Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-13
A BRUrAL nURDER KANSAS.


time since an alarming collision at Easton, on
the day of the State election, in which several
men on both sides had been killed. With the
usual falsehood OF the reports forwarded by the
Border Ruffians, the blame of this collision
was ascribed to the FreeState men, the ag-
gressor being alledged to be a Captain Brown
at the head of a.military company from Law
renee, who had come in contact with another
military company from Kickapoo.
A day or two after the telegraph contradict
ed its own story, and reported the affair Eas-
ton to be of no consequence. But within a
few days past letters have begun to arrive
from Kansas, in which the matter regains its
| original seriousness. We published On Satur-
day two letters of this sort--one from Law
renee, the other from Leavenworth-but at
the same time We EXPIRE ssed the hope and be-
lief that the bloody story told in them n ust
be. exaggeration. But that story is fully
confirmed by the letters which We copied from
the ST. Louis Democrat, and by letter from
| our correspondent at Leavenworth, which
| leaves no doubt THAT the Border Ruffians, en-
couraged by the impunity which they enjoy,
have perpetrated a new murder, far outdoing
all their other exploits in point of cowardice
and brutality. Cold indeed must be the heart
which such horrid atrocity fails to stir.
The facts are thcse The city of Leaven-
worth, though it contained a Free-State ma
! jority, and had Free-State Mayor and Com
mon Council, yet unfortunately had no proyi-
sion of Sharp's rides. It had no leader of
commanding courage and prudence, and, be-
I Il
particularly exposed to Border-ruffian inva-
sion. Of this the sborder-rufiians' have taken
advantage. The voting upon the acceptance
| of the State Constitution drew to that town a
Missouri mob, who attacked the polls by sur
prise, knocked down and nearly killed one of
| the Inspectors who attempted to save the bal
lot-box, which the rufiians seized and carried
of--thus, for the time, breaking mp the cleo
ton. A few days after, in the absence of the
editor and proprietor of the Territorial Regis
ter published at Leavenworth, who had gone
| to attend convention to nominate officers un-
der the State Constitution, Missouri mob vi
sited the town and seized the press and types
of that paper and threw them into the river.
Finding it impossible to preserve order, ,and
hat the city was conquered by the Rufiians,
the Free State Mayor resigned, and Border
Ruffian was chosen in his place. The new
Mayor issued Proclamation forbidding any
lection for State officers TO be held at Leaven-
worth, under pretensc that it would produce
a riot. In consequence OF this proclamation
the persons deputed 10 hold the election deter
mined, under authority vested in them for that
purpose, to adjourn it for four days and to
hold it on the 10Th. A similar adjournment
grrvni nias..gesSla the. 4Iectiop at Stranger
miles from Leayenworth. Thus, the Kicka-
poo Rangers, Border-Rufan military COM
pany, which visited that place OF the 18th to
prevent an election, were not only defeated OF
their purpose, but during their absence from
kickapoo, town on the Missouri some dis
tance above Leayenworth, the Free -Statemen
there, where it was not supposed they would
dare to vote at all, very quietly completed
their election.
On the 18th the voting took place at Strang-
or Greek. At night, after the polls were clo-
scd, a considerable body of Rufiians made their
appearance to seize the baIlot-boxes. But the
tree-State men were prepared and armed, and
the Ruffians, not daring to attack them, after
some parleying encamped at distance
About midnight few of the Free-State men,
who, thinking that all was quiet, had set out
on their return home, were intercepted by the
Ruffians. One, however, escaped, bringing
back the news that his companions were pris-
oners, when the men at Stranger Creek
marched on the Ruffians and demanded their
release. This was conceded but the parties
did not separate without some firing in which
several of the Ruffians were wounded-one, it
was supposed, mortally.
In the morning at daylight, the Free-Statc
men at Stranger Greek started for their homes
Among them was party of eight, headed by
Mr.. Brown, who had gone from Leavenworth
to assist the men of Stranger Creek in defend
ing them selves against intruders. This party
fell in with near hundred Border Ruflians
| by whom they were made prisoners, and by
| whom Mr.. Brown, after be had given up his
arms, was murdered in cold blood in the most
shocking and brutal manner. The other six
prisoners had very narrow escape, as had al
so some other Free-Statemen who were pur-
sued and fred at by these assassins. The con-
| duct of the murderers resembles more that of
infuriated savages than anything else.
| This took place before the arrival of the
| Presidents late message. The arrival of that
message will probably be the signal for twenty
| similar murders. The blood of this man rests
on the head of President Pierce, and it will rest
| on the head of Congress too, if instant steps
are not taken to protect the unfortunate inha-
bitants of Kansas against these cowardly and
cruel assasSinations.-Nev York Tribune