Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-04
The Lawrence Massacre.

The Leavenwor.b Conservative give
some further particulars of the terribl
tragedy at Lawrence, Kansas:--
We found Massachusetts street on
mass of smouldering ruins and crumt
ling walls, the light from which cast
sickening glare upon the little knots G
excited men and distracted women, gaz-
ing upon the ruins of their once happ.
homes ard prosperous business. Only
two business houses were left upon Thu
street-one known as the Armory, anc
the other as the old Miller block. About
1875 houses in all were burned, and only
one or two escaped being ransacked, and
everything of value carried away or de-
stroyed. The force of the rebels is va
riously estimated from 250 to 400. Re
liable parties place it at 800. Their
every act during their stay in the city
was characterized by the most cowardly
barbarism. They entered the town on
the gallop, firing into every house, and
when the occupants appeared at the door
they were shot down like dogs. Five
bodies burned to a crisp, lay near the
ruins of the Eldrdge house. They
could not be recognized. Eighteen out
of % unarmed colored recruits, encamp-
ed south of the town were murdered in
their tents. Their bodies lay in the
eolored church when we arrived. Messrs.
Trask, DR.. Griswold, Baker and Throp,
were shot down in the yard Of DIR. Girls
void, before the eyes of their families.
Judge Carpenter was wounded in bis
yard, and fell, when his wife and sister
threw themselves upon his body, begging
for mercy, but TO no avail The fiends
dismounted, stuck their pistols between
the persons of his protectors, and fired
Miss Stone, daughter of the proprietor
of the City Hotel, had diamond ring
stolen from her finger. Quantrell oblig-
ed the man to restore ii. In revenge for
this, the ruffians afterwards came back
and shot her father before the mothers
eyes. They also tried to kill Miss Stone.
Gen. Collamore went into his well to
hide, and the bad air killed bim. His
son and Pat Keefe lost their lives trying
10 get the father out. The life of dis
trict attorney Riggs was saved by the
heroism of his wife, who seized the
bride OF the rebels horse, who attempt
ed to shoot him as he ran. Several
cases of remarkable bravery of women :
were related to US. The wife Of sheriff
Brown three successive times put out the
fire kndled to burn the house. Her
husband was hidden under the floor
The house was saved by her heroism.
The offices Of the Journal, Tribune
and Republican were of course leveled
to the ground. John Speer, Jr., of the
Tribune, started for his home from the
office after the rebels came in. Mr..
Murdoch, a printer in the office, tried to
induce him to accompany him into well
near by for safety, but he would do moth
ing but 90 home 10 defend the house,
which he did, and was killed. Murdoch
went into the well and was saved A
younger son of John Speer, Sem, killed
! rebel and left. The guests at the FL
fridge House were ordered out, their
ooms pillaged, and some OF the people
hot. Only the presence and perempt- ,
'ry orders Of QnantrelI prevented the D
massacre of all the occupants after Trey
lad been marched out on the street. The
ebes were told that there was a negro
'aby still in the house, but they sand.
We will burn the G-d-n little brat" ,
md they did, We saw its charred re. n
mains, burned black as the hearts of its a
nurderers. The books OF the county ia
nd district clerks were burned, but ST
bose Of the register of deeds were in II
he safe, and are supposed to have be en- Is
aved. Every safe in the city but two Is
'ere robbed. In tie Eldridge store, Sc
ames Eldridse and James Perrine gave II
BE rebels all the money in the safe, and Il
'ere instantly shot down. All the ho- u
is were destroyed except the City Ho, l
J. The loss in cash is estimated at OF
100000, and in property and all at al
2 100000. al