The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-06-10
Five EFee-stase Hen KILLED, and
E'OkT " 0E.aGGGss.
1From tie Laurence RrpuJltsaa-Ertra.

from tie laurence RPuJlieaa--Ertra.l
LAWRENCE, Sunday Morning, May %,
10 o'clock, 4. M.-We hasten to lay be-
fore our readers the following commuui-
cation, just received from gentleman
whose character for yeracity is uuimpeach-
able:
GoSEEA, LlyN Co, X. t, May 20, 1858.
Yesterday party of Pro-Slavery men,
from Missouri, came into the Trading
Post" situated on the military road lead
ing from Fort Scott to Fort LcavenWorth,
where it crosses the Usage river, about
three miles from the State line They
were not seen till they emerged from the
timber, and rcde up to the store. Here
they took Mr. C. ". Andrews and John
L. Campbell prisoners. They then start
ed on the road towards Kansas city
They overlook here a Mr.. Stillwel, from
Sugar Mound, who was going up the rIy-
er for load Of provisions. They took
him prisoner, and ordered the others to
get into his wagon and ride. Ia a half a
mile further, they came to a missionary,
by the name Of Rev. Charles Read. They
ordered him into. the wagon and dismisa-
ed Andrews. They continued. or for two
miles and half, when they had taken
twelve men.
These men had been taken when at
their work, without resistance, and un-
armed, and had never been implicated in
the troubles in Kansas. They were con
I seryatire men.
Oh arriving at a deep ravine, in a skirt
Of timber, the commander called halt.
The prisoners were formed into liue, about
five yards il advance % the horsemen.
Tie command was given to present
arms fire. livery man dropped. -Four
were killed dead and all but one cf the
others were badly wounded. The Ruff
fans then wheeled their horses and gal
lopcd Off In few minutes three of
them returned and searched their victims
for money. They kicked the men, aud
rolled them over very roughly to see il
they were dead. Finding one was only
slightly wounded, Rufian put revolver
to his ear, and fred; rcmarkiug that he
had always found that the most certain
shot he could make. lie took the key OF
the SAFE out Of CampbeIps pocket, saying
there was money in that safe, aud he
would come back some night aud get it.
/ The names of the killed are:
+ William Stillwell, OF Sugar Mound, re-
Gently from Iowa. lie is young man,
with a young and beautiful wife, and two
young children. lie felt perfectly safe,
remarking to companion that he was
a Free Mason; ;" and it is said that a Free
Mason, DIR. Hamilton, of Fort Scott shot
him. lie was killed with a double bar
relied shot gun, loaded with pistol balls,
the charge entered his left breast lie
was highly esteemed in this neighborhood
and his death will be avenged.
Patrick Ross was an Irishman, and had
been driven from lis clalm on The Littli
! Usage By the same gang.
Mr.. Colpetzer was farmer from Penn
sylYapia,
Michael RobinsQn the same from Iowa
John +. Campbell, 4 storekeeper from
Pennsylvania. He was young man high
ly esteemed, and had no family.
The wounded are William Hargrove
and his brother Asa Hargrove, formerly
Of Georgia, who came here to live in I
free State. This is the head and front
Of their ofendig, Also, Rev. Charles
Read, g Baptist preacher, from Wisconsin
who moved into that place week ago
He was badly wounded, and crept into
the woods, and was not found till morn
ling, Amos Hall, and his brother Austin
Hall, who was Lot hurt, but fell from pru
dental reasons. Charles Snyder was
slightly hurt in the leg and back.
I The Ruffian band was led by Brockett
of Fort Scott, and accompanied by DR.