Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-09-05
MASSACRE AT LAWRENCE.
From the Leavenworth Times, Aug. 23


1t is hardly possible as yet to procure a
succinct and consecutive account8f the
diabolical proceedings of the QuantrcL
guerrilla gang on Friday morning How
ever, through the kindness OF Mr.. r. 5.
Stevens, we are enabled to furnish few
additional particulars of the dreadful affair,
in regard to which we have heard no ex-
tcnuating circumstances, no features which
redeem it from an appearance of the most
atrocious and cold blooded massacre which
mas ever disgraccd the annals of any coun-
try or any age. In barlarity it exceeds the
Silver Lake butcheries, and its perpetrators
are tiends when compared with the Mime
sofa Sioux the conduct of the rebels en-
gagged can only find parallel i'll the savage
atrocities of Nena Sahib during the Indian
revolt of 1857.
Incidents OF the massacre crowd upon us
so fast and are so multiplied by new arrivals
from the scene of the disaster that we find
1t difficult to retain them in mind sufficient
ly long to place them upon record; but
hereafter the facts and incidents will be
collated and published in lasting form ms an
evidence of the degradation to which Eu
manity may descend. and that mankind,
claiming to be civilized, are even more bar
barous and fendsh than the suvages of the
Z
/ morselcssly shot down in their own door
ways and in the presence of their wives and
children; they were pursued like beasts in
the streets and deliberately murdered, and
! their bodies left where they fell, to hc either
! consumed in the fire, or charred hy the heat
! beyond recognition. 4 wall goes up from
! Lawrence to-day which will reach Heaven 5
! high throne, and call down celestial ven
/ gcanCc upon the accursed dustroyers OF
/ innocence. and that wall will reverbcrate in
the ears Of a loyal people, knitting them
/ more firmly in the deep resolve that never
/ while Il traitor lives will they lay down the
sword or cease to pursue, attack and de
stroy.
! Kansas, the birthplace and sacred battle
| ground of freedom in the West, the first to
! successful resist the huge wave of Southern
/ aggression, muSt nat. SHALL NOT be oyorruu
! by the common enemy. Kansas can protect
! herself; she can administer like for like and
/ unless the military arm of the Government
! Is successfully intcrpoScd To protect her, she
! VIII again, III the strength of her brave. free
and intelligent people, sound the tOcsin of
war ard make in Missouri track of fire
and blood which shall be visible to the
/ world, and stand for aye in the ealendar a.
record of Kansas vengeance. Our pco-
!
/ gucrrilas of Missouri shall be extcrminatcd.
/ root and branch and ii the Government
! fails, with its vast resources, the war on the
/ border will be decisive, bloody and terri
! bic.
| Mr., Stone was killed by one of party
! which remained in town after The main body
had gone, They remained with the avowcd
purpose of killing Miss Lydia Stone, her
father and brother; and for that purpose
ordered all in the house to form Il line out
side. Hearing this Mr.. Stevens went up
! stairs and informed Miss Stone that she as
well as himself WAS marked for Victim
and asked it you would not try to escape
The brave girl replied that it would be use
less that they would probably Kill some of
them, and that she wGuld share the danger
| ''it might as well be her as any Of the
others During the confusion which tn
sued IN front of the house, Mr.. Stevens and
Mr. Stone Jr., escaped by back door and
secreted themselves on the bank of the river
FINALLY the house was cleared and the c,i-
zcns formed in a line outside, when ,he
villains commenced questioning them, ask
ing .heir names, where they were born. etc
n gentleman answered Central Ohio"
when one OF the party remarked, that is
worse than Kansas" and shot him. the
wound, however, not being fatal 4 lady in
the house was then fired at, when Mr. Stone
commenced To demonstrate with them, and
was Immediately shot. the bail entering the
lett side of the head, killing him almost in
stantly.
Citizens without arms, who came to the
door In obedience to their call. would be
shot at sight. Several were shot down
while on the sidewalk, and when the build
i
Others could be seen in the burning build
lncs.
Judge Carpenter was shot once, and fell ;
his wife and daughter immediately threw
themselves upon them, but find placed a
pistol between them and shot him through
the back, killing him instantly.
Mr. Riggs, District Attorney, was saved
by the c0olness Of his wife They were in
the yard when savage rode up and prepar-
ed to shoot. Mr.. Riggs started To run, when
the ruiiian, who was mounted, drew ON him /;
Mrs, Riggs pulled the reins of the horse
and the ball did not hit He shot again
but she pulled the rein, and her husband
escaped.
MIR. Dix had been taken prisoner and his
house set on fire, when one of the fends
told him IL he would give them his money
he would not be killed, otherwise he would
Mr.. Dix went into the burning house and
got a thousand dollars aud handed it over
lie was told to march toward the river, and
had not proceeded twenty steps when he
was shot dead from behind. Mr., Hampson,
clerk OF the Provost Marshal, had revolver
and tried to defend the few things he had
saved from the Johnston IIouse. HIS wife
ialeriered, and they told him ii he would
surrender he should be treated as a prisoner,
and be safe from harm, lie surrendered. and
Was Immediately shot from behind, the ball
entering near the spino and coming out
near the kidneys Ia front. The Wound h
not considered fatal.
In one Instance the wife aud daughter Of
man threw themselves over his body. bes.
ging for his lite. But one of the maraudcrs
deliberately thrust his revolver down be-