New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-26
Tur x1RTyRs or KAxsAs-CANTRELL.

| Tot Vireil sing the praise OF great heroes and
n.t,;ots. let Genius celebrate mort and extol tho
talent, of the great. The short and simple anns
Of one who, though occupying humble station in
life lived bright example Of stern integrity and
died hero and martyr engrosses my pen while
/ record what I know Of the life and death Of
JACOB CASTRELL.
He was born and reared in jackson County,
Missouri When the Territory Of Kansas was de-
c,ared open for settlement, he removed thithsr with
bis family, settled where Palmyra now stands,
and in company with others, assisted in laying out
and building up that now prosperous town. De-
spising that spurious arstecracy common to all
communities where Slavery exists, he felt, as he
remarked to me one day, that he had entered q
new world. Eated with the prospect of speedily
securing fortune and the great blessing aud prvi-
lege Of rearing and educating his children IN free
community, he entered into all our plans OF in
provement, both in church and State, with hearty
will and ready cooperation.
One year PRIOR to moving to Kansas, he lived
upon the farm Of Ohio Hall, sIavehOlder, and
hauled produce to the city Of Lawrence, then
new town, very scarce Of provisions. He had the
words " Kansas: Free State" painted in large
letters upon his wagOn.coyer. Meeting Hall one
day as he was returning for load Of supplies, Hall
noticed the letters upon the wagon, and In Ruf.
fan style, well armed as he was, commenced cut
ting the letters out After eecting this, he threat
ebed Cantrell life and commenced striking at
bin with his knife, cutting him severely Cantrell,
being wholly unarmed, called to two men (negh-
bOrs of HalD standing near, not to let Hall kill
him without some chance for his life-appeahng
to their chivalry and honor. They were deaf to
his eAtreaties, and Contrel saSed his life by
,.ck nd riv
sble. Cantre hsd Hall brought before the Court
at Independence, charged with assault with intent
to kill. The two witnesses swore that Hall was IN
toxicatfd. Hall was discharged; such Is justlbo IN
Pro.Savery Court.
Through the Spring of 1856 the whole country
was in state of revolutionary confusion The Ter
rtory was filed with marauding parties; men were
being robbed and murdered daily. For mutual
protection, the citizens Of Palmyra and vicinity as
sembled, armed and equipped. Among them was
Jacob CaDtrell, ever ready without the slightest
murmur to shoulder his Sharps rife and go forth to
defend the lives and property OF the emigrants IN his
vicinity. In this respect he had soul larger than
the State of Missouri AT the battle of Black
Jack he recognized some Of his Pro-Slavery neigh
bors among the prisoners, and insisted on having
them treated kindly, himself furnishing them pro-
visions. Col. Sumner marched to Palmyra with
the United States troops, released Pate and bis men
ordered them to return to their homes in Missouri,
disbanded Brown, the hero of Black Jack
(nOt G. w. Brown; the men returning to their
homes relying upon Sumner for protection
%ypon his way to his home in Palmyra,
he stepped at Prairie City, purchased some butter
for his family. starting for Palmyra (three miles
distaDt), in company with Leonard Snyder and w.
H. Stillwell, neighbours The miniOns of Pate upon
their way home came across them, and, recognizing
Cantrell, compelled him to accompany them. Stop
ping at his house, he told his wife, who alm Ost
n i - him fn hA
alarmed that they were his neighbOrs, and would
not hurt him. Extending his hand with the plate
Of butter, telling her to take it and not be afraid,
one Of the Ruians intercepted it, saying that they
would need it for their supper. They soon LETT,
taking Mr.. Cantrcll with them. Mr. Stillwell went
Immediately to Col Sumner, told him that the very
men that he had ordered to Missouri had taken
Jacob Cantrel a prisoner while they were return
ing. not more than one mile from his camp. Col. 5.
promised TO send detachment for hun the next
day stating that he had given them their orders to
commit no Outrages Oh their way; also, that the
troops were all tired, and that Cantrel would not
be harmed. Oh that was an Indifference more
fatal than treason on the part OF Col Sumner. lie
was heard to say, when he heard of the death Of
Cantrell that be never could forgive himself.
They took Mr.. Cantrell next day to Cedar Creek,
35 miles from Palmyra there shot and scaped hlm,
burning him about two feet deep The wolves dug
him up. Subsequently the soldiers buried him near
that beautiful stream surrounded BY high weeds:
with only stake over his remains, on 1t inscribed
"JacOb CanIrel.
On the I'd of July last, was travelling in Lykens
County, X. r. l stopped for the night with Judge
Butts township 16 range 22). Our conversation
related to tie difficulties of the past Summer.
found him to be PrO-Savery man. l mentioned
the murder of Cantrell as an outrage unparalleled,
and that wOuld do my utmost to bring hjs murder
ers to Justice whenever the Government passed into
different hands. The Judge was formerly from
Jackson County, Mo-; knew Mr. Cantreil there;
was under COL Coffee when Whitfield marched TO
Pate's relief; saw Cantrell at Cedar Creek few
hours before they murdered him, lying upon
his back, with his hands tied, and quadruple guard
around him. The Judge says, II went to Mr.. c.,
and there was quite crowd around him. One
approached him saying, Mr.. Cantrell, am sorry
cd neiahbOrs.' Your clan invade my home,
was CaDtrelrs reply. VIII you join ne against
the Abolitionists If you could get your freedom
If we release you, will you join your old negdbors
TO assist in driving these damned fanatics from our
borderr With the thoughts of home, life, wife,
children, burning his heart, he said. No, never
Then you die, by G-d' Judge ID. went to Pate
and Whitfield, and told them to use their authority
to prevent his murder. They said they had no au-
thorty In forty-fve minutes afterward Jacob
Cantrell was no more. He died a martyr. Oh !
that more could have witnessed his heroic eDd
He had seen and felt the influence OF that hydra
headed monster, that is even now gnawing at the
yitals of our country, and deep down in his heart
was principle that would not surrender.
His widow, with her four small children, lives IN
Palmyra, in comfortable circumstance, and meas
ures are being taken by the citizens to remove the
remains of Mr. G. hther and erect over them
.uitabe monument When Kansas shall be free
from her Missouri chains and millions offreemen till
her fertile SOIL his memory will be treasured III
characters more durable than monuments of brass.
WARREN
A CoSsrABLEs LIFE SAVED ny HIS WALLEr.-0n