The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-11-01
A Remfnsicenea.

The death Of William Hetlrick, on the eve Of
the election, brings to mind the terrible row at
Iowa Point, just seventeen years ago. 1t will
also remind Republicans of the treatment they
received in the days when Democracy was strong
and powerful in the County, for the parties
were almost evenly divided. Democrats did not
then honey around to get Republican votes, or
hire men 10 run as Independents, but used the
more congenial Arguments Of pistol and club.
We believe Mr.. Plank was present, and witness
ed the whole affair.
In 1860, the great contest, as now, was for
Sheriff; and then, rs now, the Democratic can
didate was from Iowa Point. 1t was Charles
Biakely, one of the most active pro-siavery men
in Northern Kansas. Then, as now, there was
tremendous desire to clean out the crowd that
the Chief supported. Maj. George L. Hough,
Of Elwood, was the Republican candidate for
Sheriff, and was elected by only 33 majority.
Rnss. Williams was candidate for the Terrific
rial House Of Representative. In those days,
William Hedrick Was the most obnoxious man
to the Democracy in that part Of the County.
He was always on duty, aud never backed out
of fight. 1t was whispered abroad, some days
before the election, that the Republicans were
to be cleaned out at Iowa Point, on election day.
That was a Democratic stronghold, and they had
everything their own way. On the day of the
election, Rufus r. Edwards, now Of Marshall
County, but then q resident of Iowa Point, was
drunk, and went about the streets, fourishing
q revolver, and declaring his intention to kill
Hedrick. He swore he was . slave holder, and
had killed several men in his life, and meant to
kill Hedrick. Hedrick several times passed his
insults by, and got out of his way. Finally, while
Hedrick was sitting beside . store, Edwards
came up, thrust his revolver in his face, aud
struck him over the back with u cane. An iron
rod belonging to an engine pump was lying close
by, which Hedrick seized, and dealt Edwards
several blows OH the head, telling him senseless
to the ground. In q moment Hedrick was set
upon from all sides by an infuriated crowd of
Democrats. He retrested into q store, but was
followed, knocked down, and kicked and tram
pied in shocking manner. James Simpson, an
old man, and q neighbor of Hedrick's, who is
still living in Iowa Township, went into the
crowd, to plead with them not to kill Hedrick,
when he was knocked down, and SO badly beaten
that it was thought that he wOald die. A young
Republican named Sponseler, who was taking
no part in the muss, was assailed by the
crowd; but he jumped on q horse, and
gallopped for bis life, pursued by young man
firing at him with q revolver. A man named
Poteet seized a rifle, and pursued sponseller on
horseback. When he returned, he intimated
that he had disposed Of him; but 1t happened
that he could not catch him. Jack Beeler pitch
ed in, and narrowly escaped being badly beaten.
Blakely at last interfered, but could scarcely
quell the riot which his strikers had raised.
few years later, during the war, Hedrick
was attacked at Lafayette, by several rebels
who had formerly resided in this County. They
went at him with knives, and cut him badly, but
they got the worst of it, for he knitted them al
most fatally.
This is the way Republicans in Donipban
County used to be treated by the Democracy.
Now they expect to get elected to Office by the
aid of Republican votes, and can even hire Re-
publicans to pitch in and divide the Republican
vote for their benefit.