the prison, we
could peep out at the Windows and or ,cks b..
tween the boards, and see ali their anoeuvreng
1t was truly laughabe sight to see the :. He, oic
Chlvalry" breaking for the timber, some in one
were II dOz.n drawn up in line ready for fight.
ihe most painfully interesting sight to " was
their cannoneer, who stood swinging his lighted
match between the two pieces of artillery which
are planted within IS yards Of our prison and
bearing directly upon us, really ut any time, by
the application of the match, to blow US into
eternity in nm instant.
These suferings are almost intoerable, vet. If
Is necessary Tor the good of the great Cause to
which we are devoted, we will endure it still
longer; but is it necessary? We want to hear
from our friends in the States to know whether
we are looked upon as band of guilty villains
or victims OF the base political conspiracy to ex-
tend slavery, which holds us here. Col. Titus
admits that his intention is, in case of an attack,
to blow US up tho first moment. Twice he has
come so near executing his hellish design as to
have the matches lighted and placed over the
cannons. On the last OCCASION he sent word to a
family living near our prison to leave their house
or to 90 into The basement so us to be out OF the
way of Cannon balls.
Since commencing to write, Gov. Geary called
IN to see us for the first time in several DAYS. We
showed him our sick, and no = the house was
filled with filth and vcrmin.
LArER.-- LScoSProN, Oct. 19.-God save me
from ever again beholding u scene so horrid and
80 pitiful as occurred in our prison last night
~ >"~ '.'S"s S''ino VII, Poor "lu. DOWie5 grew
worse: his fever began raging higher, and in
tones OF the most hearr-ren ling agony, his dying
shrieks reverberated throughout our dismal walls.
as we collected around his low couch 10 catch
his last words, he raved and shrieked in delrious
accents, IL wont get away 81 wont get away 20
We administered every little comfort in our
power, and repeatedly sent for each physician in
town. but in vain. They were too busy at their
card tables. Doctor Brooks, who keeps the ho.
tel, sent word back that he .scouId make moro
playing poker, and would not come if the whole
ID batch of Abolitionists should die" We
tried to send to Lawrence for the dying mans
brother and physician. but even ten dollars was
offered IN vain. The officers of the guard mani
Tested a disposition to aid Us attending the sick,
but with Titus at their head, coul! do hut little.
a Mr.. Colwell, to whom our sincere thanks are
due, finding no other medical aid could lie had, i,
sent for the steward of the soldiers hospital,
who came, but too late. lie died between the
hours Of and O'Clock this morning. The
Steward persists in pronouncins the disease VEL
low fever. Mr.. Colwell then started for his bro.
ther, who ctne with his friends and took the
corpse to Lawrence. lie was much beloved by
Us all. His loss is too deeply felt to be ex.
pressed.
Several Of our Lawrence friends were here to.
day, but none were admitted to our brison bat