The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-06-10
The Kansas Troubles.

The Kansas Troubles.
The accounts from Pro-Slavery and Border.
Rutfan sources. represented the bloodshed as
having occurred in regular fight between a
party of Montgomery's men and another body
under a Capt. Hamilton. The full accounts.
not only show that IL was not any of Mont
gomerv's party, but quiet and peacef Il settlers
engaged in their own business, and taken pris-
oners. some on the road and others IN their
own houses, who were the victims of this ont
rage-anh at tre'murders were committed
mt in fight Of any kind, but in cold blood
upon urarmed men. The party Of mnricrers
consisted Of twenty five men. Eight Of them
lived in Kansas and seventeen in Missouri
most Of ihpm in the vicinity or West Point.
inst over the border which has been the scat
Of Rlno lodge. and which was formerly the
rendezvous of the invading Amy led by Gen.
Clark.
The leaders dr the marty were Brockett and
Hamilton, who have had prominent part in
AL the Border Rufian violence OF Southern
Kansas, and the latter Of whom was one Of
RuFord'a mon. On the morning Of the 10Th of
Nav this party made Their appearance al th~
store IF Mr.. Campbell n the Trading Post on
The military road from Fort Scott 70 Fort reav-
enworth whore it crosses the Usage River.
some fifty miles north Of Fort Scott. and there
fore quite removed from the acnnt tronhlns
there. They took Mr.. CamnhelI prisoner,
and then proceeded along the road for two
miles and half north. till they had taken
twelve in all. 1hes, NOR wern taken whn
at their work, unarmn'i. and without resis
lance. They had not been implicated in any
of the troubles Of Kansas, and some Of them
were recent immigrants. The only resistance
encountered anpears ia have been from "a
blacksmith, who refused to he taken prisoner.
fired upon the Ruffars. killed Rrockett's
horse. slightly wounded the rider and effected
his escape. The prisoners being taken into
deep ravine in skirt Of timber, were tn ere
ordered to form into line. which was the first
intimation Of the fate that awaited them. The
command was then given. Ready Aim Fire !
when the horsemon discharged their r,us'sets
loaded with buck shot and ball at distance
NJ five PAGES. and the whole twelve prisoners
fell 10 the ground. Four were dead and seven
others wounded, one Of whom was aftcrward
killed nv the rnffans. One only escaped I'M
hurt. The mnrderers, after rfling the pockets
ut their victims, rode off, leaving them all for
dead
The man who wa. nnhurt then ran back
and gave the alarm. The news of course
spread fast. The murders were committed
abont O'Clock, and before midnight 300 men
had assembled at the post; but except Mont
gomery and his men they were i'll provided
with arms. Expresses conveying the infor
matio,, and asking for assistance arrived at
Lawrence on the 23d. The murierers were
supposed to have taken refuge at West Point.
and the intention was to march upon that place
and demand them. It would seem, however.
by letter from Westport to the Missouri Re-
publican, which we published on Monday,
that on the forenoon of the 21st, Hamilton,
with other Of his band, was in that place tell
ing very false stories as to the occasion Of the
murders. Meanwhile there is great excite
ment both in Kansas and the border counties
of Missouri. II is said hat the Missouri
militia arc to be called out, AMI the telegraph
reports that arms have been forwarded from
Jefferson City for their use.-C N. Y. Tribune.