The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-05-29
Horibls Tragsdy.-cold.biooasasr .ra.r.

4
One of the most horrible tragedies tia
has been acted out in all the history o
Kansas, was perpetrated at Choteau's
Trading Post, near the State of Missouri
line, IN Lynn county, on Wednesday, 19tl
OF May. About O'Clock, as three mel
were working on new saw-miil. near III.
timber, a party numbering between TWEEN
i ty-hve and thirty men, armed with rifles
! reyolvers and knives. and mounted OF
horses, rode up and ordered them to leay,
| their work, fall into line, and go with chem
The armed party was headed by Charlie.
A. Hamilton, and among his party were
recognized his two brothers, Brockett O
Fort Scott; discharged soldier, name I'M
known Michael Hubbard, Trundle, Pow.
ell, Hightower and Jones, whose frs
names not reeollected, and some othen
who were known, but as we only giyeth:
facts, we pass them by. After leaving the
saw-mill, they marched through the town
next meeting John F. Campbell, who wa:
clerk for and had charge of store owned
by Mr. Belch of independence, who was
ordered into line, and thus they proceed.
cd until about twenty were formed in the
line. These were then marched out, and
portion discharged. Eleven were re-
tanned, marched out upon roll of the
prairie, and there ordered to halt.
Charles A. Hamilton and his brother,
here started after blacksmith named
Snyder, who, with his brothers, resided
near at hand. Snyder showed fight. drove
Hamilton Of, and, it was thought, wound
ed the Captain, and a fellow recognized
as discharged soldier, who was prowling
about and belonging to the party.
Captain Hamilton and his brother re-
turned to his men, who stood guard over
the prisoners, one of whom asked him in
respect to Snyder The answer was that
Snyder had given him (Hamilton) little
of what he intended to give the prisoners
a good deal of. The prisoners were then
marched down to a ravine, halted, and
ordered to face about. Hamilton then
gave the word to fire, at least three times.
when at the last call ,severy man fell. The
prisoners names were as follows:
John F. Campbell, son of Thomas
Campbell of Pennington. Fulton County,
Illinois, and brother of Mrs. j. d. Patton.
of this town, mortally wounded, and died
in, as was supposed, an hour and half.
Patrick Ross, William Colpetzer and
Michael Robertson, former residences un-
known, killed.
William StiIlwell, Sugar Mound, on his
way to Kansas City for goods, killed.
VIM. Hargrave, Asa Hargrave, Reverend
Mr.. Reid, Charles Snyder, Amos Hall, all
wounded.
Austin Hall, not wounded, and saved
by pretending he was dead as he fell.
After riAing the prisoners pockets, and
firing ball through one of the prisoners,
which passed in at his ear and out of his
mouth, the murderers left their victims.
the surviving ones, as soon as they thought
safe, seeking relief.
With all of the prisoners except Mr.. |
Campbell we are unacquainted, but are in
ormed by good authority that they were
Iulet, industrious men, and all belonging
o the Free State party. John F. Camp
oeil has a father living in the same coun-
y IN Illinois from which we emigrated,
md also a sister in this town, who have
'ur hearty sympathies at the loss of a son
md brother, ruthlessly murdered, who
lied saying he never harmed any one, but
old his captors, "If you will shoot, take
'ood AIM" They did but, the bali after
caring through from his shoulder to his
leart, left him to linger for an hour and
halt, during which time he told the sur
.ivors to write his relatives of his fate
lis brother-in-law, Mr.. Patton, went down
liter the corpse, arriving only in time to
ee the burial.
Thus have We, in no partizan spirit,
'ithout giving minute details, stated the
acts concerning this horrible tragedy. The
lalorlty of the perpetrators reside in Mis-
ourl, and no cause was assigned for the
eed, except that as the party expressed
, they were id abolitionists," wheth-
guilty or innocent, and must hence die.
is our hope the perpetrators will be
rought to justice, and hope Gov. Denver
I'LL take steps to this end, by offering a
ultable reward Osaucotomie Herald.