Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-04
ma IAWRENcK rnAntnN.

THE LAWRENCE TRAGEDY.
From Kansas papers we obtain further in
teresung particulars of the a,rooious doings
Of Quantrell and his cut-thtoaty in Lawrence.
The Leavenworth Conservative ofAugust %,
says
Their first dash after entering the city
was for the livery stables, where they took all
the stock and then set the hay on FIRE The
stable Of Willis Brothers was the first build
ing fred-four buildings went with it, iucu-
ding the Republican office on Massachusetts
street.
Stores were broken open and robbed Of all
portable property. safes knocked open and
plundered. Men were shot in the streets as
city marshal would shoot mad dogs
few soldiers on this side of the river sue
coeded in preventing the ferry over the Kaw
from falling into their hands
Quantrell formerly lived in Lawrence, (he
then went by the name of Charley HartO
and he had no difficulty in telling whose
house should be burned and whose spared 49,
He had with him, also, several men who have
recently been loahng about Lawrence and ac-
ting AS bis spies.
The EIdridge House was for a time spared
but the historic Hofl, and the finest build
ing in Kansas, could not escape It was fir
ed in several places. and all the guests
some of whom were on beds e sickness
were forced out. The City Hall formerly
the Whitney Housed was saved through the
yalor and adroitness Of Miss Lydia Stone,
daughter Of the landlord. Mr.. Stone was af,
forwards badly wounded, and his daughter
shot at. Gen. Lanes. residence, new and
iiue house, was burned to ashes.
The early hour at which the town was at
tackled, and the entire unex pectedness OF the
event, made useless all attempts at resistance,
Men and women were alike at the mercy of
the rebel assassins Those thought them
selves fortunate who were only asked, Hand
over those geenbacks, for many were killed
irst and robbed afterwards. Rings. watches,
Jewels and money. were taken from the la
dies, and fends rode yelling through the
streets, with gold chains and crosses dang
ling from their necks.
SO universally we're the citizens robbed,
that Mr.. Montague, who came here for medi-
mess and surgeons for the wounded, found it
difficult to get few dollars to defray his ex-
pcnses The day before, Lawrence was rich.
and every man had more money in his peck
Its than the richest could now command.
When Mr. Montague left, the town seemed
tc be one sheet of fire. The heat was in
tense, and persons could barely pass through
the streets TO relieve the wounded and col
lect the dead The waling of the women
and orphaned children filled the air. and
brought again to memory the days when the
Free State families were butchered on their
own hearthstones."
The Leavenworth Times Of the 23d has
the following account:
Citizens without arms, who came to the
door in obedience to their call, wouIu be shot
at sight. Several were shot down on the
sidewalk, and when the buildings burned
their bodies would roast. Others could be
seen in the burning buildings.
In one instance the wife and daughter of
man threw themselves over his body, beg
ging for bic life. Bat one Of the maraudcrs
deliberately thrust his revolver down between
the two women and killed the man.
One of the FIRST persons out was Gel. Diet
zler. The sight that met us when coming
out ! cannot describe. have read Of outra-
yes committed in the so-called dark ages. and
horrible as they appeared to me, they sink in
to insignidcanco in comparison with what
was then compelled to witness. Well known
citizens were lying in front of the spot where
their stores or residences had been complete
ly roasted. The bodies were crisped and
nearly black. We thought at first that they
were all negroes, till we recognized some of
them. In handling the dead bodies pieces OF
roasted flesh would remain in our hands
Soon our strength failed us in this horrible
and sickenihg work. Many could not help
crying like children Women and little chill
dren we're all over town hunting for their hu,-
bands and fathers, and sad indeed was the
'rcene when they did finally find them among
the corpses laid out for recognition, | can
not describe the horrors; language fails me-
and the recollection of scenes l witnessed
makes me sick when am compelled to re-
peat them.