The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-14

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Oct. "A fatal and
melancholy tragedy, ending in furious
mob, occurred at Danville, ILL.,, on Satur-
day. Two men were killed and third
wounded. There was an abolition mass
meeting in town, addressed by ex-Gover-
nor Joseph A. Wright, of Indiana, and
two or three preachers of the Methodist
conference, in session there. While the
procession was passing, and the crowd
cheering for Lincoln, DR.. Farris, an ex-
brigade surgeon, IN the army, and late
praticing physician in Danville, replied
by saying ''Hurrah for the Niger % This
raised the ire of some of the aboli-
tionists and few returned soldiers
About five O'Clock, in the afternoon,
three brothers, named John, Henry, and
-Mckibbin, met DR.. Farris in a store
They had al alteration which they were
about to settle amicably, when a squad of
soldiers came in, evidently bent upon mis-
chief, and accused the Doctor of drawing
pistol that day, which he fatty denied
One of the party, seeing q pistol in bis
pocket, snatched it out, when some one
in the crowd fired shot. This shot may
have struck DR.. Farris, but it is not known
whether it did or not; but he Immediate
ly drew revolver aud fired on the crowd,
the first shot striking Henry McKibben in
the head and killing him instantly, he con-
tinued to fire two shots, which struck John
McKibben and wounded him slightly in
the leg and breast. DR.. Farris then fled,
holly pursued by the crowd, who fired if
fyuo oh Of &c
which took effect, wounding him only
slightly. He took refuge in DR.. Lem
On's house, which was then surround
ell by furious mob of abolition cit
liens and returned soldiers. DR.. Lem
on endeavored to keep the crowd off,
but they gave him five minutes in which
to produce DR.. Farris, or they would fire
the house. The father of the boys and a
lieutenant were let in, who went up stairs
and brought DR.. Farris down. As soon
as the three cleared the door the mob fired
thirteen shots at DR.. Farris, placing their
pistols almost against his body; three balls
passed through his head, and he sunk down
apparently dead. Some fend stamped
upon his face with his heel while the in
furiated mob exulted like demons. They
then seized the dying man by the feet, and
dragged him like dog on the sidewalk
about two squares, and dropped him on the
brick sidewalk opposite drug store. Here
the mob surrounded him, and began dane
ing and yelling like savages.
Notwithstanding DR.. Farris had received
three shots in the head, and bis body was
perforated with bullets, life still fingered,
and he began to moan, and was heard to
exclaim, ooh, God let me die in peace!"
At this the mob Knocked and jeered, one
man proposing to finish by shooting him
again, placing a pistol to his ear,
when another pulled him away, saying,
"Damn him, let him suffer; let him die
hard" A Methodist preacher entreated
the mob to extend to the dying man the
same respect that rebels showed to their
wounded prisoners. This was refused.
they said he was worse than rebel.
About P. M. he was taken from the
pavement and carried to the Court House.
where DR.. Davis, a member of the Metho-
dist Conference, dressed his wounds. He
died about 10 o'clock, and was left there
all night. He was buried. yesterday at
Danville. The Presbyterian Church, of
which he was member, l am informed,
reluctantly allowed his funeral to be
preached in that church, and refused to
allow the bell to toll. The Presby terrain
minister preached his funeral from the text,
"He died as the fool dieth."
DIR. Farris was a Democrat, and was
earnest in the advocacy of his principles,
and the abolitionists of Danville have long
been thirsting for his blood. They now
have it, but, like the blood of Abel, it will
cry from the ground and curse them.