Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-08-12
TIE RAJ TsmAn's JOURNAL,
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
Correspondence Of fthessRaffsman's Journal. y
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IFAyENwoRTH CITY- N. l., [
I'd August, 1851.
FRIEND Row last Wednesday, I took
leave of, and departed from the City founded
by that great and good. nothing man, Joe
Smith. i took passage on the fine, large stea-
mer, Jeanie Dean, for the great commercial
metropolis of the West. ST. Louis is fncreas-
ing in population and improving very rapidly.
It's recent growth and prosperity speak loudly
in praise of its free and enterprising inhab-
tants Take it all in all, in its present -four
ishing condition, it bears some resemblance to
a city in free State. After strolling about
st. Louis till curiosity entirely satisfied itself,
I took passage on the steamer Polar Star, and
started up the Missouri River for Leavenworth
City. Leavenworth City is about 456 miles
above St. Louis. The country along the river
is mostly unimproved.- The banks of the riv-
trees, the soil productive, and the general APP
pearance of the country favorable.
The towns and cities along the Missouri,
from ST. Louis to Leayenworth, appear to bear
upon them the impress, and the curse of the
sspeculiar institution Their dirty, neglect
cd and forsaken appearance, seems to indicate
that their inhabitants are content to merely
live, and proves conclusively that they do not
possess the spirit of public enterprise and i'm
provement that characterizes the people of the
free States. In short, the Missouri towns, a
long the river, were built and finished several
years ago.
Vending our way up the crooked river,
plowing its muddy, turbid waters, and stem
ming its mighty current, arrive at Iseaven-
worth City, which may, emphatically, be term
ed ga place" On arriving at Leavenworth,
we find her people excited to the highest pitch.
The whole city is thrown into disorder-men
and children running up and down, to and fro.
like demons thirsting for the blood Of cou-
pie of rictims now in charge OF the city Off
cials. The circumstances from which the ex-
citement arose, are about these:
Night before last, two men were murdered
here, not hardly two rods from the hotel.-
They were thrown into the river, but one of
them was not killed instantly. He had suffi-
cient strength to struggle and reach shore
where he was found just before he died. He
had received seven or eight wounds. Four or
five men were implicated in the murder, as APP
pears by the confession of two of them. The
first one that was arrested was taken to tree,
rope placed around his neck and orders were
given to 'sstring him up He prayed for
them to spare him tchiie as he had something
of importance to communicate to them. He
was spared for the time being. The disclo-
surcs he then made led to the arrest of three
others, who were jointly interested in the MUIR
np .,f nyba
about three four O'Clock; and the excited
spopulace, not satisfied with one victim, deter
mined to sacrifice another. Judge Lecompte
took stand and spoke about one hour against
such proceedings; begging them, in the name
of sSlaw and order,'' and of justice to let the
law take its course. Bat while the Judge was
harangueing them, as he thought, SO success
fully, about two hundred stole out of the ranks,
proceeded to the calaboose, brought out the
cuiprit whs had at first confessed his guilt, and
hung him before the eyes of the astonished
Judge. 1t was told to the Judge in right plain
terms, that If he tried the prisoners, they would
be cleared and again set at large to prey upon
the lives of unsuspeeting strangers. The
sscrowd'' began to talk seriously about placing
the Judge on the list of the prescribed, where
upon his honor disappeared of his ssown free
will and Accord" and has not been seen in
public since.
The other two implicated are in custody of
the proper officers. One of them young Ken
tuckian, has made written confession, which
corroborates what the first one disclosed. The
other one, evidently an old offender is not
very communicative. He has been making
his will to-day, with the expectation of being
tsshuffied off this mortal col,'' whenever the
executioners are ready and call on him. The
young fellow looks and acts as though he rca-
lized his true position, and is consequently
very much alarmed. He will answer any ques-
tion asked him by any body. But not so with
his companion in guilt He looks and acts as
Indifferent as though nothing unusual had oc-
CURED, and as though he would d.as soon be
men in the affair, that the old fellow will be
hung, either tonight or tomorrow Iporning
and that the other win probably share the
same fate. @ss..efs.ss - Es-.s
There is now large crowd collecting around |
the Mayors office. / await the result with
great anxiety. The Lynching will undoubt-
edly have good effect here. 1t is said that |
thirteen Of the mnrderons gang, took advan-
tage Of the darkness, last night, and made their
escape, with their baggage in skif, down the
Missouri.
; Gov. Walker is still stationed at Lawrence
with his 800 troops. The movement of Walk |
er, mean his march to Lawrence with his
troops, 10 locked upon here, by every body |
1hat heard speaking of il, as too silly and ri-I