Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-11-07
MApLrros, Oct. %, 1860

There is at present a revival Of the excite
ment of other days in Southern Kansas. The
scene is removed a little further South than
on former occasions, but there is the same
U irrepressiblen incentive underlying it all.
During the last few days there has been an
exhibition Of one Of the most barbarous spec
tacles. on what is termed the Cherokee neu
! tral lands, ever known in any civilized COM
munity. For the last six years, That district
which embraces an area some twenty-five
miles by forty, has been filling up with hon
est and industrious pioneers, who have set
| tied there for permanent homes, aud IN as
/ good faith as any citizen OF kansas. They
| have made all the ordinary Improvements,
add are surrounded by crops and herds, like
] the old residents in other counties.
A few mornings since they were surprised
by the report that the United States troops
were on The way from the south, to drive
them from their premises. In a few hours,
the report was confirmed by the appearace OF
/ the Indian Agent whom they call Col. Cow
an, accompanied by a company Of cavalry,
sixty in number, commanded by Capt. Stur-
ress. They commenced Immediately apply
inc tie torches to the dwellings of the settlers
travelling n0Gthward with their work of de-
vastation and ruin. Nearly all the settlers
on what is called the Light Creek Settle
n mont' were thus visited by them. They
came on Cow Creeks branch of the Dry
4 WoodAsRd here showed the same relentless
spiritg IrE news of their destructive raid
/ trsFeie bsfbIe them and the settlers on the
Dirt Wood rallied to the number Of three OF
tour hundred, who sent a committee Of con-
ference to visit the "COl." The commit
tee contended that whatever might be his
right 70 disturb the settlers further south
that they, on the Dry Wood, were on Thsi
is called the eight mile strip, and that they
were on no part of the Cherokee tract, bu
on lands not subject to pre-emption. A
lesst. they contended that the question wa'
in a uesure unsettled, that they should b.
| allowed TO remain until a new survey coulC
be made, and the whole matter legally ad
justed.
To hasten our particulars, something tha
they called "treaty" was finally agreed to
and written pledge was signed on the par
of the citizens that they would abandon tina
district previous to the goth Of Novembel
next, provided the agent would spare thei
dwellings at this time, and leave the country
Accordingly the incendiary withdrew, bu
threatened them in this wise as he was leav
inc: that, if every man of them did no
leave before the day specified, he would burn
not only their houses, next time, but all thei
f feed, grain, and everything he could ind val
liable.
When this news came to our citizens IN thl
portion of the country, they immediatel.
sentdown delegations to learn the facts an'
report. Some of these gentlemen have re
turned, and report a most distressing scene
Seventy-four houses have been burned, ant
at least one hundred families turned out upol
the bare prairies, all by that subtle acquain
tance Of ours called the power Of the Fede
5 raj Government. ] have, during the las
! | twenty-four hours, conversed with at leas
: twenty persons from that county, and all Civ
it as the saddest scene ever witnessed in Kan
Q sas. Women and children are now sheltere
: | in the bushes along the creeks, mournln
: their hard fate. They feel disconsolate-al
Z most sick of life. Some say they would a
soon die as leave the country they have bee
+ laboring so hard to improve during the las
six years In fact, the whole cf}t What TO dc
0 quite discouraggsl1h deaseTted-as cast out frer
:, glyPeffyy lyPeffyy body. If they don't belong to Kansas
e or to anywhere else, and no arm appears
= protect them, or show them any sympathy i
r this sad hour, what, they ask, is to be thei
& fate?
A meeting was held last evening, at MAJ
4 maton, some four miles this side Of the Ian
}. referred to. It was largely attended, bot
e by delegations from the Dry Wood and othe
portions of the county. All have here writ
ten was more than confirmed by those VIII
i spoke. One gentleman stated that he kne1
. | Of q case where this Col. Cowan came to
/ house in which lady was sick, having
child but two days old. All their pleadin
was in vain. He ordered his men to carr
her out on her bed and lay her upon the pra
rie. His orders were obeyed, when he order
d ed the house fred in which she was lying
! thus outraged and unprotected, in full view
/, What savage heart was ever more destitute
! humanity
!, But, this letter win contain but the begin
ming of the chapter, aud l must close by say
g ing-the future is ominons. There is a pll
e underlying all this, well known in this con
munity. A mass meeting is called at Cat
! on the Dry Wood, next Wednesday. Th
Indignation is very general, and the excit'
u ment high. ] understand a committee is no
IS on the way to see Gov. Medary.
a Yesterday morning, just after Capt. Stu
CESS company had started South, messeI
, ger arrived-on his third horse-from Fo
Leavenworth, with orders for him to start tt
d that place immediately.
/ -.t ".-----u1p--l