The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-27
NEW QUANTRELL STORY.
Part of the Guerilla's Bones in His
torical Collection.

Part of the Guerilla's Bones in His
torical Collection.
For fifteen years the two thigh bones
of Quantrell, the guerrilla, have been
secretly hidden away in the archives of
the Kansas State Historical society
Only three or four persons have known
that they were in Kansas at all. They
were given to the late Judge Francis
G. Adams, who was for many years
secretary of the society, in 1888 by a
friend of the Quantrell family. 1t was
stipulated that they should never be
exhibited but should be kept in privacy
until after the death of QuaQtreIl's
mother. She died last Monday, and now
the existence of these bones in the pos
session of the Kansas State Historical
society is made public They will
probably be placed in glass case and
placed along with the other gruesome
possessions of the society.
George w. Martin, secretary of the
Historical society, believes there is no
question as to the identity of the bones.
The grave from which they were taken
was identified by two men who were
with Quantrell at the time of his death.
one of whom was mem Der of his guer-
rilla band. These two men, Mrs. Guam
trell. the guerrilla's mother, and W. w.
Scott, of Canal Dover Ohio, were pres
ent at the exhuming of the skeleton,
and it was Mr.. Scott who gave the
bones to Judge Adams.
QuantreH when they were boys together
in Ohio, and he has since befriended the
guerrilla's mother. W. c. Quantrell,
the guerrilla, was born in Hagerstown,
Md, but his parents moved TO Ohio
when he was quite small. and there he
grew up, and there was the family
home His father is said to have been
a man of considerable influence in the
community where he lived.
w. w Scott. who. befriended Mrs.
Canal Dover and published a news
paper there. In 1888 Mrs. OuantreH
wanted to be certain as to the grave
of her son. whose name will be forever
abhorred in Kansas history because of
his raid on the town of Lawrence and
his massacre of its people. When
Quantrel was killed his body was
buried in Kentucky, and there Scott
panied by two men who we're with
QuantreIl when he was killed. Secre-
tary Martin says he does not known
who these men were. but one of them
had been with Quantren on his Kan
sas raid and at the sacking of Law
renee. These men identified the place
where the body of Quantren had been
buried. An excavation was made and
the bones found but nothing was left
but the skeleton, as Quantrell had been
dead for twenty-five years. The bones
were removed. and Mr. Scott sent the
two thigh homes to Judge Adams. then
secretary OF the Kansas historical So
ciety Considerable correspondence
passed between them also. and since
George w Martin has been secretary
he, also. has had some correspondence
with Scott.
When Scott gave the bones to. the
Kansas society he specified that Il
should not be known. that they were II
the possession of the society unit
after the death of Mrs Quantrell. Hel
death at an advanced age this Weel
removes this restriction.
/ Mrs Quantren came west on ont
| occasion" said Secretary Martin today
ut was about the time these bone.
were exlurnad. along about 1888 Sh,
came as far as Kansas City, ana til