Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-11-09

Startling Nsvs from Southern Kansas.
TH1s SErrLE1s ON 1nE Cherokee INDIAN
| LANDS DAIvEN AWAY ny U. S. TROors-
/ HtvkSTY- FIvB H0UsEs BURxED-ONE Hun
DhED FAxILIEs TuRlED OUT ON THE PRAInlE.
t1pscial Correspondence ofthe Leavenworth rines.1
| MArLKrox, October Is, 1850.
There is ut present revival of the excite
ment Of other days in Southern Kansas
| The scene iS:removcd a. little further south
than on former occasions, bat there Is the
same "irteprcssiblc" incentive underlying
Il al. During the last few days there has
been an exhibition Of one of the most barbar-
Gus spectacles; on what is termed the Cher
| okee neutral lands, ever known in any civ
ilizcd community, For the last six years,
that district which embraces an area some
twenty five miles by forty, has been filing
up with honest and industrious pioneers,
who have settled there for permanent homes,
and in rs good faith as any citizens Of Kan
sas. They have made all the ordinary inn
prOvcments, and are surrounded by crops
and herds, like the old residents in other
countries. 1850. 1893 ,fa 1890
A few mornings since, they were surprised
by the report that the U. s. troops were on
the way from the South, to drive them from
their premises. In few hours, the report
was confirmed by the appearance Of the In.
dian agent, whom they call Col. Cowan, &C
companied BY company of cavalry, sixty in
number, commanded by Capt. Sturgcss.-,
They commenced Immediately applying the
torches to the dwellings, of the settlers, trav-
cling northward, with their work of devasta-
ton and ruin. Nearly all the settlers on what
is called the :" Lightning Greek Settlement
were thus visited by them, They came on
to Cow Creek, branch of the Dry Wood, 8
and there showed the same relentless spirit.
The news of their destructive raid Travelled
before them, and the; settlers on the Dry
Wood rallied to the number OF three. or four
hundred, who sent committee circumference
to visit the "Col" The committee conten-
tended that whatever might be his right to
disturb the settlers further south, that they.
on the Dry Wood, were on what il called
the "eight mile strip" and that they were
on no part of the Cherokee tract, but on lands
not subject to presumption. At least, they
contendcd that question was yet in meas
ure unsettled, that they Should be favored,
and allowed to remain until new survey |
could be made, and the whole matter legally
adjusted. E.f
TO hasten our particulars, something that
they call treaty.. was finally agreed to,
and 4 written pledge was signed on the part
Of the citizens that they would abandon that
district previous to the 25th Of November
next, provided the agent would spare their
dwellings at this time, and leave the country.
Accordingly the inccndiary withdrew, but
threatened them in this wise as he was leav-
ing; that if every man Of them did not leave
before the day specified, he would burn not
only their, houses next time, but all their feed,
grain, and everything he could find valuable.
When this news came to our citizens in
this portion Of the county, they Immediately
sent down delegations to learn the facts and
report. Some Of these gentlemen have re-
turned, and report most distressing scene. !
Seventy five houses have been burned, and
at least one hundred families turned out up
on the bare prairies, all by that subtle ac-
quaintancc of ours called the power of the |
Federal Government. have, during the last |
twenty -four hours, conversed with at least
twenty persons from that county, and all give
II As the saddcst scene ever witnessed in Kan
sas. Women and children are now sheltered
in the bushes along the creeks, mourning
tf,eir hard fate. They feel disconsolate al !
most sick oflife. Some say they would AS
soon die as leave the country they have been
laboring 50 hard to improve during the lastl
six years. In fact, the whole community aret
quite discouraged, and know not what to do.
They alnrest feel dcscrted-as cast out from
everybody. II they don't belong to Kansas,
o. tO1nywhcre else, and no arm appears to
protect them, or show them any sympathy
~ this sad hour, what, they ask, is to be
their fate? #te
A meeting was held last evening, at Mar
maton, some four miles this side Of the land
referred to-. 1t was largely attended, both
by delegations from the Dry Wood and other
portions Of this county, All | have here
written was more than confirmed by those
who spoke. One gentleman stated that he
knew of a case where this Col. Cowan came
to house in which lady was sick, having
: child but two days old. All their pleading
was in vain. He ordered his men to carry
her out on her bed, and lay her upon the
prairie. His orders were obeycd, when he
ordered the house fired in which she was ~
ing, thus outraged and unprotected, in full
view. What savage heart was ever more
destitute of humanity?
But, this letter will contain but the begin.
ming Of tho chapter, and must close by say
ing-thc future is ominous, There is plot
underlying all this, well known in the COM
mtnity.;~ A mass meeting is called at Cato,
on the Dry Wood, next Wednesday. The
indignation is very general, and the excite
ment high. understand committee is now
on the way to see Gov. Medary.
Yesterday morning, just after Capt Stur-
- Z 4 = rs 81