The Kanzas news., 1857-08-08
skatcb Of a Border Rufian.


DIR. Gihon, the Private Secretary of ex-
Governor Geary. gives the following truth
fui and graphic picture of the world-renown-
| ed Border Ruffan. Every citizen of Kan
zas viii attest to its accuracy. AS the race
is fast becoming extinct, so few ROW being
found who viii acknowledge the name, they
viii soon be as scarce as witches Hence
painting of them drawn from life, will IN
few years be of great interest:
s.Active preparations for war were dis
cernible at all the river towns. AT Lex
| inoton, large crowd was assembled on the
| leyee, many of the persons comprising 1t
| loaded with arms. But at KanZas City the
warlike demonstrations were still greater.
This town is on the southern side of the
mouth of Kanzas river, which, at this point,
separates Missouri from the Territory of
! Kanzas. It is situated about five miles from
Westport, near the eastern boundary OF
Kanzas, where the Missouri army was con-
centrating preparatory to the invasion OF
the Territory. Both of these towns have
become notorious as places of refuge for the
most desperate characters, whose almost
nameless crimes have blackened the annals
of Kanzas, and as being the resorts of nu-
merous combinations which have there con-
keregated to plot against its peace. In a
word, they are the strong-holds of the
lMogst of the ssBorder Rufians.
Let it not be understood that this latter
j term is considered by those to whom it is
applied as one of reproach. On the con-
;. trary they boast of it, are proud of it, glo-
ny in it, and do all in their power to merit
/ it, and very many of them have been emf
nently successful. In their manner they
assume the character of the rufhan-in their
dress they exhibit the appearance of the
ruffian-and in their conversation they are
rufians indeed. They initiate and resemble
the guerrillas, ladrones, or greasers of Mex
ico-the brigands of Spain or Italy, or the
] pirates, robbers and murderers of the the
atre. On the leYee at Kanzas City stood g
sort of omnibus or wagon, used to convey
passengers to and from Westport, upon eli
ther side of which was painted, in flaming
capitals, the words BORDER RUFFIAN. >
Standing about in groups. or running ii
every direction, were numbers of the mer
who claim for themselves that gentle appel
4 lation.
i A description of one of these will giv'
| the reader some idea of their general char
acteristies. Imagine, then, man standing
in pair of long boots, covered with dus
and mud, and drawn over his trowsers, lth'
latter made of coarse, fancy-colored cloth
4 well soiled-the handle of large bowie
! knife projecting from one or both boot-topi
la leather belt buckled around his waist
on each side of which is fastened large re
volver-a red or blue shirt, with heart
anchor, eagle, or some other favorite devict
braided on the breast and back, over which
j is swung rifle or carbine-a sword dan
i Cling by his side-an old slouched hat
with cockade or brass star on the front OF
side, and a chicken, goose or turkey feath
-er sticking in the top-hair uncut and un
combed, covering his neck and shoulders
an unshayed face and unwashed hands
Imagine such picture of humanity, who
can swear given number of oaths In any
specified time-drink any quantity of bad
whisky without getting drunk, and boast o
having stolen half-dozen horses and killed
one OF more abolitionists, and you will have
a pretty fair conception of border ruffiar
as he appeared in Missouri and Kanzas.
/ He has, however, the happy faculty o
assuming very different aspect. Like
other animals, he can shed his coat and
i change his colors. In the City of Wash
ington, he is quite another person. You
will see him in the corridors of the first
class hotels, upon Pennsylvania Avenue
in the Rotunda of the Capitol, or the spa
cious halls of the White House, dressed il
the finest broadcloth, and IN the extreme o
fashion; his hair trimmed, his face smooth
ed, and his hands cleansed; his whole de
} pertinent that of innocence, and his speech
so smooth, studied and oily, as to con
vince even the sagacious President him
self, that he is veritable and polished
gentleman, and obtain from the wise heads
that form the cabinet, the most importan
| posts of trust, honor and emolument il
the gift of the nation.'