The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-05-20
A Description Of "Sgnaaing' In Kansas-Lifs Of
Sgaatter Pretty Indians, DC
coRKxsrosDxKcE OF TIE EDrsrArcE

/ have Just returned from Lscompton, after
stay Of Ave days, and proceed to indte my week
that miaerably slow town. Ill begin at Lesven
worth On the Prairie lands of . "considerably
sissd valley, at the bases of two laundering big
bills and spreading slopingiy In wavy undula-
lions from tbs prairie to the rapid Missouri, Ii
scattered here and there, radely built, but pic
turssque little 'bursh of the mushroom order of
cbitecsure, and probably containing altogether,
500 souls all told Including negroes and free solers
The mas here 10 decidedly pro-savery; with .
heavy sprinkling of Virginians; and ~ smigrants
md but little less discussed but bad whisky and
worse speculations, they seldom stop for . longer
time than Is sufficient to provide themselves with
the necessary stores-say enc pair OF blankets, .
oowie-knife and revolver, pack of cards, half
dozen bottles Of Hobensack, and as much rot gut
as will equal the best efforts Of their Bucephalus
to toat." Thus luxuriouay supplied they proceed
across the plains, sometimes 8 or 10 In q party
maps and surveys In hand, to hunt up "claim +"
10 entitle them to right to these claims govern.
ment requires . portion of the l60 acres to be
feaced ia, and shanty erected good enough to be
called an improvement. These ''improvs sm snts'
frequently consist of four rails forming the founda.
tion OF what the owner intends putting up at some
fnture time; and on the principle of honor among
sidered vauall,
Three claims were recently taken within few
miles OF this place by as many Virginians. They
settled on the lands, forming among themselves
sort OF joint stock squattsrdom, building and re-
aiding In q shanty, having their wood pile on 4
second, and using the third exclusively for storing
away their extra hardn are-say, q cracked frying
pan aud pewter spoon.
Their sleeping arrangements were similar to
the accommodations of the Irish pias: two pole.
so arranged In corner Of the shanty as to form an
area OF by feet profusely supplied with dried
leaves and prairie grass over which were spread
blankets and buffalo robes, with however an entire
absence Of Sheets which, the hopeful trio informed
m - nj 81 n ,
all l was rendered the hosptaliiies of the rancho.
and as an xtralinducement to prospect in.their
neighborhood for a few days, they assured me that
this 'empting dormitory should be swept out and
renewed
Squatter sovereignty is . hard life, but seldom
fails to pay, such is the mania for speculating.
Occasionally 1t requires the free use of Colts per
susdsrs to defend ones claim.
In passing through the reserved lands of the
Delaware tribe of Indians on our route tn I,a
compton, l made a visit of half an hour to the
abode Of one of their chiefs less behold the mighty
Sicoxy himself thsn to crafty my curiosity to see
his wife, whose reputation throughout the territory
for beauty is not surpassed even by that of the
renowned Sally Driuer of Wyandot,e. Accompa-
MED by Duff Co. of Fredericksburg, found her
engaged in the healthy and interesting exercise of
chastisng sqnaiing pappoose, having for this
purpose suspended her previous occupation of peel
ing potatoes. She 10, perhaps, shade below my
ideal of perfection, but her streaming hair magni-
fcent eyes, and beautifully moulded figure render
her one Of the most splendid specimens of female
beauty that ] have ever beheld, and the widest
flights of imagination of the author Of the prairie
Bird" could conjure up no such vision of native
elegance Her dress consisted Of gaudy prints and
many colored stones and beads, intermixed with
small coins; and In Its picturesque richness became
the savage beauty admirably. Within the last
few days l have seen many squaws of various
tribes, but none that at all pretty except 81.
coxys wife
In Lecompson I found many old friends and
scquaintances from Virginia, and should have
spent pleasant time, but for the want of decent
Hotel accommodations. There is but one Hotel In
the place, and this is the thiest hovel have ever
seen, short of Western Georgia.
The town is pleasantly located on the Kansas or
Cav river, and will no doubt, grow rapidly. The
STATE House will add much to the appearance of
the place; and so soon the land specuations
settle down little, there will, no doubt, be bet
ter class of citizens than at present Two churches
are already started, and several Sunday Schools
organized
Mr. Staunton, the Acting Governor, has taken
hold, and promises to become popular, If he can
make himself Satisfied to remain; though never
saw man who looks more like cursipg and
quitting" AT.