The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-21
From the Globe Democrat. }

(From the Globe Democrat.)
The Planters House, one of the Oldest
hotels in Kansas, was sold for song at
sheriff.s auction recently, and arrange
ments are under way TO have 1t reopened
soon. No other public house In the West
has been the scene of as many picturesque
aud historic events. The building OF the
hotel was the outgrowth of the contest
between the abolitionists and pro-slavery
advocates for the control Of Kansas, then
Territory.
The hotel is four-story brick building,
that to-day with doors and windows
nailed up, presents q dismantled appear
anee. In the early times, during the
period of heavy traffic by steamboat on
for Its proprietors, but as gradually the
steam boats Withdrew before the encroach-
ments of railroads much of the popularity
and custom OF the Planters went with
them. The hotel Is situated In what was
known In Territorial days as Main and
Water streets, where wagon trains were
lifted out for the old Santa Fe trail and
the plains.
The Leavenworth House was looked on
as free Stats or abolition hotel, and
those who patronized 1t were supposed to
be In favor of making Kansas a free
state. Southerners and pro slavery advo-
Gates looked upon the Leavenworth House
with extreme oisfavor, and their dislike
took the form of building Southern
hotel, to be called the a. Planters House
In November, 1865. subscription list
was started by II. J. johnson, known as
"Hog" johnson, who was killed during
the battle of AlorTistown, in 1851, while
commanding the Fifth Kansas Cavalry.
One Of she conditions at the head OF the
subscription paper was that the hotel
should be controlled by Southern men
and conducted on exclusive southern
p rinciples," that is, not to permit an
abolitionist to become guest OF the
house.
Enough money was secured to make a
good start and W. Ii. Russell of she
wagon freighting company of Russell,
Myers q, Maddell Furnished the remain
der. The main building was erected In
1886 and the hotel WAS run on exclusive
Southern principles Is no known
Free Sellers were received as guests until
1851, when it was sold to Len I. Smith,
the railroad builder, and Jep hico. The
latter still lives In Leavenwor h. Messrs
Smith and Rice were from Michigan nd
were Fres Sellers. Thy ran the hotel
seven years and made money, except dur
ing 1861. when there was great drought
The policy of the new propIietors was to
all oomers-pro-slayery men or
aboliti onists-proyid they paid their
bills and acted Xix gentlemen. When
they announced their free for-all policy
18Th ID los rr "a ha
were mad because they ac-
cepted pro-slavery a men as guests, and
the Southern sympa.hizers were offended
because Messrs. smith aud Rice were ut
heart Northern abolitionists. But the
house was run in trst-class style and IL
soon had plenty OF patronage.
The presence of two classes OF guests,
each bitterly contemptuous OF the other.
gave rise to IA unique plan Of conducting
a bar. The barroom and billiard hall
were In the basement and two kinds OF
political bartanders were on duty night
and day. One was an abolitionists, the
other. OF course, was pro-slavery while
Tree niger, as sir. kice puts IL, broke
the Ice anu did the porter's work. BY this
method the Planters caught the trade OF
both sides When a pro-slavery man came
in and sunk his knife down In top of the
bar and shouted, II can lick any man
born north of Mason and Dixon line"
the drink dispenser told him that was tho
talk and encouraged him. A Northern
radical, who could whip any man south
of the dividing line was encouraged In the
same way by the abolitionist. All man
nsI Of talk was acceptable, but the line
was drawn. MIR. Rice says, when trouble
broke and actual shooting commenced
Then the offender, regardless OF politics
was sent down the stone steps at the south
entrance Of the basement.
Ka.Rro ,l anal ran "a a "A At
the Planters House. stephen A. Doug
las made his kansas Territorial speech
from the balcony OF the hotel. Abraham
Lincoln was guest there whom he came
West later. but he spoke in the old Sedge-
wick Hall.
MIR. Ricu says that often 1t seemed as
though there was nothing but politics in
the territory, and no discussion was start
ed that did not enc at the Planters.
like condition prevailed in regard TO
lights. IL IL was started uptown on Fifth
street, il was concluded at the Planters,
where a crowd gathered 10 see 1t out. In
the winter times We're lively; trappers,
wagon trains, men and people from the
surrounding plains gathered In Leavan-
worth, and elections were held on the
slightest pretext, merely for the attending
excitement.
One of the most exciting incidents in
the history of the Planters House WAS
he capture and liberation OF Cnarley
Fisher IA slave who ran away from his
mastsr IN kentucky. Fisher was en-.
pIoyed in the Planters House barber shop
when pro-slavery man who new that
he was n runaway notified his master,
ana the latter came on from Kentucky to
take him back Fisher was arrested I'm.
der the fugitive Slave law, and hot blood
arose at once between the Abolitionists
and Southorners, The abolitionists re-
iussd to allow Fisher to DO placed in jail
pending IA hearing before a United States
commissioner. After much parleying 10
was agreed that two aholitionists ana TWO
pro slavery men should guard Fisher In
the fuurth-story room in the Planters
House until a hearing could be had. Al
/ o'ciock ON the morning of the first night
a uozsn abolit.onists entered the Motel 10
take Fisher away Int guards refused 10
Give Fisher up and barrieaded the door.
\ & TO De outdone, the abolitlonists bat
tered down the door and barrioade, and
then Fisher refused to go with them.
There was high feeling the following
day, and threats were made that unless
Fisher was gu rrendered the hotel would
ue burned. y company of abolitionists
.-.,.t 70 Il Ia atA ranluFal thp pl1