The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-01-05
MARTYRED.
THE MURDER OF REV. j.. %. HoRToN-AN
INCIDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS Massacre

THE MURDER OF REV. J.. g. HoRToN-AN
INCIDENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS Massacre
"Good.by. Emma he said. II shall
not be gone long. Il can't take more
than ten minutes 10 open the Convention,
and then shall come right away. Look
for me at 8 O'Clock at farthest," and the
young pastor kissed his wife and hurried
away to the city.
That day was destined TO be one among
the most memorable in the annals of hu-
man wickedness since the famous ST.
BartholomeW's. The members of the
Union Convention had looked forward to
it with apprehension. They knew that
the spirit Of the late rebellion still survi-
we'd in New Orleans, and they could not
hope that they should be permitted to as
semble without some molestarion from
disorderly individuals, but they had no
suspicion that tie masses of the CITY
would rise against them, organized for
deliberate bloodshed. They did not know
that all the arms had been bought up
till the quo shops contained not SO much
as pocket pistol. They did not know
that the Mayor had telegraphed to the
President that there would certainly be a
riot, and received the assurance that the
military would not interfere with the civil
power. They did not know that the po-
lice force had been increased by the ad
dition of gang of blood thirsty men,
and that the municipal authorities had
agreed upon signals, and arranged to be-
gin the riot themselves Watched by no
suspicion, and awed by no Buffers strong
right hand, the couspirators were suffer
ed to perfect their preparations, aud when
the morning of July 80 dawned, The
tFeacherous officials appeared at the sta
ton houses full armed, and waiting the
opportunity for their bloody work.
The. pastor of the Coliseum Baptist
Church, Rev. lothian w. Horton, had
been requested to open the Convention
with prayer. Moved by the warmest
Christian sympathy for the freedmen,
this young New England minister had
gone to the South with his wife, TO give
his best energies to their welfare. He
was man Of sincere piety and large
heart; pure as little child, self denying
where duty was concerned to an extent
that often made him suffer. and so peace
able that though repeatedly iusulted and
even once fred upon, and though con
scious that he was fatally marked by ma.
lignant disloyalists, he would never &C
armed.
After taking leave of his wife, Mr
Horton proceeded in the cars. from hi.
residence in CarTolton, to the city. Eve
apt to look hopefully on the worst pros.
pec;s, and slow to suspect evil of hi;
fellow men, be had felt no fears of injury
for this day, beyond perhaps fOrcibl'
seizure and commitment 10 the parish
prison.
The hour arrived for opening the Con
vention, aud Mr.. Horton. having enter
edthe hall, stood up to offer prayer Just
as the clock struck 12. Strongly anC
ferveutly his words came up, breathing
petitions for the peace Of his country anc
the deliverance of the Oppressed. Goo
heard him, but with that prayer His ser
wants work ended, and then He CAV,
him for little while to the cruel wrath
of his enemies, that He might make tina
wrath praise Him. Immediately on tn,
/
CITY clocks, and simultaneously with th,
opening of Mr.. Horizons prayer, tb'
armed police fled out Of the different sta
tior s, 500 strong, and marched towards
the Institute. Some of them entered the
hall during the prayer, 3 mob in the
meantime rapidly collecting round thu
door, and hardly had the good man ut
tered the closing amen" when a mis-
creaut fred bullet At his head.
There could no longer be any doabt o
the intentions OF the officers and the mob
The latter assailed the. windows ant
rushed In at the DOOR. ''Kiil biml Xii
himi" they yelled. ''ShoOt every ours
ed Yankee in the housed" just then al
the city bells began TO toll. Il was th
preeoncertsd signal of slaughter, ant
now the horrors of the day began.
The disIoyalist ruffians rushed in wit
pistols, knives and clubs. and commenc
ed their appointed work of murder. Re
sistance wac hopeless. The Convention
broke up in the Wildeet con. usion, som
of it's members falling dead. and man,
MORALLY wounded. Ia the ball. while
few who could, aed. The Union me
saw that they we're doomed. Instead o
: protecting them and arresting the rioier
at the firing of the first shot. as wit
their force they could easily have done
the police headed Ghe attack, and there i
reason to believe that one of their nun
Der fred the first shot.
Mr.. Horton received fve balls in hi
body and fell. These balls were fred b
policemen. Nos satisfied with their WoE
they seized him. kicked and dEAggsk hiE