New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-08
OLD "BROWys NTiDES MISSOURI.
yoedBIH LIBERATION OF SLAVES.
cadence Of The N. Y. Tribune.


Al. difficulties Of Southern Kansas las: Winter.
He wa, arrested b. Capt John Hamilton on the
18th of last month. He was then arrested 90
. charge OF larceny, Of which charge al knew him
A he inpoceIt. Rice knew at the time of bis ar
,e. that an ndi:tment had been found againft him
by the late packed Grand jury of Bourbon County
for killing Pro-SlaveIy man named Wasson, In
feht between two small parties Of Fr9e-Stste and
Pro. Slavery men during the var Of last Winter,
and suspected that the other charge was srumPed
up for the purpose Of enticibg him into the Fort
BY the prospect Of an easy acquittal, whence
he might be taken and held on the old
charge. He told Deputy Sheriff Hamilton what
his suspicious were, and declared that he
would not be arrested on any charge of ofonses
committed or clained 10 have been committed,
prior TO the compromise made BY Gov. Denver.
The Sheriff and posse-some eight or ten IN num-
ber-,olenply assured Rice that no treschery was
meditated, aud that if be surrendered himself be
should not be held or tried on any other charge
than the one Damei in the warrant. On these a.
surapees being given, Rice surrendered. lie had
hardly done 40, however, before the posse tainted
him with bis greenness, saying how easily he was
trjeled. They at once told him that he was 10 be
hung, and some drew their reyolvers upon him,
threatening 10 shoot him down at once, and would
have done so, in all probability had not others pre-
vented it. When they reached Fort Scott, he was
told that he would never 20 out again. and warrant,
issued under the old indictment already spoken OF,
was served upon him. A general jolfcation was
held over this breach of the compromise, in which
Marshal Campbell, Judge Williams, j. l.. Joner,
editor Of The Fort seon Democrat, the Lyttles. cx.
Gov Ransom. aud others, participated
Soon after this, meetings Of the people were held
At Mspleton and Usage City, called by the Pro-
Slavery men Themselves At one of these the
people demanded that Rice should be unclaimed
and released on parole, AT the other, the Denver
comnromise was readopted, aud the full release VI
Rice demanded, the ofense alleged agsinst him
being one Of the bygones, The Fort Scott people
bolted these decisions, and held meeting ot their
own, at home, composed exclusively OF ro'oiaVery
men. at which il was declared he should not DC re"
kss,d and that he should be killed if any atte npts
were made TO rescue him. j. L. Jones, editor OF
Th. Democrat declared in speech on the occa-
zion, that "he should cape open before his release
and the Fort Scott people appauded the senti-
ment
All the men Of the town were placed on duty,
and a strong guard co oltinually kept about Tue
place. They boasted Of being able TO defend the
town and bold the prisoner against $50 men. Mont
pomery had already proposed to the tree-State men
Of the Little Usage to take the place by force OF
arms. and rescue Rice; but few Of the most con-
srstiye men prevailed upon him TO deslst for
time, and until they could Try all peaceful means a.
band. All these peaceful negotiations proved to be
of no eject. They resulted in nothing but the
closer confinement of Rice.
The excitement of the people continued TO In
crease and their clsmor became louder for the re-
lease of the prisoner. Day before yesterday Mont
pomery took UP his march for the Fort, with 40
men, gathered frcm the Little Sugar and Little
Ossge. Fort Scott is built on the sonth bank OF
the Marmaton which is fordablc at two points
opposite the town, but at no other for two phles
shove. The ryer bad risen several feet within 3
few days, by the rapid melting of the heavy
snow which had lain upon the ground for up
ward of week, and So as 10 make It im-
ps,sable at the town. The people of the tom
thought Themselves sufficiently guarded by
the food, on account of which they have been una
bic TO learn Of the approach of Montgomery. The
Free.St forces reached the Marnaton one mile
above the only fordabe point the California Cross
ing and three miles from the Fort about 10 o'clock
on "Wednesday night Here they encampcd, and
r.rted unit, O'Clock the following morniDg, when
they sean took up their line Of march for the Fort.
They crossed at the California Crossing. and ad-
vanced upon the town from the south. Montgom-
cry ordered halt about quarter OF mile from
the Fort, where the men all dismounted. Ten
men we're drafted for guard for the horses and
the I2-pound howitzer. The other sixty, in
thee divisions, entered the town without
Iesi.tsrcc--eyen without awakening the in
hsbitan.s. The fret division charged upon
the Fort Scott Hotel, in which the prisoner
Was iept. The kicking down OF the doors
between them and HIN was the first notice
which the ctizens had of Montgomery presence.
The door Of the cell, which was in the thlrd story,
was heavy one, ard locked with large lock.
An AZ wss procured, and the door cut into pieces.
The prisoner, with cries Of joy, seized the AK and
cut the heavy iron staple by which his chain WAS
fastened to the floor. Then grssping the long,
heavy og.chsin, still fast 10 his foot at one end,
with one hand, and proaercd revolver with the
other, be leaped forth free man, and Joined his
cjoicipg rescuers below. The place, the danger,
everything was forgotten; each cre hsstened to
greet him and shake him by the hand.
About tb;s time tvo shots We're fired from Lys.