The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-11-07

cago, spent several days there, held a
meeting, as also at Rockford, Ill. Hav-
ing been detained by ill-health, was not
ready to leave Chicago until the fore part
of May. Monday morning the (about the
last Monday in April, have no almanac
to find the date) found myself in the
cars bound for Cincinnati. While thus seat
ed the newsboys furnished me the Dem
ocratie Press of the morning, which
brought me the intelligence of the shoot
ing of Jones. Immediately changed my
direction, and late that night found my
self in Alton en- route for Kansas, deter
mined to be near the scene of trouble and
danger, ifany occurred, as had reason to
believe there would. Indeed from state
ments had heard on my way down the
river in the month previous, was conf
dent those who had invaded Kansas so
often from Missouri, were only waiting a
favorable pretext to commence outrages
anew. One gentleman, who claimed to
be merchant from Weston, No., told me
on that occasion that as ''soon as the grass
starts so they could subsist their horses,
every id abolitionist in the Terrific
ry would be driven out, and claimed he
was visiting Lexington at that time in
the connection with the movement. al
luded to this man in my first editorial cor
respondence to the Heraidof Freedom af-
ter leaving home.
After remaining in Alton few days,
making some purchases, and complaining
the arrangement for the line of steamers,
left on the night of the 9th of May.
from Alton, in company with party of
about one hundred persons from Michigan,
on the steamer Keystone, direct for Kan
sas. On the 18th we passed Lexington,
and learned of the arrest of DIR. Rob-
inson, the day previous, while on
his way down the river. On Monday we
arrived at Kansas City about 10o'clock A.
NJ. passed through town, transacted
some business, but noticed | was the sub
ject of observation and remark from all
quarters. I learned of the state of mat
ters in the Territory, and of the flight of
Reeder and Robinson, and was assured
| that efforts would be made to arrest me.
| was advised by several to seek safety
in flight. This / refused to do. After
dinner I registered my name and had
room No. 81 assigned to me. When
visited it found O.C. BRowN, ESQ.,, of
OSawatomie, in possession cf it. Leaving
Immediately made my way to room
on the third floor where some friends
were stopping, and engaged in eonyersa-
ton. | had been there but few mo-
ments when one of the company stated
that as he left the house few moments
before, he met two persons entering the
, Hotel, one of whom remarked, as they
passed him, "What is best to do will
him ?" to which the other replied, "D-r
him, we will take him at all hazards."-
This report was hardly made when anoth.
er of the party entered, and said he met
as he came up the stairs, two men hold
of a third who was being dragged dowr
stairs into the street. Soon after learn
ed Mr.. Brown of Osawatomie, had beer
arrested under an apprehension that the.
had taken me; that he was taken dowl
the street, and hastily thrown into a car
riage which was guarded by twelve arm
ed men on horseback /; and that just a
, the door was being closed to the carriage
Mr.. Riddlesburger came along, recognized
the face, told them they had the wron;
Brown, and thus their prisoner was dis
charged. / learned further that the par
ty had returned to arrest me, and Col
ELDRIDGE, the proprietor of the house, re
} fused to give them admittance, on tn
+ contrary, resolved to defend his premise
from "unlawful quarrels and seizures,
{ and for farther security called to his ali
the authorities and citizens.
The danger continued imminent. TIL
mob placed guard around the house
4 and continued it there all night and tn
5 following day. In the mean time [ ha
D called to my aid several revolvers, an
n found that with my friends we had forty
!, six shots in our room without reloadine
e and that our walls were of brick, and {
5 course impervious to bullets. We had re
: solved never to be taken alive, unless b
legal process. 1t was supposed that th
design was to pass me into the hands {
a mob, and lynch me.
n About two o'clock Wednesday morr
E ing, gentleman entered the room l WI
|. still occupying with my friends and state
that s9the coast was clear" He said tt
= guard had been Withdrawn, and the gel
eral impression was that had gone dow
!. the river.
fl This friend informed me that Mr.. j Z,
e KINs, of Lawrence, was about seturnii
, home on horseback, and he thought
> advisable for me to go with him. This
+ concluded to do. and procured hon
.e and saddle for that purpose. We toe
= the usually travelled road, and had jou
l. neyed only about mile when blae
I object was seen a few feet in. advance
q, US, and the command "Halt, and gil
se an account of yourselves" was given in
IN stern voice. Ny horse sprang. and whec
'. cd and was nearly two reds away, VII,
in I wheeled it about, and rode by the si'
v of Mr. jenkins. expecting each nome
q, he would fire. Instead of this heard 4