Freeman's champion., 1857-08-20
Sketch Of a Border Rufiian.

va ~o'SA"A NS"J " 6NOo vhV AOiAON
ing truthful and graphic picture of the
world-renowned Border Ruhian.--
Every citizen of Kanzas will attest,
to its accuracy. AS the race is fast
becoming extinct, so few now being
found who will acknowledge the
name, they will soon be as scarce as
witches. Hence, painting of them
drawn from life, will in few years
be of great interest;
"Active preparations for war were
discernible at all the river towns
At Lexington, large crowd was
assembled on the levee, many of the
persons comprising it loaded with
arms. But at Kanzas City the war
like demonstrations were still great
er. This town is on the southern
side Of the mouth of the Kanzas riv-
er, which, at this point, separates
Missouri from the Territory OF Kan
zas. 1t is situated about five miles
from Westport, near the eastern
boundary Of Kanzas, where the Mis-
souri, army was concentrating prepar-
atory to the invasion of the Terrific
ry. Both of these towns have be-
come notorious as places of refuge
for the most desperate characters,
whose almost nameless crimes have
bIackened the annals of Kanzas, and
as being the resorts of numerous ,
combinations which have there con-
gregated to plot against its peace
In a word, they are the strong g-holds
of the worst ofthe Border Rutiians."
Let it not be understood that this !.
latter term is considered by those to
whom tits applied as one ofreproach.
On the contrary they boast Of it, are
proud OF it, glory in it, and do all in
their power to merit it, and very
many of them have been eminently
successful. In this manner they as
sumo the character OF a ruffian--in
their dress they exhibit the appear
ance of the ruflian-and in their con-
versation they are ruffians indeed
They initiate and resemble the guer-
rillas, ladrones, or grcasers Of Mex
ico--the brigands Of Spain or Italy,
or the pirates, robbers and murderers
of the theatre. On the leyee at Kan
zas City stood sort of omnibus or
wagon, used to convey passengers to
and from Westport, upon either side
of which was painted, in flaming
capitals, the words BORDER RUFFIAN.'
Standing about in groups, or run
ming in every direction, were num-
bers of the mon who claim for them-
selves that gentle appellation.
A description of one Of these will
give the reader some idea of their
general characteristics. Imagine,
then, u man standing in a pair of long
boots, covered with dust and mud,
and drawn over his trowsers, the lat o
ter made of coarse, fancy-colored
cloth, we'll soiled-the handle Of a.
large bowie-knife projecting from"
one or both boot-tops-a 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
iavorite device braided on the breast
and back, over which is swung a,
rifle or carbine--a sword dangling BY
his side---an old slouched hat, with
cockade or brass star on the front
or side, and a chicken, goose or tur-
key feather sticking in the top--hair
uncut and uncombed, covering his
neck and shoulders unshaved face
and unwashed hands. Imagine SUCH
picture OF humanity, who can swear
q given number of oaths in any spec
flied time--drink any quantity Of bad
whisky without getting drunk, and
boast of having stolen a half-dozen !.
horses and killed one or more aboli-
tionists, and you will have a pretty
fair conception of a border rutfian as
he appeared in Missouri and Kanzas.
He has, however the happy faculty
of assuming q very different aspect.
Like other ANIMALS, he can shed his
coat and change his colors. In the
City of Washington, he is quite an
other person. You will see him in
tho 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 in the finest broadcloth, and
in the extreme of fashion; his hair
trimmed, his face smoothed, and his
hands cleansed; his whole deport-
ment that ofinnocence, and his speech
so smooth, studied and oily, as to
convince even the sagacious President
himself, that he 10 o veritable and
polished gentleman, and obtain from
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