Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-06-23
FROM KANSAS.
Thrilling Accounts Of he PrO.slarery
Murders "a LiaH County.
iCorresnondence Of the 81. Louis Democrstl

/ lAfAthy dccUaht3 ~ Htc 1FO-ofufeTy
Murders "a Ian County.
Correspondence Of the 81. Louis Democrat
LAwRESoE. X. T., Nay 20, 1858.
Although several reports have reached
here OF a battle between the Pro o.Sayery
forces now assembling in Cas- and Bates
counties and the Fee State men on bis
side Of the line, 10 Lynn and Bourbon, il
does not appear that there has been. yet,
any serious collision. OF the massacre at
ChOuteau's trading post, you have prObs-
bly got the particulars ere this. II is gen.
orally admitted to have been-one Of the
mos eOld.blooded atrocities ever commit
ted in this country. As have received
the most authentic details, | will give you
few Of them, as this is a historical event
Of the deepest interest to Kansas AID the
whole country. taa
The invading party at the time il enter.
ed the Territory, numbered SO men,
These we're well armed. several Of them
having Shapes riffs. The party was
partially composed Of men who have been
living about Fort Scott. or these were
DR.. George F. Hamilton, Brockett, Hill,
and several others Of the Fort Scott gang.
Mr.. Hamilton a PTo-sIayery man, who
lives on Usage river, was also with them, as
was bis son. They have been active in
former difficulties. Some four or five
United States soldiers that we're driven
from Capt. Anderon's Company of Dra-
goons, at Fort Scott, for participating in
the murder of Denton ard Hendricks,
were also OF this party. The remainder
Of the party, none Of the prisoners or per-
sons who saw them recognized them, and
they are supposed to be Missourians from
the border.
The invaders came n near to Chouteau's 5
trading post, on the Usage, in Lynn county.
This was some distance further North than
the scene of the former difficulties. No
intelligence of their approach had been re.
ceived by any one. Old Mr.. Hamilton
and bis son, who were Of the party, reside
in the same section, They proceeded at
once to arrest such men as they happened
to come across. None Of those thus taken
have had anything to Go with the Fort
Scott difficulties. in any shape. Several
of then have only been few days in the
territory. One OF them was a Baptist mis-
sionary, the Rev. Charles Read, who came
to Kansas within the past year. The
prisoners were not told why they had been
taken, or where they we're being taken, or
what was to be their fate. They were en-.
tirely unarmsd. Most of them were at
work in the field when arrested. One Of
them, Mr.. Stilweil. lived twenty miles dis
tant from where Re was taken, and was
driving bis team along the road to Kansas
City for provisions, when he was taken.
Itsppears that portion of the invading
band had either not been informed as to
what was to be done with the prisoners,
or had not the nerve to commit the crime
when it came to the trial. After some
discussion amongst themselves on the sub.
ject, dozen of the number left the party
and rode back to the State at the gallop.
The remainder of the party, numbering
twenty three. led their prisoners, twelve in
number, into deep and narrow raVine. -
Here they ranged them in line close to-
gether, 10 the bottom of the rMine. The
gorge was SO narrow that the Pro. slavery
band had TO stand above their victims, and
fred down on them. Had this not been
the case. thus destroying their aim, it is
likely that every one of them would have
been killed. The order of fire was given
by old Hamilton, and was given several
times before it was obeyed. Hamilton and
bis son fred before the others. After one
voley had been fired all tie prisoners fell,
killed or severely wounded, except two,
one of whom was only slightly wounded,
and the other unhurt; but in order to save
himself he feigned death. After the pris
oners fell, the assassins fired al them while
on the ground. Some of them discharged
their reVolvers at the PROSTATE bodies, and
Others loaded and fred their pieces. One
of the survivors who although severely
wounded, is likely to recover, had revol-
yer placed close to his ear and discharged
The ball glanced off along the cheek bone,
and came out making frightful wound
at lis mouth.
After the shooting, the murlcrels rode
of, evidently terrified at their own act
They robbed the prisoners, however. Mrs
Read the wife of the Baptist missionary,
followed the party that captured her hus'
band. She heard the tring aud feated
the worst. Fearful and excited, while
burying in the direction, she met por-
tion of the band coming back. She de-
manded what they had done with them
but they only scowled and swore at her
and rode on. Soon she met another party
of them and one of them was leading bel
husbands horse.
"This is my horse!" she exclaimed
"wilere are you taking him."
Strange to say, the man dismoauted, anc
gave up the horse, saying: "If he is YOU
horse you may take him."
She then said, "What have you done
with the prisonersG You surely have moi
shot them ?--where are they"
ayes, we have" said one, and he point
ed in an opposite direction to that of the
raviue, indicating that they were there
She, however, hurried on in the direction
from which she had heard the firing, anc
soon came to the ravine. When she cam
to it and looked down and saw the mel
lying, she thought it was more Of the Mis-
souri, party keeping watch, and withou
venturing into the ravine, she cried
''Where are the prisoners:-what hav
you done with them?"