The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-17

Will 1HS VctcIHlIidtiou W SHOOG DOWN
every man whom they met, who would
not yield obedience to the laws passed by
the usurpers at the Shawnee Mission. It
was the company of men who met Thos.
w. Barber, his brother Robt. f. Barber
and Thomas u. Peirson, on their way to
their homes. and shot Thos. w. Barber.
The account of it is thus given by Robt.
T. Barber.
On the 9th of Dec, 1855, at 1 O'Clock,
P. NJ, / left Lawrence, K. T., in company
with my brother, Thomas w. Barber, and
my brother-in-law, Thomas III. Peirson :;
we were all mounted / was provided
with Colts Navy Revolver and Peirson
had small inch Colts Revolver, but
Thomas w. Barber was entirely unarmed.
We were on our way to our homes, dis
tant about seven miles from Lawrence,
and had ridden some three and half
miles, when we observed party of from
twelve to fifteen mounted men to the right
of the California road, in which we were
travelling. This party was apparently
making directly for it. They were over
halfa mile from us when we first saw them.
We then left the California trail, to take a
cross road, to the left, which was the
shorter one to our residences; this was
Immediately after we discovered the horse
men. We had at this time no idea that
they intended to interrupt It's, nor did we
quit the highway for the purpose ofavoid-
ing them. We had left the main road by
some half mile, when we saw two of
these mounted men advancing before the
rest, as if to cut US off; this they did by
approaching us on the right, and placing
themselves in front of us, or nearly So
They came up at trot, while we were
walking our horses. The remainder of the
approaching party had in the meanwhile
halted in full sight of us, but at distance
from two to four hundred yards.
One of the men who rode upto lis was
mounted OF grey horse; he was heavily
built, with broad face, and | believe
whiskers. The other seemed tall, we'll
made person, dressed, if remember right,
IN dark clothing, and mounted on Sorrel
horse.
Think that the man on the grey horse
acted as spokesman when they came up
and halted, the man ON the sorRl stood a
little off the road, but close TO it, and to
the left of his companion who had check
ed his animal in the road. not more than a
couple of yards from our horses heads,
and directly in front of us. The man on
the grey horse then ordered lis to halt,
and we did so Immediately. Upon COM
ing to a stand, the position of our party
was as follows =
Ny brother Thomas w. Barber, was be-
side me, and on my right, while my broth
erin law, PeirSon, was little TO my left
and in our rear; we were all in the road.
After halting US, the rider of the grey
horse asked, "Where are you going ?''-
Ny brother Thomas w. Barber-whc
answered for our party-replied. awe
are going home" He then asked us
"Where are you from ?" my brother ans
wered, "We are from Lawrence ''Wha
is going on in Lawrence ?" was the mex
question. Nothing in particular. saie
my brother. Nothing in particular, heyH
replied the man. He then added, W.
have orders from the Governor to see the
laws executed in Kansas Thomas w
Barber then asked, "What laws have we
disobeyed ?" Upon hearing this, the
rider of the grey horse raised his hand
and pointed towards his party, at the
same time exclaiming, "Then, turn youl
horses heads and go with us.'' Ny broth
er then said, awe won't do It." 'Yor
won't hey ?" said their spokesman, at tbs
same time starting off with his horse 81
as to bring him on the right side of IN,
brother-who moved his horses hea(
slightly toward him, as he did so. Tn,
man drew his pistol as he started, bu
halted as he reached his new position tt
the right of my brother-I can't say wha
the rider of the serrel was doing in tn,
meanwhile, for their spokesman rode be
tween him and nay brother, and my at
tention was at that moment taken up witt
the drawing of my own pistol. which wa
belted on behind my back, in such man
ner that was obliged to seize it witt
my left hand this | did under the be
lief that we were about to be attacked
As | was changing it in my right hand tt
fire, / saw their spokesman-the man oI
the grey hOrse-diseharge his pistol a
my brother Ibid not think at the tim
that my brother was hit. This man, afte
I firing at my brother, rode right round il
| the road, and halted some ten PAGES in on
rear. wheeled my horse and shot a
him, but missed cannot say that ne re
turned my fire, but on changing my po
sition saw the smoke of the pistol of tn
man on the sorrel, who was still In his oil
position. l then Gred second barrel a
him, but missed, as / had done before.
After | had fred at the man on the sor
rel horse, he rode up to his companion
and on reaching him they exchanged
a word or two which | could not distinct
/ ly hear, and then galloped off toward
/ their party. As they started | fred q
/ them again, for the third time, but wit
no better success. We still stood firm i
| our tracks, not having moved our horse
except to wheel them, from the begin
ming to the end of the affray.
The main BODY of the horsemen wa
still halted, but full in sight. Thomas "
Barber then turned TO us and said, 'Boy'
let Us be off :" we started accordingly, q
a gallop, on our road. At this time tn
two men were still galloping towards the
party. My brother and myself rode sid
by side; my brother-in-law, Peirsop, VIII
had slower horse, following in our rea
| After riding in this manner for about
hundred yards, my brother said to m'
ssThat fellow shot me; - he smiled as b
said so. Iasked him, Where are yo
shot ? He pointed to his right side
I then remarked"It is not possible, Thon
as?n To this he replied, st Is" at th
1 same time smiling again. do not thin
that he realized how badly he was hur
After uttering these-his last words-h
dropped his rein, and reeled in his saddle
seeing that he was about to fall, eaugE
hold of him by the left shoulder, grasT
ing the loose oyercoat which he WORE
held him thus for nearly hundred yard,
could then hold him no longer, and b
fell to the ground; as he did so, slippe
from my horse, at the same time calm
out fWhoa;D both horses stopped imms