The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-07-24
S9me Moro Early History.

tho JOURNAL few weeks since an,
giving an account of an incident of tn
fourth ofJuly, 1Sj6, inTopeka, whereinb b,
speaks of Col. G. Whipple, as command
ing the Topeka Guards, l thought i
might be interesting to your many read
ers to know more of this brave youDf
man Whipple.
was at Topeka ON that memorable
day, being ono of military company
the Lawrence Stubs, who walked al
the way from Lawrence to Topeka &c
burn powder, and throw lead, if need
be, in defense of that Legislature.
Twas then and there formed the
acquaintance OF Whipple. and We were
quito intimate for several years after
wards.
OF his former history learned from
his own lips. He was born in Connec.
ticut about the year 1881 as'Aaron ID.
Stevens. While quite q young man he
formed an attachment for young lady
of his native place, but unrequited love
drove him from the scenes OF his youth
to wander aimlessly for a while, until he
finally enlisted under tho "stars and
stripes" in the regular Army of the u.
S. Hero for timo he was Orderd from
pillar to post until he found himself on
the Mexican frontier. One night to-
gether with several other soldiers he
went to fandango or Mexican dance,
and returning to camp little after tat
too, they were taken in by the camp
guard. At guard mounting the next
morning, resenting some insulting
language from an officer, he knocked
the officer down. For this offence he
was court-marshalled and sentenced to
wear ball and chain in Fort Leaven.
wortl, for torn OF years. Accordingly
a strong band of iron was riveted
around his legs above the ankles. To this
cham six feet long and to the extrem-
ity of the cham cannon ball four inch
es in diameter was fastened, and in this
condition hs was sent to FIT. Leayen-
worth. In December Of 1855, be with
a conrad wearing similar jewelry, were
taken to the timber nesr the Fort to
chop some wood, With ono soldier to
guard them. Here they succeeded in
getting hold of the gun of the guard
and babe him stand while they chopped
their irons off each other then they
crossed tho Missouri river on the leo
but soon returned and hired to Dele
warelndian to chop wood. They remain
ed with the Indian until near spring of
1856, when next We find Whipple in
Topeka, having changed his name. From
this time on he bore we'll his part in
the Kansas struggle for freedom. In
November 1857, he left Kansas with
John Brown and company. They pro-
ceeded with mule team to the Quak or
village Of Springdale, in Cedar county,
Iowa, stopping at the house of VIM.
Maxson until the last of April 1858,
A. ID. Stevens being the military To-
structor, and under his drill the boys be-
came quite proficient. Next We find
Stevens in Chatham, Canada w est, in the
Convention of May SO 1858, assist
ing in the formation of that provision
al Constitution which was found among
Browns papers at Harpers Ferry. On
the 3Oth of Nov. 1858 we again hear of
him in Eastern Kansas, on Little Sugar
the sheriff Of Lynn county approached
within u of mile of his house. The
Sheriff and another man rode up nearer
the house when Stevens and kagi went
out to meet the officer aud asked him
what no wanted. He replied"to disarm
them and demolish their house." They
told lin that self preservation was tho |
first law of nature. The officer replied |
'you can't resist" Pointing to that for
army in tho distance no said
'Look the force opposed to you" Then
no could SEQ only five armed men about
.he cabin, but in fact twenty-five rifles
n ambush that very moment covered
he spot where they stood. Brown had
eft two days previously on business.
stevens Strengthened his manly form to
ull height indignant at this remark and
epli.d: "Belioving We arc right, betoro
Tod We will resist If tho whole universe
S against u.s. Tho posse returned
quickly as they came. Again We hear
# him on tho night of Dec. 10th, 1853,
n Missouri. A slave came to Brown
md earnestly begged help for himself
md family and some Othors to escape
rom Missouri, for they were soon to DO
old to go south. Brown promised this
i'd on Doc. Goth. Accordingly no took
ne small party and gave Stevens
barge of another. They went to differ
mt plantations; Stevens to David
;ruse's. He was brutal master, u sort
t bulldog in every respect. Ho had
,oro ferOcity than good sense. Stew
ms knocked ut his door at ) o'clock A.
/. Cruise asked. "Who's there," Stew
rs replied, ave are going down to Fort
colt To take in Brown. aud M,ntgom
~ they have threatened to burn the
'wn; We wantyou to go along with US"
10 replied GAN right, I'll go, come in.
Get up wife, get these..men some break
.st-we must be Off" Stevens then
I'D we are Browns men and have
me to help your slaves of. He sprang
Stevens moro furious than a Kansas
clone no clinched him by the tn roat
ID backed him to the wall-all the
bile uttering q coarse how, resembling
at of bear. Stevens pushed him and e
Ia him to keep off and he should not
} hurt, but he was no match tor the !,
ant strength of Cruise. Cruise called u
his wife 10 bring his revolver, which o
70 did like brave soldier Hs re lax l.
his iron like grasp on Stevens
roat, not until after he :had received
; revolver. He then tell heavilyon the