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

found that hewas dead, and felt that we
could do nothing for him. As Peirson
and myself stood in the road consulting.
we saw the other party riding towards us,
and thinking that we could accomplish
nothing by remaining where we were. /
said TO Peirson, We had better be off,
lie objected, saying, '1f we ride away.
they may overtake and kill us; we had
better stay where We are, and let them
take us prisoners" | replied, 81 will die
before they shall take me prisoner" He
then agreed to- go, saying, "Let us be off as
fast as We ean." We galloped on accor-
dlagly. After riding nearly mile, Peir-
son asked me if | saw any one coming p
| looked back, and discovered two men
galloping IN pursuit. Pierson turned his
head and perceived them also. This was
the last saw of them. l am confident
some at the pursuing party must have dis
covered my brothers body, as they were
riding npon the hill where it lay. This
transaction took place, from beginning to
end, in an open prairie country, where
there was no timber to shut out the view.
Peirson had his revolver in his pant
aloons pocket, on the right side. He says
that he could not get it ont in time to
shoot. He certainly did not fire during
the affair. He lost his pistol, however
and overcoat; the pistol he has never seen
since. as he tells me.
After riding about three miles, and find
ing that my horse was ''giving out,' l
diSmounted, feeling confident that the an
imal had been wounded in the affray;
did not stop to examine him at the time,
but supposing that I was still pursued,
left him standing in the road, and contin-
ued my way home wardson foot. | after
wards learned that the horse had been
shot low down behind the fore-shoulder,
on the right side. The horse died that
night. | do not know the size of the ball
which killed the animal; did not look
forit. The carcass has been dragged away
and eaten by the wolves.
think that the man on the grey horse,
who shot at my brother, used small five
inch Colts revolver.
The man who thus wantonly shot down
a good and worthy citizen, was Major
Clark, the Indian Agent for the Potowat-
omies. Clark boaSted of this deed as one
of the most notorious of his life. His
companion, Col, Burns of Weston, Missou-
ri, shot Robt. Barber'S horse, instead of the
rider as he intended. x -
At this time these three men were men,
berS of the Bloomington Company, 3D. OF
the 1st. regiment, Kansas Volunteers, then
serving in Lawrence to defend that place
against the Pro Slavery mob, which had
come upfrom Missouri to destroy it; and
were then camped on the Wakarusa, about
five miles of. No one presumes that
Clark and Burns had any right to demand
and compel the surrender of Barber and his
companions. Itwas simply an act of ma
| licious murder done at the bidding o
the slave power, to establish and secure
| It's control in Kansas, and for which there
is no legal or moral justification; and eve
ry Free State man, would at this time
have been shot down, with equal ferocity
could it have been safely done. But SC
long as they kept their arms it was not
considered safe to attempt it; for in such
a case there might be shots to take
as well as shots to give.
BURIAL OF BARBER.
On Sunday, the 9Th of December, the
funeral OF Barber took place at the Free
State Hotel. The house was crowded.
The relations, the neighbors and citizens
generally followed him to the grave
The griefof the widow was heart-rendin;
to witness. For days and weeks she wa
scarcely known to sleep. A person wht
visited her several weeks after this even
writes as follows.
But come-let us change the scene
/ forget for time, the mere party interes
in this matter, and gaze with us upon tha
darker picture, which, alas for poor HUI
manity, SO seldom struggles out into tn,
light bear with us then, for a moment
while we tell you of our visit to tie ,0ido,o'
desoIateI home.
/ 1t stands upon the bleak prairie
shelter for it merits no better title
of two rooms. We entered in company
with the brother of the deceased, just a
the darkness of a stormy winter evenin;
was gathering over the snow-clad slopes o
of the long. treelesS prairie rolls. Tn
room into which we were shown scenes
comfortiessly furnished, not from any lacl
of means, but from the difficulty of pro
curing such matters in a newiy-settle'
country two OF three females and chill
dren were crowded mp to the stove, fo
the night was bitter cold, and even larg
wood fire scarce heated an apartment S
slightly walled. Between a heavy pin
table, on which fiaring candle stood flick
ering and Sweltering in its socket, and
half -curtained window, against which tn
sleet and biting winter wind beat drearil1
sat woman of some forty years of age
plainly clad in dress of coarse darl
stuff she was leaning forward as we en
tered, and seemed unmindful of all abou
her. 1t needed no introduction to tell u
that this was the widow of Thomas II
Barber, the sole victim of the otherwis
kansas War;" No, the thin hand whic
supported the aching head, and ha
shielded the tear-dimmed eyes, as well q
, the silent drops that came trickling slow
ly down those wasted cheeks, had alread
told the story. Hear what she says -
"7zey have left me poor forsake
, creature, to mourn all my DAYS. Oh, m
husband they have taken from me a
that | held dear-one that | loved bette
than I loved my own life"
These are her very words We hav
added nothing to them, nor have we tax
en- ought from them.
There are circumstances connected wit
. the life and character of the man Barbe
which make his death more particular
. to be deplored He adds another to th
long listof victims who have sacrificed t
; the demon of political excitement. Bal
Der is spoken ofas quiet, inoffensive, an
amiable man domestic and unexceptior
able in his habits, and deeply attached I
| his xvi "a 10 xx-fa,s, he hoj baau ,.,,r-; :,