Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-18
From He ". Y. Sun !
THE KANSAS MASSACRE.

and apparently reliable particulars Of the late
massacre there, and effectually does away
with the benevolent and agreeable reputation
sought to be established for Captain Hamil.
ton by many of his quondam friends
LAWRENCE, X. T. May 90,
The news from southern Kansas for the
last two weeks has been of the most startling
character, and has caused the most intense
excitement among our people. For the last
SIX months there has been more or less trouble
IN the vicinity OF Fort Scott, all of the time
Men have been taken from their homes and
murdered. or driven from the Territory.
On the 9th inst, party of men under the
command of Captain Hamilton. went into
Lynn county, and massacred five free State
men. and wounded six. will give the state
ment of the Rev. B. L. Read, a member of
the American Baptist Free Missionary Society,
of which Hiram IIutchins, Of Charlcstown,
Mass, is President. Mr.. Read was shot with
Il Sharp rife, the ball taking effect in, and
passing obliqucly through the fleshy portion
OF the arm below the left shoulder, intlictng
severe, but not dangerous wound Mr.
Read says
. cmigrated from Lake county, Illinois,
to Lynn county, Kansas, in March, A. D.,
1917, and have been engaged as minister
during my residence here; am native of
| Connecticut and 40 years of age
. On the 29th inst, left my house, early
in the morning, and went to Il neighbor
about mile distant, to borrow a plough
W hlle there, stranger came up, and we
entered into conversation upon the subject of
schools. have reason to believe that he was
SPY from Hamilton party.
We had been together but short time be-
fore Captain Hamilton, of Fort Scott, rath-
er pleasant looking man about forty years of
age, accompanied by about thirty others,
came up to where | was, and ordered me to
fall into the ranks. | refused. lie then
drew pistol, and said, You won't, will
you?" | told him | was willing to do any
thing that was right. He again ordered me
into the ranks, and the party commenced
searching the house for arms and ammuni-
ton.
While thus engaged. Mr. Stilwell drove
up in wagon they asked where he was
j from, he replied" Sugar Mound =, they then
| ordered one Of their company into the wagon.
One Of the party then remarked-"t that is
damn good horse in there - another replied
''il you like it better than your own, take it,
They took the horse, also one from the men
and three from Mr.. Nichols, at whose house
we then were
We then were ordered to march. Messrs.
Ross, Stillwell, Campbell (all of whom were
afterwards killed) and myself as prisoners
They took us to the house Of Mr.. William
Hargroyc and his son Asa, also Amos Hail,
as prisoners. Soon after, Messrs Robinson,
Coipitzer and Snyder were brought in we
We're then surrounded and marched towards
Missouri
Mr.. Hall was young man we met in
wagon; he was taken prisoner by order of
Hamilton.
We were ordered to halt on high mound
Captain Hamilton and portion of his COM
pany left to take Mr. Eli Snyder, blacksmith,
whose shop was near at hand. They drove
towards it, and as they drew near, firing
commenced.
Captain Hamilton then returned { without
Mr.. snyder, who had fired upon him, wound
ing his horse,) and ordered us to march. We
went ON until we reached the deep ravine,
when he ordered us to halt, close up and
face the company.
lie then ordered his own men to form into
line; not being obeyed he repeated the order
again and agaln. One of the company re-
fused, remarked that he would have nothing
to do with such business, and turned his
lorse from the company.
Capt. Hamilton then drew a pistol and
ordered hIs men to present arms, take aim,
mounted and came up to where we We're, the
men ordered to be sure that we were all kill
ed, for dead men tell no tales.
Hamilton then remarked, . there is old
Road give hinl another In moment the
order was repeated. 1t was asked, "where
is hc?' supposed to have been pointed out
and fired ut again.
They then supposed we were all dead, and
one OF them remarked. 1--WE have rot eleven
AholitIonists biting the dust, and next we
will return and sweep the valley, and then
for Arizona Another said, THAT relow
from Sugar Mound (Mr. Stilwell,) has got
some money, and that man (Alr. Campbell,)
has got watch.
They then left. Soon heard my wife
calling, and answered her she came up to
us ; | told her we had all been shot, and to
20 for assistance as soon as possible. My OBJ
lect was to have some one there before died,
to receive my testimony in reference to the
massacre.
After my wife had left, | got up. found l
could walk, started off, and travelled nearly
two miles, and lay down upon the grouni,
where ! was found late that night by my
wife. We remained there till the next NOR
ming when we started for home, and reached
it in safety.
During my residence in Linn county,
have taken no part in the troubles, but act
ed as Judge Of Free Stat elections three times,
and voted against the Lecompton Constitu-
ton, for which have been threatened seve-
raj times Mr.. Colpitzer was killed
| have also the statement of MIR. William
llurgrovc, who was born in the Marion Dis
trict, South Carolina, \. D., 1900. He re-
| sided in Georgia, where he became an intimate
and political friend of Hon. A. II. Stephens,
NJ. c., several years, and in Mississippi, also
in Illinois from the latter State he came to
Linn Co., in this Territory, in the fall of
1857.
lie voted for Mr.. Buchanan, and has the
reputation of being very conservative man,
never identified himself with the Free State
! party only to vote against the Lecompton
| Constitution on the 18th of January last He
was shot in the left shoulder with buck shot:
one entered below the joint on the back part
of the arm, and the other two above, passed
backwards and lodged near the back bone
One pistol shot struck on the under portion
of the left arm and passed through the ak
lila, and then into the chest, wounding the
lungs and lodged in the muscles on the right
breast
| have seen these men they are now in
this city, and have examined their wounds !;
and as their statement, in reference to the
massacre; does not differ from that of Mr.
Read, will not repeat it here,
| have also the statement of Mrs. Read.
She followed the party having ner husband
and arrived there just after he was shot,
RIGHTS WHICH WHITE MAN is BOUND TO
REsPEcr.-The Court of Error and Appeals
| in Mississinni has decided that a hanuast