Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-12

hOnh4bLb EAfEhlkNCE Of NANCY
HER HUSBAND SHOT FULL OF HOLES AND HER
HOUSE SET on FIRE BY QUANTRELLs RAIDERS
ALMOST INCREDIBLE CRUELTY.
But few women on the face of this earth have
gone through such horrible experiences as
those which made the life of Nancy Thornton
burdensome and which condemned her to the
tender mercies Of a world which Is proverbially
selfish and forgetful. To tighten her declin-
ing years the Senate committee on pensions
without hesitation. recommends the passage
of the bill, ," which will continue to her pit
tance granted her husband by the FOrty-ninth
Congress. What story there is behind this
little pension bill; tale of blood that has but
few parallels even III the sanguinary pages of
war history.
THE RAID on LAWRENCE, KANSAS.
The report on the case says:
'On the morning of the 2lst of August. 1868,
Quantrell. at the head of three hundred rebels.
entered Lawrence, HANS, for the purpose of
destroying the city and killing its inhabitants
For several hours the incarnate fiends con-
tinued their hellish work. destroying property
and numbering the defenseless inhabitants in
discriminatory. This terrible massacre has no
parallel IN the history of our country and left
stain upon our civilization that will never be
forgotten Among the citizens of that fated
city WI an honest, humble carpenter, who.
with his vie and child had sought home in
the new WIZ OF the few VINO were wounded
on that day the claimant still survives. of the
one hundred and sixty eight who were shot.o
hundred and fOrty-three were killed outright.
or died soon after of their wounds. None were
fearfully manSled John W. Thornton;
twelve shots were fired at him. of which seven
took effect. 1t seems incredible that he sur
viyed.
CRIPPLED HERO.
The narrative of this truly awful affair has
been frequently published. but the story of the
Thorntons' part in it is known to but few. 1t
has been written and is now as follows on the
files of the committee:
Il have often noticed. passing through the
streets of Lawrence, a cripple who. by the aid
OF \ couple of stout sticks. slowly hobbies
along. Although emaciated and wan, with
shriyeled and paralyzed limbs, the face of this
man, when scrEtlnlZed closely, presents lines
of brightness and intelligence which one would
hardly seek on frame feeble. You will
say, when yOu have read this chapter of his
life. that this man must have had Il constitu-
ton OF IRON to stand up against the terrible
battering OF leaden bullets which fell upon him
ON the Dist OF August: 1868. J. W. Thornton
for this is the name OF the cripple. when not
suffering from some new phase OF Il broken
constitution. the result OF wounds received that
day, may be seen, with eyes cast down. slowly
passing along the sidewalks of this city, scarcely
arres,ing the gaze of the passer-by and vet
this man is hero before whom MANY of the
heroes of the land might doff their plumed
hats. IL TO stand face TO face with death to do
battle against fearful odds. to live lite of suf-
ferinS and pam. Is not TO be named heroic
where is it to be found?
THE ATTACK ON HIS HOUSE
Mr.. J. ". Thornton, a carpenter bv trade.
resided at the time of the Quantreil raid ON the
south side OF Winthrop street. between New
Hampshire and Rhode Island streets and ON
the lot where Donnelly's livery stable now
stands. He was awakened about sunrise bv
hearing hiring at some distance. Soon the fir
ms was close to his house. Then he heard a
pistol shot IN the house directly opposite. on
Northrup street. occupied by Mr. Pierre a tin
smith. Two fellows then came and kicked at
his door. loudly cursing and swearing MIR.
Thornton $ first thought was to get out of sight
His household consisted of wife and sister-in-
law When the two raiders found tine door
locked they pounded upon il until they par
TALLY broke II open. when ThOrnton's sister-in-
law went forward and opened it. Thornton i'm
the mean time slppedup stairs and entered
wardrobe room. Taking wagon cover or
sheet with him he hung it upon one of the
clothes hooks and stepped behind it, Mrs.
Thornton told the intruders that there was no |
man IN the house. but they would not believe |
her. and darted up stairs to search One of |
the fellows put his head in the clothes room
but did not see Thornton, though close to him |
He turned about and quickly took the straw |
bed from the bedStead and put it in the middle |
hre to 1t. The raiders then went down stairs. |
The raiders were quickly followed in their |
operations by Mrs. Thornton. who when they |
went down stairs quickly smothered the fire |
with blanket. She then carried the bed |
down stairs. where she met by her I'M |
welcome visitors, who drove her from the bed
and fired it again. They then told her that if
she put the tire out they would close the house
and burn all together.
BURNED OUT.
'Mrs. Thornton replied that she was not
afraid and that they would not dare TO burn
her. They then told her that if she would get
them revolver they would spare the house
and all inside. She replied she could not do
that. They then told her to clear the house of
what she wanted and do it ID auick.' as
they were determined to burn it, The two
men then stepped out OF the house but did not
go far, until two other raiders. on horseback
came along The burning bed soon made il
uncomfortable for Thornton. who. to aid his
wife, left his cOncealment and commenced to
throw furniture out OF the windows Clearing
the upper story, he afterward descended and
cleared the lower part OF the house. the flames
spreading the while. While this was going on
the two raiders on horseback calmly watched
The progress OF affairs. When the house be-
came TOO hot Thornton stepped out of the
back door toward the south, while the raiders
were at the mouth of the alley. The lot was
not fenced. As Thornton made his appear
ance one OF the raiders said: Come here. Won
ID =! Thornton stepped over toward the
TWO men, when one of them exclaimed: Go to
work, d-n you. Picking up "a small piece of
furniture Thornton started OFF with it. when
one OF the raiders again exclaimed: sStop
sou id d" Thornton looked over his
shoulder and saw one of the fellows putting
away his revolver. The other said
SHOOT HIN ANYHOW, D-N HIM.
And the fellow blazed away the shot taking
effect in Thornton's hip joint Thornton now
tried to get out of the way, and for this pur-
pose lodged around just east of his own burn
ing building. The raiders followed. but were
not quick enough to prevent him from taking
refuge IN the building. which was on fire. As
ne stepped upon the piazza ball from one of
the raiders pistols struck him ON the shin
thornton wife followed him into the burning
building, owned by Mr. Richards The morn.
ing air was still and the fire burned slow but
IL soon became dangerous to stay in the build
ing any longer. IL was sure death to STAY
where they had sought refuge and death was
almost as certain when they stepped out from
the smoke and flames of the burning edifce
But there was no alternative. So, almost
blinded with smoke, the two fugitives pre
pared to depart. They passed out of the house
and over the piazza, the wounded and bleeding
husband leaning on the arm of his faithful
wife. Passing down the steps toward the alley
they were confronted by the two raiders on
horseback. One of the raiders immediately
upon catching glimpse of Thornton. spurred
horse to