Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-02
m MAssAOaP OF LAWRENCR.
sesus. ana IuoIdonr.-b, an Rye witness

sas, bat give the following from the nara
tive Of one who was personally Observant
of the horrors Of the day, as communica-
ted to the New York Tribune. Let it be
borne in mind that Quantrelrs gang Of
fenda were guerrillas in the service of the
repel cause, and that it is with cause
which furnishes just such instances Of
blood-thirstiness that Vallandigham and
his followers would make peace by
compromise, or concession of all they de-
mend:
TIE ATTACK.
The narrative must commence with
the attack itself, as the blow fell
like a thunderbOlt in q clear sky,
without the least anticipation
or warning. Fears had been enter
tained and allsyed, but it was not consid-
cred possible that force could pierce the
lines of General Ewing, evade his scouts,
and penetrate fifty miles into popu-
lous region and attack the third town Of
the State, without notice of the raid be-
ing given in season to prepare for defense.
n6uCb, dlbcE dlJouuAn6 a PuDAAo AASS-AA Q
on the evening Of Thursday, the 18th, the
citizens had retired to rest, un6isturbed By
fears or preseniments of the impending
catastrophe.
My own presence in the town at this
precise juncture was an accident and in
tended to be but for dsy-being early
on Friday, the morning after my arrival,
l was awakened by rapid and continuous
discharge Of FIRE arms in the street. At
first failed entirely to realize the nature
Of this occurrence, and it was not till the
sound Of the shots became intermingled
with shouts and yells, and the cry Hur-
rah for QuaDtrelT' startled the air, that
the remnants of my drOwsiness fed and 1
became aware that the guerrillas were
upon US.
The Kansas river here flows TO the east,
past the north side Of the city; and the
principal street (Massaehusetts) runs at
right angles with it, north and south.
Upon the street, some forty rods from the
river, stood the Eldridge House, large
and ine brick building, located upon q
corner and facing the east and north. My
room WAS on the third floor, looking to-
ward the river, and, on account Of the
heat Of the weather, both windows and
curtains were open. l sprang from my
bed on hearing the cries of QuantreH, and
approached a window. The streets were
filed with horsemen, dressed in the Wild
est fashion Of the border, and armed to the
teeth with carbines and revolvers; and
these were riding to and fro in all dree-
tions, yelling and whooping like 50 many
demons, and apparently shooting down
every man who appeared in sight.
At the moment that went to the win
dow, one of these men, who seemed appsr-
emily to be scrutinizing the hotel, seemed
to spy me, for heard him shout, There's
a mani Cd d-n him Shoot him
Cd d-n him Shoot him" gave him
no time for the execution Of his kind pur-
pose; but that moment furnished me a
Ioretaste of the dreadful fate in store for
the devoted town.
At first l supposed it mere dash of a
party Of horse-tbiefs, snd waited while
expecting to hear the sounds reoede, and
TO see the raiders disappear. could not
believe the citizens SO utterly unprepared
for defense as to make possible any de-
struction of the town. After a few mo-
ments he'd passed without signs of a re-
treat, l listened for sounds of resistance,
but was rewarded only by the warning of
the hotel gong, which was now rang loud
ly through all the halls. Of the building.
Iproceeded then to dress stealing oeea-
sionsl glanees into the street. These
showed me men flying in terror and plead
ing for mercy but in. every instance un-
hesitstingly shot down. One man rushed
out upon the sidewalk on the east side of
the street, apparently designing to cross,
but a trooper riding past wheeled his
horse and discharged his revolver full at
his breast. The man threw up his arms
and apparsntly implored quarter, but the
only response made were curses and repeat
ed shots, amid which he sank to the ground
and probably died on the spot.
The search in the house was soon over ;
and one by one, all the inmates who had
fingered in their rooms, were brought out
and added to our company. We could
hear process of investigation and plum
der proceeding, intermingled with the
Oaths and threats which are always SO
freely used in the discourse Of rebel Bush
whackers. Noabsolute violence, however,
so far as I am aware, was offered in the
hotel, excepting to half-Witted man, Jo-
seph Eldridge, brother to the owner, who
vas brutally shot after his mental condi-
ton was made known to his murderers.
sf1s. QUAETEELL. $40
Presently bushwhacker came up stairs,
paused upon the landing, and looked us
over. It was Quaatrell, the terror Of the
border, and former citizen Of the town.
To some old scqusintsnces he spoke civil
ly enough, and with two or three shook
hands, assuring US that we we're entirely
safe, and should receive complete protec-
ton from personal violence.
Qusntrell would pass anywhere for a
well-looking man, and exhibits in his
countenance no traces of native feroeity.
He is of medium height well built, and
even deliberate in speech and motion.
His hair is brown, his complexion fresh,
and his cunning, but pleasant blue eyes
and acquiline nose, give to his csuntenance
its chief expression. During the few mo-
ments which he spent with US at this time
he conversed freely about himself and the
present expedition, received with marked
complancy some compliments on the COM
pleteness Of his present success, and not
hesitsting to express his consciousness
that it was by far the greatest Of his ex-
plOits.
81 r . nv p INCIDENTS.
As our party moved along Winthrop
street, struggling desperadoes crowded
about US, filing the air with curses and
threats; arrived about opposite the Office
Of the State Journal, one Of them rode up
on the right to the head of our column,
and ordered out Of the ranks young man
walking just in front of me, who carried
in his hand travelling bag and was evi-
IDENTIFY stranger" step out here,