Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-09
TRAGEDY KANSAS.

III INC puoHC pffhtS, put the ioIio"ihS Soi-
of the N. Y. Tribune reads like
an impartial history of the difficulties in that
region:-
MoNEKA, Linn Co., K. T., May "a, 1858.
The last few weeks have been weeks of great
excitement and full of events Of intense in
terest, even for Kansas. | speak of this and
the adjoining County, BouI bon.
Bourbon County contains Fort Scott, Wh1ch
has always been regarded as s'rendezvous
for Border Ruffians. 1t was from this For.
that Col. Clark, two years ago, with a band oil
Pro- Slavery followers, ransacked this region
of country and drove away the inhabitants,
pillared their houses, robbed their stores, and
drove off their cattle.
In this (Linn) county committee of twelve
was appointed to try the cases of the settlers.
This Committee held its settings mostly at
the Trading Post, which is about three or four
miles from the State line. All the settlers
along Big and Little Sugar and Turkey Creeks,
and the Marais des Cygnes, were thus passed
upon; some were TO be killed, some to leave
the Territory, and of some their property on
ly was taken. Their proclamation was, ''Kan-
sas cannot hold us both either goH must feGre
or lce must.'' At that time they had the pow
er and enforced the measure as they thought
proper. No,c the Free-State party is in the
ascendant, and are disposed to adhere to the
old terms.
After some military maneuverlng on both
sides ,and some depredations concerning claims,
&c, the troops few week ago, it seems, is
sued, without orders, from the fort, and at
tackled Capt. Montg omery and twelve of his
men, who fired upon them, killing one, wound
ing two others, and killing one horse.
Some time last Winter company of Free
State men surrounded the house of violent
Pro-Slavery man in that vicinity, rode up
with considerable noise and haste, and so soon
as he opened the door, fired upon him, the bali
passing through his body just under the col
lar-bone. In few weeks he recovered, and,
of course, swore revenge. With a company
OF some eight or ten, he visited the houses OF
two Free-State men in the night, called them
to the door, and then shot them down. This
again called for vengeance, and pretty gen
eral organization of Militia took place through
out the counties for self-preservation. Re-
Gently, Capt. Montgomery had pretty thorough
ly expelled them from the vicinity of Mann
stOn and the Little Usage; and company
from the Potawatamie had moved them most
ly from Big Sugar.
For 4 time things were quiet, and all SEEM
ed to think our troubles over. But just at
this juncture company or two of troops,
with several pieces OF canon, were sent to ort
Scott. This seemed to give new courage,
impart new strength to the Pro-SlaveTy mems
hopes or, perhaps. to their desires of revenge.
Day before yesterday Capt. Hamilton, ac-
companied by BrocIlett and thirty-siX others,
came into the Trading Post, bringing with
them several men, mostly prisoners, whom
they had met along the way, and drew up be-
fore the public house kept in that place. They
took the landlord, Geo. w. Andrews, priso-
ner, also Mr.. Bassett, his partner, and Mr..
Campbell, clerk of the store there
They also took Elder Reed, Baptist prea-
cher, prisoner, and Mr.. Stillwell, formerly
from Montgomery Co., Ind, who was on his
way to Kansas City for goods, and several 9TH
ers, with whom 1 am not acquainted.
Elder Reed had been preaching in Monoka
for some time previous, and Mr.. Stillwell was
distant neighbor.
These, with a number of others, they star
ted with out of the place, and towards the
Missouri line.
Messrs. Andrews and Bassctt, with several
others, were released but with the remainder,
eleven in number, they proceeded about three
miles, when they entered deep ravine and
called a halt. Without further deliberation,
the prisoners were ordered to form themselves
into line, which they did. Capt. Hamilton
| then, at a few PAGES distance, ordered his men
| to fire on them-motionless, unarmed and uS,-
| offended menI Five of them fell dead, five
badly wounded, and one unharmed. But they
| all fell, and seemed to be dead, thinking this
| the only way to escape more savage treatment
| As soon as the ruffians had fired, and haG
seen them fall, they mounted their horses and
| left. But in few moments some of them re-
turned and riied their pockets, and kicked
| them over to see if they were dead. The
man who was uninjured was thus kicked ovel
| and his pockets riied. He lay by the side
! of his brother, who showed some signs Of life
| when one of them put pistol to his head and
| fired, the ba ii passing through his head. They
were then left, and the maraudcrS made the IL
| way back to Missouri.
Mr.. Hall, the one unwounded, now arose
and afforded what relief he could TO the living
| and then went to obtain assistance, and had
| them taken back to the Post.
Elder Reed was out all night, and suffered
! intensely from his wounds, but it is thought
he ill recover.
Several of the party took what horses they
could meet with. Among them were those OF
| Mr.. Stiilwell and Elder Reed. Mrs. Reet
| followed them, she thinks seven or eight miles
| and made them give up his horse, and with i
she joined her husband, soaked in blood, and
assisted him to place of safety. Mr.. Still
well had about $500 with him, which he lef
| in his wagon, and which they did not obtain
So sudden and unexpected was this move
ment that no assistance could be obtained
! although there was a military company orga
nized within the township. But in three OIL
fou- hours, there were upwards Of $50 men OF
| the spot
4 company of 75 mounted men were depu
tized to give chase, and to take them, if they
had to follow them to Georgia.
To the credit of the Missourians, the per
mancnt citizens along the border, be it recor
ded, have held public meetings, disclaimed
! all knowledge of participation in the affair
| and will aid, to the extent of their abilities
| in capturing this lawless band.
Rumors state that the people of West Point
town in Missouri near the line, and twelve
miles from the Post, knew Ct the plot, ant
yet failed to give the timely warning.
A few hundred of Free-State men have
gone up there, and they win, probably, bt
uohf IN a fha,