The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-05-03
TTHE LAWRBNoB MAssA0RE.

L
The heirs Of the seventeen recruits of
the Fourteenth Kansas cavalry, who
were killed by Quantrell's men In the
memorable raid on Lawrence in 1858,
are now in a fair way to receive the long
delayed relief. The house committee on
war claims has reported favorably the
bill. In the Lawrence Tribune of a
late date we find the following synol-
sis Of the claim and incidents of the
massacre:
One of the most pathetic incidents of
the Quantrell raid was the massacre of
the young recruits that had offered the
first services of their manhood to their
country, and were waiting for their
equipments, and to be mustered into
the Fourteenth Kansas regiment.
With only the name Of soldiers, they
yielded the supreme measure of their
devotion to their country's cause.
without even their names being placed
on their country's roll, of either service
or honor With the exception of the
enlistment papers and the recruit roll
there is no record of the enlistment,
service or death of these youthful mar
tyrs. The personal report Of Major L.
J. Beam, filed in the Office of the adju-
tant general OF Kansas, is the only rec
ignition of their =. standing.
and shows that they had never
been formally mustered into the
service, nor clothed, rationed or
equipped, and that at the time of their
massacre they were not formally under
military authority. Efforts have been
made to obtain recognition of them
by the government. The senate passed
bill during the session Of the Forty
ninth congress, defining their status
and Offering relief, but it failed to go
through the house. The senate com
m1ttee at that time submitted a report.
which was adopted, to the effect that
"se men lost their lives ina the ser.
heir country prior to being reg
'iAs,- red in. IF the record had
.ico oA - continued the senate
lI Ly hluSse have been no
,eport, there wouIU Sonnfv.
11e;,,o ent; III tn C"T 1,an 9S ann
Iut the failure to perfect their pape..
resulting from an act OF war, IN which .
hey lost their lives, gives valid claim
ior congressional action" The same
dill was again introduced in the sem
ate this session, and passed a short
lime ago without material change.
The house report just made agrees with
,he senate report, and the committee
recommends the passage of the bill
without amendment, the closing argyll
nent of the report in its favor being as
follows: "The recuits of the 14th Kan
5as cavalry volunteers were, as far as
they were concerned, under military
and were encamped. await
ing muster in, arms and equipments.
They were evidently murdered under
the impression that they were organ
lied for the defense of the union. Their
defenseless condition, the brutality
of the manner of their be-
ing taken off, shows the intensity of
partisan feeling in that region at the
time, as well as the courage and pa
triotism of the men who so eagerly
to defend their country's
law at so great personal risk. The
mere technical questions relating to
their service and to the regulations of
the army, of which they were deprived /
by their speedy death, should not stand |
as a bar for a moment against the de-
mand for justice in favor of their fam |
lilies or other legal representatives"