The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-14

we rode to Westport, distant four miles.
Here we were taken to the Office of the
Harris House, where crowds arrived with
Sharp's rifles, reyolvers, and huge bowie
knives strapped to their persons in full
sight, who visited us,and eyed US with deep
interest. We supposed them mob who
designed to execute summary vengeance
on US for daring to think for ourselves,
out they proved, On further acquaintance, to
be the company of Shawnee Sharp Shoot
ers, numbering about fifty persons, under
the command of the redoubtable Capt.
Henry Clay Pate, the infamous correspond
ent of the st. Lous Republican. They had
collected to go in search of me-suppos-
ing | had escaped the night previous, and
expected to find NE on the steamer Liz
zle which was starting up the Kansas riv-
er that morning from Kansas City.
took means to make the acquaintance
of some of the leading citizens of the place,
and assoon as possible prevailed upon them
to take me to private room, where con-
tinued to remain most of the time while
there. l made several pleasant aequaint-
j ances, and took pains to extend it as far
as possible.
On Thursday morning was informed
that must take my meals at my room.
assured my guard that should assent to
any arrangement they should make save
| that should not eat by myself. Ifmy
guards would eat with me in my room ve.y
well, otherwise would sooner starve than
eat alone. Ny breakfast was brought but l
gave TO attention to it. 1t remained on
the table for time, and was removed.
About nine O'Clock that morning, was
agreeably surprised by receiving visit
from Mrs. BRowN. She never seemed SO
much af an angel of mercy as then. She
had heard ofmy detention at Kansas CITY,
and of my probable arrest, and had hasten
ed on the wings of love to shield me
from harm. / left her weeping, one
and half months previous, at our resi-
dence in Lawrence, with the firm convic-
ton in her mind that we should never
meet in life again, and no reasoning could
dlspel this illusion from her brain. We
met, but was prisoner, detained against
my will, and yet charged with no crime.
The slave power had decreed that was
an unsafe person TO enter the Territory
while an attempt was being made to sub
due the people. and they held me in de-
fiance of law.
Before Mrs. B. was allowed to bring her
satchel into the room, our guards claimed
the right of searching it. She opened it,
and stated they could examine her linen
Ii 1t would beany qualification to them
They seemed embarrassed and declined
and told her they would not examine it
any further. She then took a small AL
lens single barrel shooter from her pock-
ct, and said perhaps they wanted that
They told her TO put it back; she might
need it for her protection. l thanked
them for their nagnanimity.
Mr. j. previous to this, had been con.
fined in another room. From this time
! forth | was allowed to take seat at the
table by the side of my wife, and was
never more kindly treated than during
that period. save l was detained against
my will. Strangers were brought up il
large numbers and introduced to me and
and on Thursday night the guard seemed
apprehensive l would escape through ;
key-hole, or in some other unaecountabls
manner, hence at short intervals they
wsAid thrust their heads through the dooI
/ to see if was still in the room. Thai
night after ten or eleven o'clock they
| placed candle in the room, and kept il
burning all night.
have subsequently learned that {
meeting was held in Westport on Thurs.
day night to determine what to do witt
me, that the meeting was held to late
hour, and that while it was still in session
I some person said was to be rescued thai
night and their unusual attention was tC
see whether | had gone yet.
While remaining at Westport visited
several places OF business, and made MANY
agreeable aequa. ntanees, among whom
remember with pleasure those of II. ID
Wordsworth, Esq, Mr.. johnson, Mr.
Lux, Mr.. Ellis, DR.. Bratton, and others.
While at Westport, parties were con.
stantly arriving, and hurrying on into tn,
Territory from the South. They seemed
to be armed, and ready for instant service
Several gentlemen called upon me who
claimed they had arrived with parties
from the South, of which they were cap
taiEs. One gentleman left on FRIDAY
night He claimed he had landed with
fifty men at Kansas City, and that they
were going to the vicinity of the Shaw
nee Mission that night to ehcamp, although
| it was raining shower at the time
They appeared TO be in great hurry to
enter the Territory by a given time, and
were rushing on with all possible speed to
be there at that time. Many of those
men afterwards saw with United States
muskets in their hands, and were regular
| ~ mustered into the service of the Mar
shall's posse eoaastat4s at Franklin and
Coon Point.
/ On my way up the river made the ac-
i quaintance of Capt. Bell. who was an ac-
complice of Maj. Buford, but who claims
| he left his party and went hack. frou