The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-08-29
LAWRENCE IN ASHES
80 Of her Citizens Butch
cred and Burned
$4,000, 900 WORTH OF PROPERTY
DESTROYED
s25o.ooo IN MONEY STOLEN
QuantriIe has carried out his
Threat

renee, has been executed. Almost the
entire city was laid in ruins, and its streets
made to run with innocent blood, on the
morning of Friday, the 21st inst. Never
since the days of the Wyoming Massacre
by the savages, Except, perhaps, those OF
Minnesota have the pages of history been
made so bloody and barbarous as on the
21st Of August, 1868. The sacking of
Lawrence, just seven years and thee
months previous. was nothing in compari-
son with this. Not since the war broke
cut, in all the raids in the Border States, by
the rebels, has there been any thing approach
ing this in blood thirstiness, in inhumanity,
in cowardice, in black hearted ness, in cold
blOoded murder. 1t equals the bloodiest
days of Robespierre, when mems heads
were taken off by the guillotne, for having
opinions. The shrieks of women and chill
dren; the pleading of wives, sisters and
mothers for their husbands, brothers and
sons, only seemed to increase the savage
ness of the demons.
They entered the town between daylight
and sunrise, and by nine o'clock city of
three thousand inhabitants, of happy homes
and prosperous business, was laid in ruins,
and 1875 to $50 of her best people massacred.
We learn from persons who were there that
after entering the town they scattered about
the place in squads, each squad having
their work laid out for them: that is, what
houses they should burn and what citizens
! they should murder In one instance, one
of the leaders took from his pocket a paper
and read over list of the houses his men
were to burn.
We could fill our whole paper with de-
tails and incidents which make the heart
sicken at contemplation. Two of our citi-
and NJ. NJ. Murdoch. The former gentleman
had gone there with a carriage, to bring his
brother, E. P. Bancroft, who has been sick
at Lawrence for some time. to this place. He
was shot at several times, and had his mon
ey and one horse stolen, and his carriage
burned His loss was about $500. Mr..
Murdoch was several times fred at, but
made his escape by crawling into WELL
which had been dug in the cellar of one of
the new buildings on Massachusetts st.
We are indebted to the Conservative of
the esd for most of the particulars of the
affair, and for the list of killed and
wounded.
Itmay seem strange to a great many that
nc resistance was made, especially when the
people of the city had expected an attack
previously, and had made preparations to
meet the rebels when they came. The pa
pers, even, had said they were ready for
them. We suppose resistance would have
been useless. When they entered the town
Quantrile said if one of his men were shot
the blood of women and children should
atone for it.
The force of the rebels is variousIy esii-
mated from $50 to 400. Reliable parties
place it at 500.
They entered the town on the gallop, fir
ing into every house, and when the occu-
pants appeared at the door, they were shot
down like dogs. The arms of the town were
in the armory, of which the rebels took pos
session, although they did not carry them
off.
About one hundred and twenty five houses
in all, were burned. and only one or two
escaped being ransacked, and everything of
value carried away or destroyed. Six or
eight soldiers, camped upon the north side
of the river, and who fired across at every
rebel who appeared upon the bank, deter
red the towards from destroying some of
the houses near the ferry, and from cutting
Down the flag pole.
In West Lawrence, DR.. J. f. Griswold,
who kept drug store in the Eldridge block
and was one of the best men in the city,
had happy home, surrounded with all
the comforts and convenienees the country
could afford Boarding with him were J.
G. Trask, of the State Journal, and II. w.
Baker, of the firm of Ridenour d Baker,
(both of whom were recently married J; also
). NJ. Thorp, formerly State School Super
intendent, and a Senator from Douglas
county, and one Of the leading young men
of the State. These four men were called
out and shot before the eyes Of their fami
lies, by man named Todd, who was sec
ond IN command of the villains Mr.. Trask
and DR.. Griswold died Immediately. Mr..
Thorp fingered all day. aud Mr. Baker was
still living, at last accounts. DR.. Griswold |
had returned on Thursday evening from the
East