Omaha daily bee., 1888-11-04

lice court ~rustler' stamp, and that was about
all the practice he had here. never heard OF
his shooting anyone in this part of the coun-
try; in fact, he was too cowardly to do any
thing Of that sort. don't think he did any
actual lighting for the south; all the fighting
he cared to do was with his mouth. So he is
a republican now. Well, it only bears out
my constant opinion of the man. Entirely
without principle, Geceitful, and always
looking out for Hascall first"
Major Crowell, who was an United
States postofice inspector in Kansas
aud Missouri in earlydays, was seen
and asked il he had known Hascall in 1859
and 1860. He replied:
ayes, l distinctly remember Hascall. We
drove him out Of this country at the point of
the revolver. He was a great blow hard in
his views on the slavery question a rank
rebel, and always shouting it. l ne yer heard
Of his shooting anyone down here; it might
nave occurred back somewhere in the state,
II he did so, as l know Of everyone who was
killed along the river during those troublous
times. You see Hascall was hand and
glove with q pretty hard crowd Of
rebel sympathizers, and although q
northern democrat, was as rabid as any
southerner in the mob Of bushwhackers who
came across the river. So in '6l we deter
mined to clear them all of Kansas soil. Any
man who would not shout 'Hurrah for Lin
coin had to go. They didn't want to, but
they saw we meant business, and they went,
quick, too"
You correspondent went to Rushville,
Mo-, a town Of about six hundred
inhabitants, and met some of the old set
tiers. Nashville, during the war, was q rebel
hot-bed and was q bushwhacker headquar-
ters. To this day the sentiments of the men
who were shareholders before the war are
distinctly rebellious. A letter of introduce
ton to Uncle Billy Wells, as he is called,
| paved the way TO further in~troductions. Mr..
Wells was asked IL he knew Hascall:
"Know him? 1 should say l did, When
he left Kansas he came over to US, and lived
| for six months or more In that little house on
the hill, ~ and he pointed to au unpretentious
house not far away.
"What were his politics then"
"He was a good democrat, sir, and a fer
vent pro-slavery man, as we all were. He
went with me to the Lecompton convention
and helped frame the constitution"
At this ~iuncture AL. Fenton, an old settler
and a man of considerable means, strolled
up whiting a pine stick, aud listened to the
| conversation.
d you know Of Hascal's ever having
killed q man In Kansas in 1861, Mr.. Wellsi'
Eyes" broke in Mr.. Fenton, ait was claimed
that he was the man who shot old man Hart
man."
Uncle Billy was much annoyed at this in
corruption, and excitedly denied this. MIR.
Fenton saw he had made a mistake, aud
n%ervously expectorated into the road.
mo, sir,' Numbered Uncle Billy, 81 re-
gard MIR. Hascall as a high-minded, high
toned gentleman, and when he was among
US he was very popular"
Did Hascall avow himself to be a rebel,
Mr.. Wellsp
"Yes, sir, he did. 1t wasn't very healthy
in Rushville for a union man at that time. u
BY this time IA crowd of village loafers and
lank Missourlans, with a pig and II couple OF
yellow dogs, gathered about Uncle Billy and
the reporter, and the conversation became
general. Many Of the older men remembered
Hascall, and they all expressed admiration
for the mans noble qualities and his demo-
cratic principles. When told that he was a
republican, their disgust was manifest. One
old gentleman said: "Well, I'll be gosh
darned" and wandered OF, wagging his
head sadly. On the Missouri side OF the
river the people who had known Hsscall all
spoke highly Of him until informed Of his re,
publicanism. 49,.
aAscALL's vHRsIuN1
After this letter had reached TaE Bgk Of