The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-12

ne felt more like saving. Dead men
don't get hungry.
Well continued August Bondi. ION
May so came James Clark Ridpath,
afterward the historian, but the CORE
spondent for the New York Tribune
Captain Brown explained to him that
we couldn't stay there much longer
Ridpath advised courage and patience
" You must stay and see it OUT said
he; your boys at are this time the
sole dependence of the Free State
party
while Ridpath was talking, two set
tiers arrived They were McWhiuney
and Shore, captains of two so-called
military organizations They told their
troubles. how the border ruffians were
killing their horses, stealing their cat
tie. etc. but they forgot to bring US a
bite of lunch
Is Well, how many men can you give
me-? asked Captain Brown I want
you to understand that will not sacri-
fee my men here much longer. If your
people don't want to fight for their
homes and firesides, shall leave you
The two settlers promised to be
around next day to tell him what they
could do. Now, late on the following
afternoon seven pro-slavery men sur
prised II Free Sellers who were eating
dinner in a log cabin a few miles from
our retreat. They rushed in and COW
cred the Free Staters, who had left
their guns and pistols stacked at one
side. and they cleaned up the bunch
THAT night back came McWhinney
and Shore to our camp and told their
tale of woe. While they talked, Howard
Carpenter arrived. and we all held coun-
Gil until 10 o'clock under the big oak
tree in the center or our camp II was
settled that the three visitors go out and
send runners about the country to an
no11nce the rendezvous of armed free
staters at the church in Prairie City"
II recollect how you spoke out then,
Bondi," said Solomon Brown You
said. Say, can't we have breakfast at
Prairie City?' ="
( Yes" laughed August Bondi, 'hun-
ger linbered up my tongue I was z
and Solomon was 10. and US young fell
lows were suffering frightfully. Well,
at 5 o'clock the next morning back
came Carpenter to guide US We sad
died our horses and started-a funny
looking cavalcade. warrant, our clothes
nothing but rags stitched together with
locust thCrnS."
I'VE had half a blanket EACH" inter-
rupted Solomon Brown
PREACHING. THEN BREAKFAST.
But at Prairie City there was no
breakfast. They told US to wait till the
crowd came. So We frightened the ropes
about our bellies and waited with
mouths watering At last people began
to come in from all the surrounding
country, some in wagons, some horse
back ana a rev dIOOI- II SSeIncQ l1dL
there must be grace before meat for US.
The Methodist preacher mounted the
church steps and. turning, began to
talk. IN half an hour We were all in
tears. I shall never forget how women
cried and men groaned as the dreadful
tale of border ruffianisn was gone over.
After the sermon there was common
prayer The services lasted several
hours"
I began to get pretty Disguised" said
Solomon Brown. I thought they might
better have been employed molding bull
lets than weeping and groaning so
long"
AT 3 O'Clock" continued the other,
church ended and the women began to
bake biscuits. 1t was our first real
meal in many days and was our last
for IS hours. While we were eating,
three border ruffian scouts were seen in
the distance and Captain Brown sent
seven men after them and brought 'em
in From them we learned where the
main border ruffian camp was located
and they gave US the news that the
pro-slavery people had gone down into
our own part OF Kansas and made
prisoners OF all the free state leaders