Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-06-11
From The Mem York Tribune.
THE MARAIS DIES CYGNES MISS
GRE.
0sAwAroMus, X. T., Nay 2G, 1858.

]
nearer approach to the scene has proved the
awful and fatal tragedy but too true. It has
certainly been one Of the most hideous and
coldblooded atrocities OF the age. The Sepoy
horrors of iudia are no greater stain upon hui
manity.
/ 1t is bat a week ago to-day since party of
/ Border Rufians, numbering twenty three, eros
| sed the Missouri border in Lynn County, near
the Marais des Cygnes. They were mounted
aud well armed, and went to the trading post,
| formerly a sort of Pro-Slavery headquarters.
The visit was Of a domieiliary character. Like
the Denton aud Hendricks murder, it was the
evident purpose of those men to commit further
ontrages that should appall the Free-State set
Tiers. The operations were not conducted
/ against any person who bad rendered himself
obnoxious to them. The victims we're squat
ters Of the most peaceable class who had
never been heard of previously in the mixed
| strife of politics and war who We're eyiieutly
picked up at random, and who we're the VIC
Tins of their own defenseless condition.
The invading party was not composed exclu-
| siyely of Mssourians. learn positively that
one-kalf nearly OF the number were of the
Fort Scott band. 1t WAS commanded by Dr.
Geo. p. Hamilton, formerly Of Georgia. 1t
will be remembered that under the simulated
name of Capt. Jennigen he figured amoug Bu-
ford's brayos in the wars Of sc. lie was a
member of the Leeompton Constitutional Con-
yention from Bourbon County, or Fort Scott.
Brocket was also with him. Hil, another
prominent kufian Of Fort Scott, was of the
party. Then there was another Mr.. Hamilton
and his son, also Buford men, who have lived
near the trading post on the Nlarais des Cygnes
Five others of the party were the dishnnded
soldiers Of Capt. Anderson's company u Of
, dragons, who were druulmed out of their COM
t any some time ago, at the instance Of their
4 eolrades for participating in the Denton and
Hedrieks murders aud for stealing from the
settlss. These ten were thus Rufhans, be-
% longinA to the Territory to some extent. The
ID remaining thirteen Of them We're Rufftns from
J. Missouri, few Of whom have been Recognized.
- They slipped over the border quietly, no one
guessing or Anticipating their approach. They
- never attempted to seek for Capt. Montgomery,
" or Oap'. BAN, or heir friends. Neither did
u they apPeae, TO be actuated by any personal
in malice. Inc; ~-sested any Free State man
e. lust sS ,hey ieu'.s -. IL, Some were taken ~
= on -rfie- roaG with their tams. and otbers we're
!" taken IRON tneir hepNs. SThey were told that
#, the party which arrested 49, "..taIL,, ,r;tb
th tkem, and so quietly did Nv oet rat;l tber
- got their victims in their poA, ,b., tho n,e,,
= thus taken never suspected srst that tbev
's were taken for cold-blooded paiosos ooe of
the prisoners, Mr. Siilwell of g. Na,'n9
10 on the road to Missouri town, h,, -,
visions Another was Baptist preas, a. ,as -
'o middle life. Tue latter was of the wolils "a
i the former killed.
There was no trial, or attempt at trial. n
. charge was preferred against them. The partie
.s were chiefly strangers to each other The poo
men, unarmed were led into rayine. Their
u they wore drawn up in line, and for the frs
3, time perceived the frightfu nature of their sit
uation, dark suspicious of which had been al
10 ready suggesting themselves. The murderer
:. ranged themselves Immediately in font of thei
:, victims, and with fatal promptitude and cool
IA ness, at the command of .heir leader, de
lc liberately shot them. AT the first fire all o
8 the eleven prisoners fell. The murderers, t.
make sure work, loaded and fred seyera
= times. Some of them used their revolvers-
u One of the survivors, who was severely wound
To ed, aud who was lying on the ground, had
f pistol ball put in his head He SAYS that on,. o
N the party stopped down ovel him, and put ;
;, pistol to his ear and fred. The ball ranged
downward, and, glancing along the iawbone
J. came out near his mouth, without infictine :
= fatal wound Others were shot at thus on Ia.
it ground. For some minutes the scene must have
been perfectly horrible--these twenty thre,
assassins loading and firing at the dead ant
wounded party of uaar:1ed men. at last wher
= they believed that their bloody work was com
re pletely done, they turned from the scene O.
W horrors and fied to Missouri
= Although all of the prisoners fell when frst
. fired at, they were not all killed. Five of then
were Killed on the spot or died shortly after
lr oil their wounds. Five were wounded, ali se-
e yerely, and most of them with several wounds
q Only one Of them entirely escaped. Although
not wounded, he had the presence of mind te
u drop when his companions fell, and so perfect
|, vas his stimulation Of death that he escaped
: without wound have seen man who cx-
r. amlned the wounds of the Others. lie says
= they were all shot in front Some of them bad
9 other wounds, received while lying on the ground
! The five wounded men, although all severely
IS hurt, are all likely to recover. Tie five dead
a have left widows aud orphans, and parents and
n brothers to mourn their fate.
A woman was the first person who saw the
scene of carnage. Living in the vicinity OF
9 the massacre, and having seen the prisoners in
= the hands OF their captors, and heard the re-
d ports OF the firearms, she sought out the party.
When she FIRST viewed the horibler spectacle,
the men we're all lying quietly on the ground,
} and seemed to be dead. She cried aloud, and
q her woman's voice having inspired confidence,
: those who were not dead replied to her One
r or two of those who finally died, were yet able
to converse for some time Assistance was OBJ
taind, and the wounded were conveyed to a
: house near the trading-post The alarm was
n sounded, and Capt. Montgomery and Mr.. Nc
Y Daniels. BrigadierGeneral of the Territorial
E Militia, were soon on the spot 1t is believed
that the Rufians have separated and are skulk-
= ing about. They told in Missouri that they