New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-03
THE MARA1s DIES CYGNEs MASSACRE.


OsAwATOMIE, X. T., May %, 1853.
Accounts have reached your readers ere this of
the recent atrOciOus massacre on the Usage, or
Mere de Cyne River. So frghtfully horrible were
the first details of the event that hesitated in civ.
ing credence 10 the report. A nearer approach to
the scene has proved the awful and fatal tragedy
but too true 1t has certainly been one of the most
hideOus and cOldblOOded atrocities of the age. The
SepOy horrors of India are no greater stain upon
humanity.
1t s but week ago To- day since party CT B0r-
der Ruffans, numbering twenty three, crossed the
Missouri border in Lynn County near the Marais
des Cygnes. They were mounted and welarned, and
went to the tradlDgpOst, formerly sort OF Pro-
Slavery headquarters. The visit of domciliary
character. Like the Denton and Hendricks muir
der it was the evident purpose of those menItO COM
init further outrages that should appall the Free
State settlers. Their operations not conducted
against any person WHO had rendered himself OBJ
nOxious to them. The victims were squatters of
the most peaceabe class-men who had never been
heard of previously in the mixed strife OF politics
ard war; who were evidently picked up at random
and who were the victims Of their own defenseless
condition.
The invading party was not composed exclusively
of MssOurians. | learn positively that half
nearly of the number were of the Fort Scott band
1t was commanded by DIR. Geo. Z. Hamilton, for
merly Of Georgia. 1t will be remembered that under
the simulated name of Capt. Jennigen he figured
among BufOrds braves in the wars of SO. He was
a member of the LeeOmptOn Constitutional COnyen
ton from Bourbon County or Fort Scott. BrOcket
also with him. Hill another prominent Rufiian
of Fort Scott, was of the party. Then there was
another Mr. Hamilton and his SON. also BufOrd men,
who have lived near the trading post on the Marals
des Cygnes. Five others of the party were the dis
banded soldiers of Capt Anderson's company CD of
dragons. who were drummed out OF their company
some time ago, at the instance of their comrades,
for participating in the Denton and Hendricks muir
ders and for stealing from the settlers. These ten
were thus Ruffians, belonging to the Territory Is
some extent. The remaining thirteen of them were
Rufiians from Missouri, few of whom have been
recognized.
They slipped over the border quietly no one
guessing or anticipate their approach. They
never attempted to seek for Capt. Montgomery, or
Capt. Balm, or their friends Neither did they ap-
pear to be actuated by any personal malice. They
arrested any FreeState man just as they found him.
Some were taken in the fields at their work; others
while travelling on the road with their teams, and
others were taken from their homes. They were
told that the party which arrested wished to talk"
with them, and quietly did they act, until they
got their victims in their power, that the men thus
taken never suspected at first that they were taken
for cold-blOoded purposes One of the prisoners,
Mr.. Stilwe1l of Sugar Mound, was on the road to a
Missouri town to buy provisions. Another was a
Baptist preacher past middle life The latter was
of the WOunded-tbe former killed.
There was no trial, or attempt at trial. No charge
was preferred against them. The parties were
chiefly strangers to each other. The poor men, un
armed, were led into a ravine. There they were
drawn up in line, and for the first time perceived
the frightful nature of their situation dark sus
pieiOns of which had been already suggesting them
selves The murderers ranged themselves mme-
diately in front of their victims, and with fatal
prOmptitude and GOODNESS, at the command OF their
leader, deliberately shot them. AT the first fire all
Of the eleven prisoners fell. The murderers, to
make sure work, loaded and fired several times.
Some of them used their revOlvers. One of the sur
vivOrs, who was severely wounded, and who was
lying the ground, had pistol ball put in his head
He says that one of the party stopped down over
him, and put pistol to his ear and fired. The ball
ranged downward, and, glancing along the jawbOm,
came out near bis mouth, without inflctiDg fatal
wound. Others were shot at thus on the ground.
For some minutes the scene must have been per-
fectly hOrrble-these twenty three assassns loading
and firing at the dead and wounded party of uu-
armed men. At last, when they believed that their
bloody work was completely done, they turned from
the scene Of horrors and fled to Missouri.
Although all of the prisoners fell when first fired
at they were not all killed. Five Of them were killed
the spot, or died shortly after of their wounds
Five were wounded, all severely, and most of them
with several wounds. Only one of them entirely es-
capped Although not wounded, he had the pres.
perfect was his stimulation of death that he es.
capped without wound. | have seen a man who
examined the wounds Of the others. He SAYS they
were all shot in front. Some of them had other
wounds, received while lying on the ground. The
five wounded men, although all severely hurt, are
all likely to recover. The FIVE dead have left
widows and orphans, and parents and brothers to
mourn their fate.
A woman was the first person who saw the scene
of carnage. Living in the vicinity of the massacre
and having seen the prisoners in the hands of their
captOrs, and heard the reports Of the firearms she
sought out the party. When she first viewed the
horrible spectacle the men all lying quietly ON
the ground and seemed to be dead. She cried
aloud, and her woman's voice having inspired conf.
deDce, those who were not dead replied to her. One
or two of those who finally died. were yet able 10
converse for some time. Assistance was obtained
and the wounded were conveyed to a house near
the trading. post. The alarm Was sounded, aud
Capt. Montgomery and Mr.. McDaniels, Brigadier-
General ofthe Territorial Militia were soon on the
spot 1t is believed that the Rufians have separated
and are skulking about. They told in Missouri that
they had fight with Capt. Montgomery, and had
defeated him, killing eleven men, 1t is quite likely
that the Border. Ruffian Journals may give credence
or circulation to such story.
Inspired with the horror which such deed would
naturally excite, the citizens Of the vicinity were
aroused to the greatest indignation. Gen. McDan-
els called out the Territorial militia in the vicinity.
1t was known that the Border Ruffians had stopped
at the town of West Point, in Missouri, and had
there completed their organization before coming
over. A day or two ago, Capt. Montgomery, with
Cen McDaDies, and a force of $50 men, went to
West Point to demand that the murderers be sur
rendered up. The design in making this demand
was 10 secure them before they escaped. 1t was
peleved that some citizens of that place were inn
piicaiee' and as it known to be perfect folly TO
wait Tor requsitien from Denver to the Governor