Freeman's champion., 1857-07-02
What 8 Correspondent Says Of Us

49, r 'EA3t M - tNf''Sg sTtNJl -'N'ft'"'
.Nrittsn py q tc0lFeSpoaden of tliat
popdrfwhile sojodRningin this place.
WeanakesG lewcStlacts. sh
81 am writing in the house which
one year ago was the scene OF warfare
and Border Rutfian defeat and dis
grace. Then, as now, kept by an
ased patriot, who, with his sons, were
foremost in all the engagements which
were had, in hisregion. The name OF
Archibsld Harris and his, noble wife
are worthy Of q conspicuous place ia
the history Of Kanzas, The story Of
the battle Of Black Jack is familiar
tQ all yqurllealers, The sceneof CHS
Battle,is only four miles rom this
plaGa, 70 which the. prisoners taken
by the Free State men were brought,
and treated with all o,sible kindness
byl their captors. This battle was
fought principally by, Captain Sam.
Shore, with sixteen men, assisted
by Captain Brown, Of OsGwatomie,
wiIh ten men. The enemy, com
manded by The Distinguished Henry
Clay Pate, consisted OF nearly eighty
men. lweqfyssix pEEj{oners. were
bIought to the hou . Of Mr.. Harris,
aud entrIi aimed With the best the
con:ry afforded, the captorS deIerring
their ea'ing TIL the prisoners were
supplied, The prisoners were kindly
ca%d for and nursed by Mrs. Harris
anti Others, and treated with the ut
most h5m nifty; but no scooter were
thyy released by Col. Sumner than
thy turned upon tlteir ben4factorS
wirh Inc baseSt ihgratituie,' 'aA Mi.
CantreIl was g0ing to his home with
a pail OF butter, and when near his
destination was capturct by band Of
these Rutfians, who informed hiswife
that they should eat the butter for
supper, and the body OF her husband
1or breakfast. Ii is not stated that
they did eat his flesh, but they killed
him nextmorning. What a pity the
butter was not filled with strychnine.
,'"On one occasion u large band Of
Rullians on horseback surrounded
the Harris house, with only eight
men inside. Mrs. Harris left the
house fora neighbor's, when she wa
surrounded by the chiyalry, and asked
how many The house contained; she
replied, she did not c9iht them, but
the house was full, probably two OF
three huhdred. This was too much
for these brave soldiers, who putspul
to horse ana left the digsings as fast
MS their horses could carry them. 10
Had | time, / couIq give many remi.
niscences of last years events which
ihanspiled'in thisyicinity, but Imusl
lorego the pleasure. l1
Prairie City is situated on, a beau
titulrolling prairie, fifteen miles south
Of Lawrence, with q better supply Of
Of timber near it than mahy large
towns IN Illinois. Water for stocl,
aGoonls, and for domestic purposes
il is f3unl is spfingS in and neai
town, and wells varying from ten tc
thrty-iiye feet deep, Nlessrs. Shote
q McNlanus, and Messrs. Winton q
Willott, keep all kinds Of goods
wanted for family use and building
at prices but little higher than in
Aurora. II is said they are doing !
large business-from 500 to $500
q day in cash. All kinds Of mechan
lies are wanted here, and can command
large wages, The Town Association
donates one or more goodlots to per
sons whowill improve them. Whole
regiments of pretty girls can come or
at once, for they are wanted badly
Preaching is had here every Sun
day, by ministers Of different demon
nations. Yesterday, | attended sun
day school, and found forty.sever
scholars and teachers engaged in th,
exercises Of the occasion. The schoo
has q library of nearly 200 volumes
This is doing much for the future
prosperity Of Prairie City, w . ~
:" "MesSrs. Wbiteman & Cradit, o
Batavia, are erecting o saw-mill foul
miles from here another is in oper'
a0oa twoanla half miles N, Il, from
here, ami the engine and machinery
Tor Onothcr arrived hero to-day, anc
isnow being put UP, half amileiron
This city, in a large body Of timber
on the middle Folk Of Ottawa Geek
Lumber win be abundant lor building
purposes, as soon as these mills al,
In operation, say in four weeks, a
tpficds yayiag from $3O to $45,-
Any man OF woman Of REASONABLE,
aspirations, can live happily and wei
in this pgrt Of Kanzas at The prcsen
time, with promise Of q more thar
ordinary share Of the blessing pf tKi'
world in (. q iqw years N d,,,,os, fa,, I