White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-03-24
HOLTov, Calhoun Co, X. II !
March IL lS59

hasten to send you the palticpI,r. -,
one Of the bloodiest transactions tb,, ' go o
transpired in Kansas. l give von I' ever
synopsis of the occurrence as i can 'u.n
it would be impossible to pir,n., mo &c
conflict accurately. Ittook place At MI. me
and the reports Of pistols and onra y,
cries Of wounded, with the gat6eT;T,. 'le
excited squads, brought wildly 10 ~; 2!
the scenes of sc. "na
The details Of the whole affair ara
follows: Is
A call was made in Calhoun CoDD,-
for meeting at HOlton, to organic Y
Republican Party on Saturday last r ,I'
18th. J In response to this call a l ,.e
meeting gathered on the evening deg
ted, and regular organization was a. "a
ted. '"e''
A committee of five was appointed II
draft resolutions. "
In the absence Of this committee var;
GUS remarks were made by promiraa,
gentlemen favorable to a Republican o-
ganization. Their remarks met r;,L
general appreciation. except from a fs~
rowdies who had intruded Themselves !.
the school room. The disturbers w.ra
politely requested to preserve o.der nm
the close of the meeting, when they n,isS,
organize another if they saw fit. "
The committee on resolutions som -.
turned and made their report in favor =,
the organization Of a Republican party
The resolutions were almost unanimon,i,
adopted.
In the early part Of the meeting Dr.
AshmOre had endeaVored to presen,
platform of his construction, as represent.
ing the sentiments Of the people of Hal.
ton and vicinity, but the meeting refpseJ
to entertain it till after they bad transae.
ted their regular business.
This done, DR.. Ashmore was allowoJ
to speak, and was loudly applaudel bv
the Pro-Slavery men, with whom he
seemed to be in collision, but the MEETING
properly discarded him and his platform
and moved to adjourn.
AS the citizens were quietly passing
out, Preston Cole. violent Pro Slavery
man, struck MIR. Ray Free State, in the
back at the same time Coles colleagues
drew clubs and revolvers, and threatened
to "whip any Abolitiont" One of the
crew, Robert Wilcox, fred his pistol in
the air. as a signal for action, and the CIV
rang out "to lraSte no more shots" One
Of the ruffians attacked Judge Anderson.
Probate Judge of the County, anil a
prominent Republican, and felled him
with a club. Three shots were fired at
him, whilst thus Frustrated, none Of which
took effect.
/ MIR. Stafford got Knocked down at the
same time, and Mr.. Kier, who jumped to
his rescue, was shot at three times, but
not hit.
During this melee. the Republicans.
finding hot work was ahead. went to their
houses for arms and quickly returned.
The tables were then turned, and the
rufians sought safety in flight. They
were fred at, and two of their number,
Chisham and Wilcox, were brought
down. The former was shot in the cheek,
and subsequently taken prisoner by the
Republicans. Wilcox, though wounded,
I (being shot from his horse, Succeeded in
making his escape with Cole, though they
were holly pursued.
While this pursuit was being made.
the brothers Hall came up to a crowd Of
Republicans and endeavored to apologize
for their conduct The words were scarce
ly out Of their mouths before they were
brought to the earth. One Of them bad
his arm broken and received a terrible
wound on the head The other was al
lowed to escape without any fatal injury.
When the party who had gone in Pur-
suit Of Wilcox and Cole returned,
meeting was organized in the street, the
names of the ruffians taken, and on mo-
ton, they were ordered to leave the Ter
ritory in twenty-four hours, under pen
atty of death. A rumor was current
yesterday, that the Pro. Slavery men in,
tend making a stand at WillOcks, and
Republican companies start to-day, to see
that their resolution is carried out to the
letter. This will be done. The attack
on the meeting was cowardly in the e1'
treme, and the assailants have none to
blame but themselves for the terrible re-
venge inflicted upon them. No Free s'aie
man received more than "a scratch, e.
ccpt Judge Anderson, who is still uncon-
scious, and in dangerous condition from
the blow on his head.
We want peace to prevail in Calhoun
County, but viii not be trampled 1nael
foot by any unprineipled ruffians. Ihy
took us unawares. on Saturday, but We
more than hold our own, and have hT'
done yet. If any other attempt Is ma1s
to break up a Republican meeting anu
kill our best citizens, we shall maA'S
clean sweep.
Excitement is raging high, and me- &.
the wicked gang of rufians have ie'' W
country, there will be hot work to-Gt!
/ ampretty confident, however that 'nsI
valor has yielded to their discretion ~"
that the trouble is over.
If anything more transPires' l 'D''
keep you advised. Yours truly
4 ~.