The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-27
A Scene in Westp0rt, Mo.

On Tuesday last scene occurred in
Westport which fully to appreciate, should
have been witnessed, and that too with
Kansas experience.
Major Lee, with detachment of forty
men under Captain Swoyer, consisting of
companies B and K, his own and John
Brown Juniors command, visited that town
for the purpose of securing a stock of drugs
belonging to a man named Rosser, serving
in Prices army, as also small stock of
groceries belonging to another rebel officer.
While the men were busy in loading the
goods, information was received that no.
torious rebel named Phil Bucher, employed
by Price as dispatch bearer, who week
before had narrowly escaped capture, was
in town. When parsued previously he had
to leave his horse, and since sent a mes
sage to the Lieutenant commanding the
squad, that "he (the Lieutenant) was dead
man, 80 he might make his arrangements
accordingly" By the way, the secesh pony
became prisoner of war to the Lieutenant.
Major Lee detailed this officer and four men
to find him. He broke from the house in
which he was hid, and was shot through
the heart by Lieutenant Hoyt, of John
Brown Jr.'s company, whose life he had
threatened. The body was left where be
fell.
Meanwhile the two wagons brought with
the detachment had been filled to their ut
most capacity. Forty hogsheads of tobac>
co, found in Rosser's loft, and which be-
longed to rebel planter of Petersburg,
Virginia. and had been sent to the druggist
to 8 Il on commission, with large quantity
of drugs, such as sulphuric, nitric and other
acids, were ordered to be burnt by Major
Lee. The tooacco was thrown into the
streets from the door of the warehouse, and
piled up on the corners where there was the
least danger of burning the town. 1t was
theu saturated by the acids, drugs and all
the combustbles to BE- found in the store.
The fixtures, &c. were destroyed, and the
building made wreck. By the time the
pile fairlg commenced to burn, evening had
set in. The scene was one not soon to be
forgotten When the fire seized upon its
prey, the iorked flames mounted greediIy as
they licked up the acids with which the
tobacco had been covered. TIE fiery
tongues that roared and ran were brilliant,
radiant with varied. hues, lent to them by
the chemical preparations.
1t seemed t-r few moments as il the
stiffness was preternatural, for nothing was
heard but the roaring flames, the rattle of
the horses, and the subdued air of the
crowd. In the midst Of this, the John
Brown boys struck up, suddenly and simul-
taueously, the Hallelujah song:
John Browns body lies mouldering in the
grave"
The sweet alto tones of bugler Hopkins
rang out clearly. while the rich full chorus
OF forty voices swung heartily in the still
air, and then came back again from far-off
echoes.
When the last notes of the song died
away, three rousing cheers were given for
the Union, the order was issued to march,
and the detachment moved back to camp.
Major Lee told the Westport people not to
touch the fire until the whole was consumed,
under penalty Of another visit.
A committee of citizens requested per
mission to bury the body of Bucher, to
which MajorL ee responded, Let the dead
bury their dead"
The people of Westport will doubtless
entertain very lively recollection of the
Jayhawkers' I" visit to their town.-Lea0>
enaoorth Conservative.