Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-10

MIR. elay b his appeal 20 tha citiaena otAlsa
lson county but briefly refers to the ousrages
committed BY the pro.slavery mob at Berea and
vicinity. which led 70 the resistance made on
the part og The citizens assnIled. A private let
ter from Bersa to q gentleman In oineinnHa'
details those brutal insults and the Skirmish -
The sccOunt is from ansye.witnssS Of the scenes
described 1t is no marvel that the citizsns
thus outraged rallied and fought to defend their
homes, their wives, and families, from further
violence. The letter says
Monday, the 26th Of March, twenty four men,
armed, came to Berea aud commenced securing
the country and searching houses for Mr. HanN
son, who had returned 70 take care Of bis pro
perty. The mob first went TO the residences
Of Messrs. Preston, Bland and Huley' IRE
most they did was 10 insult the wives OF these
gentlemen. At Mr.. Wrighrs, they Threatened
70 take him out Of his bed aud paint Dim =
They then proceeded 20 Mr.. Watsresi cnhed
him, pulled bis hair, drew pistols, talked inde
Gently TO his wife, and in various ways attempt
ed to provoke him to fight Thence they
proceeded to Mr.. Vests who was siek-in the
last stages Of consumption. BE saw them com
ing. and requested his daughter to shut the
door. The mob came, broke down the door,
Eearcbed the house, insul:ed his wife, and left,
saving they would 'bring out buck niger for
the benefit of his daughter" After making
other calls, they VENT TO Mr.. Burdits six miles
from Berea, drew pistols on his wife and daugh,
ters-threW beds on the foor-said they ''held
the women a. much accountable as the men.
They left after making q through search, and
returned to Berea. The Bereans in the mean
time rallied and sought TO defend ther wives
and families from further violence.
Fifteen men, armed as best they could, were
on their way 10 Mr.. Vets, learning he had sui
| fered great violence, when they were met BY
tIe mob. The mob called out to them in the
following manner-"Whati in hell are you doing
with YOUR gunsf' The Bereans replied, 1--WE
are going TO defend our families from violence.
The mob now bore down upon them in ful
paIlop. CRYING, SHOOT" "shoot." A number
of the Bereans made ready to fire; this made
n halt in the mob. The leader Of the Bereani
told them "not to FIRE until it was necessary
and then to shoot for some purpose" Part o
the mob dismounted, and making breast Worl
of their horses, commenced the attack by firing
some fifteen or twenty shots, The Berean
made ready second time, but obeying orders
did not fire. Seeing that fight was inevitable
twelve Of the Bereans now moved snort uis
lance to high point Of wood land and deter
mined to resist to the last. Three remained
i land as the mob came up, two fred and thel
vent 70 their comrades on the hill. The mol
fred several shots at the three as they retreat
ed.
The mob now held council and concluding
that twenty four men we're not force enough q
take fifteen, returned to Richmond for SUI
feient force, which as they said, would come
the next day, hang the Berans and burn Their
houses"
Two hundred and nineteen men armed and
equipped as mob law Directs, came on Tuesday
tore the roof off and = log out Of dwelling hous
, also the roof OF meat house. They then pro
ceeded to Hanson's mill, disposed of the ROOT
smashed up the castings chopped the WOO
work, injured the boiler, leveled the farnac
and chimney. They finished their work b
breaking open his tool chest and scattering th
tools about, altogether inJuring property to tn
value of one thousand dollars or more. Th
mob left-and next in order was meeting q
: Richmond.
The card from the mob, published to day
tells different story from this, but there ar
> uumistakable proof that these are the faesS.-
Unroofed building, broken doors and goOc
I mil destroyed, speak for themselves.