Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-06-10

OSu0u ucdu! ltoSOO hOAh AhVusAA
mouth, the last sentence many ever Ut
tered.
All was confusion, not only at the
fort, but in Pawnee and the adjoining
settlements Everywhere were evidences
of grief.
As darkness was approaching, Mr..
Morris, with the assistance OF Mr.. AJo-
seph Myer, lowered the body OF MAJOR
Ogden into his grave. Those two men,
who had done many noble deeds, were
physically unable to endure another
hours work, so they went to their homes
weary and sad of heart.
A modest monument was afterwards
erected to the memory of Major Ogden
upon high knoll at Fort Riley.
But hard fate was in store for Paw
nee. The sturdy defence of freedom by
its citizens had given much ofense to
the authorities at Washington. The
town where such manly struggle had
been made for law and order, and which
was evident would become a rallying
place for all who desired to see Kansas
free-state was odious to the supporters
of slavery. 1t was, therefore, determin-
ed to wipe Pawnee from the face OF the
earth. For bringing about that result
there was ample legal machinery, and
no delay was made in putting that ma
chinery into operation.
In the original survey for Fort Riley,
which had been accepted at headquar-
tiers at Washington, tract three miles
square had been laid out for the fort
reservation. But now President Pierce
ordered a new survey for the reservation
of ten miles square, which made the site
of Pawnee and miles of the surrounding
country government property. Rumors
of this new survey reached .Pawnee as
the summer was drawing to close. The
people resented this great injustice, but
they were powerless. Many had invested
all they had in making improvements
and preparing for another year.
One day in September, as evening was
approaching, a squad of mounted troops
rode into Pawnee. They came to give
| had been taken for the use of the gov
eminent and all of its citizens must va
cate their homes on or before the 10th OF
| October. Many refused to listen to the
grievous words of the officer incommand
and shut themselves in their dwellings,
But this course awaited them nothing.
| On every house and structure in the
place was found next morning tackled to
the door a placard headed "Proclama-
ton" and signed Franklin Pierce,
| President of the United States" The
angry people, in their rage and despair,
pulled down the placards, tore them
into shreds and stamped upon them.
But unfortunately that did not help the
matter in the least.
On the next day the quartermaster at
the fort made the lower story of the cap
itol building commissary department.
The officer in charge told MIR. Norris,
who was still occupying the upper story,
and was strapped to his bed with an in
iured leg, that he would hold him re-
sponsibIe for the goods beneath. This so
enraged his friends, that they at once,
although late at night, carried him and
his household goods to the vacant house
of Governor Reeder.
The following morning found every
man securing the country for shelter for
his family, or for the family of a friend.
Some abandoned log huts were found,
and these were soon taken possession OF
And so the days passed by.
The three weeks of grace were almost
over, and the much dreaded 10th of Oc-
tober would soon be upon them, with al
it's possible horrors and attending mis-.
cries. The fall rains prevented much
progress il the work Of getting out logs
and building houses; still every fail
hour was made the most of.
The ninth of the north found many
still in their homes, if homes these
houses could nov be called. But they
reasoned, "Surely, we will not be turn
ed out leniency will be shown us, fol
WIS are part of the government"
! What good were the vacant houses
except to be pulled down or burned
And vet the men who had built them
who had invested their hard-earneC
money in these rough shelterfng places
were driven out, with no place to La.
their heads, with no protection from th'
coming winter storms!
At midnight of the ninth, a few Of thu
men feeling reckless, concluded to have
some fun even though tomorrow woult
be all sadness. Collecting tin pans, GOV
bells and every article by which coulC
be made noise, they went to the hous
of man named Knapp, and, at G liver
; signal, commenced to play on thes
musical instruments. KNAPP had re
tired, feeling nervous about the morrow
and had but just fallen asleep when b
was awakened by this unearthly noise
Without dressing. and but half awake
he quickly arose, and falling upon hi
knees, begged of 'Angel Gabriel"
this he supposed his visitor to bet
let him alone until morning, and b
; would surely vacate."
The night of the tenth found fey
/ families still in Pawnee. Sickness ha
prevented some from leaving, and ute
) impcssibility to finish or get shelte
kept the rest prisoners.
Then it was that the troops cam
down from the fort, and committed tn
outrage of pulling the houses down owe
E the peoples heads. When Mr.. Morri
moved out of Governor Reeder's house
: the families of Knapp and Mably move
E in, as it afforded them better shelter.
t The soldiers throw ropes around tn
t upper story and pulled it over on th
r ground, causing the women and chi
dren to rush out into the cold, with onl
4 their night clothes on.
/ Going to the house of Mr.. Dixon, tn
= soldiers found him away. Mrs. Dlxo
), was sick in bed with an infant thre
: DAYS old.