The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-06-10
From Kansas.
The Marias Des Cygnes Massacre.

Cpeefdi iSoITcsPouuono0 " WV
OsAwAToMIE, X T., May 26, 1858.
Accounts have reach your readers ere
this of the recent atrocious massacre on
the Usage. or Mere de Cygne River.
So frightfully horrible were the first de-
tails of the evcnt that | hesitated in Civ
ing credeuce to the report. A nearer
approach to the scene has proved the aw,
ful and fatal tragedy but too true. 1t
has certainly been one of the most hide
Gus aud coldbIooded atrocities Of the age.
The Sepoy horrors of ludia are no great.
er stain upon humanity.
1t is but a week ago to-day since
party of Border Rufian>, numbering
twenty-three, crossed the Missouri border
in Lynn County, near the Maras des
Cygnes. They were mounted and well
armed. and went to the trading post, for
merly sort OF Pro. Slavery hea adquarters.
The visit was of domciliary character.
Like the Denton aud Hendricks murder,
it was the evident purpose Of tho-e men
to commit further outragcs that should
appall the Free State settlers. Their op-
erations were not conducted against any
person who had rendered himself obnox-
ious to them. The victims were squatters,
of the most ptaceahle class men who
had never been heard of previously in the
mixed strife of politics aud war; who were
evidently picked up at random, and who
we're the victims Of their OWN defenseless
condition.
The invading party was not composed
exclusively of Missourians. | learn pos
itiyely that one half of the number were
of the Fort Scott band. 1t was comman.
ded by DR.. George L. Hamilton former
y of Georgia. 1t will be rene IN bered
that under the simulated name of Capt.
Jennigen he figured among Buford's bra
vos in the wars of SIS. lie was mem-
Der of the Lecompton Constitutional
Convention from Bourbon county, or
Fort Scott. Brocket was al,o with
him. Hill, another prominent Rufian
of Fort Scott, was of the party. Then
there was another Mr. Hamilton and his
son, also Baford men, who have lived
near the trading pot on the Maria, des
Cygnes. Five othrrs Of the party were
the disbanded soldiers of Capt Anderson's
company CD of dragons. who were drum
med out OF their company some time ago
at the in>tance Of their comrades. for par.
tcipating in the Denton and Hendricks
murders and for stealing from the settlers.
These ten were thus Ruf6ans. belonging
to the Territory 10 some extent The re
naming thirteen Of them were Ruff n
from Missouri, few Of whom have been
recognized.
They slipped over the border qnietly,
20 one guessing or anticipating their ap
proach. They never att mFtcd to seek
for Capt. Mopts somery, or Capt Balm. or
their friends. Neither did they appear
to be actuated by any personal m alice
They arrested any free State man just as
they found him. Some were takcn in the
fields at their work; others while travel
Ing on the road With thei: teams, and 9th
ers were taken from their homes. They
were tod that the party which arrested
wished TO "taik" with them, and 60 quiet
y did they act, until they got their vic
tins in their power. that the men thus ta-
ken never suspected at first that they
were taken for cold. blooded purposes
One of the prisoners, Mr. Stlwell of Su-
gar Mound, was on the road TO Mssou-
ri town to buy provisions. Another was
a Baptist preacher past middle life
The latter was woundcd-thc former kill.
ed.
There was 20 trial, or attempt at trial.
No charge was preferred against them
The parties were chiefly strangers to each
other. The poor men unarmed, were led
into ravine. They were drawn up in
line, and for the first time perceived the
frightful nature of their situation, dark
suspicious of which bad been alread y
suggesting themselves. The murderers
ranged themselves imme diately in front
of their victims. and with fatal prompti-
tude and coolness, at the command of
their leader deliberately shot them. At
the first fire all of the eleven prisoners
fell. The murdcrers, to make sure work,
loaded aud fired several times. Some of
them used their revolvcrs. One of the
survivors, who were severely wounded,
and who was lying on the ground, had a
pistol ball put in his head. He says that
one of the party stopped down over him,
and put pistol to his ear and fred
The ball ranged downward, and, glaucing
along the jawbone. came out near bis
mouth, without inaicting fatal wound.
Others were shot at thus on the ground.
For some minutes the scene must have
been perfectly horrible-tbese twenty
three assassins loading and firing at the
dead and wounded party Of unarmed
men. At last, when they believed th at
their bloody work was completely done,
they turned from the scene of horrors and
fed to Missouri.
Although all of the prisoner. fell when
first fired at, they were not all killed
Five of them were killed on the spot, or
died shortly after their wounds. Five
we're wounded, all severely, and most of
them with several wounds. Only one OF
them entirely escaped Although not