The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-27

renee, were overtaken by a messenger
from home telling them Of outrages
perpetrated the previous day on their
families and neighbors by proslavery
settlers on Pttawatomfe creek. John
BroWn and his Ave sons, Onw, Fred,
Jason, Salmon and oliver, and his SON
1n-law, Henry Thompson. James
IoWnsiey and Theodore Weiner, re-
turned to Pottawatonie creek on the
2Sd. On the night of the oath, they took
from their homes James p. Doyle and
his sons, William and Henry, Allen
Wilkinson and William Sherman, and
killed them. John Brown admitted his
responsibility for the killing.
From this on, conditions changed.
It was an eye for an eye and tooth
for a tooth.
1T has always been charged that
John Brown was crazy. have two
extracts from speeches made by David
r. Atchison, and also two extracts
from a speech by Stringfellow in de-
Tense of slavery, that I might place
alongside of some of John Brown s
talk about the same time, to illustrate
the question OF who was the crazfest,
but l have given sufficient to illustrate
that there was something radically
wrong, mentally or morally, with the
Atchisons and Stringfellows-
Many people have held that 1t was
the emigration of 1856 and 1851 that
saved Kansas to freedom, but after the
recital / have made it looks as though
the bracing up following the blow
struck at PottawatoTnie. at Black Jack,
Fort Titus. Osawatomie, Hickory Point
and the two skirmishes at Franklin,
turned the tide. 1t is further apparent
that the term Sovereign squat as used
today, Will not apply to the bona f1de
free soil settlers of Kansas. but solely
to band of nonresident slavery
propagandists who were determined to
force their institution upon the new
state
Told About the Pawnees.
James r. Mead OF Wichita spoke of
1.-THE PaWnees as Knew Them Mr.
Mead lived among the Indians from
1859 to 1861 as an Indian trader ana
during the eight years became well ac-
quainted with the Pawnees. The chief
characteristic of this tribe. according
to Mr. Mead, was their horse stealing
proclivities which they made their
chief industry The Indians seemed 10
think that horse stealing was of more
Importance than anything else and 1t
was possible for a young man with
nothing to secure enough horses on
one expedition to set I'D Housekeeping
and be a man of some consequence.
The SUCCESSFUL return of the raiding
party was the occasion Of feasting'
dancing and joy"
The raiding parties of the Pawnees
were the object of hatred of all the
other tribes ana ABOUT the oIly CON- --
pact made by Indians during that time
was the one by which all Joined to try
to externinate the proving cow
ards
of horses into the life of the Indians
Of the middle west was one of the
principal causes of many Of the Indian
wars in the early days Of Kansas.
Coronado brought the horses into the
country, the Indians found them use
full and from that time these were
legitimate spells of war. With the
coming of the horses it was found that
the Indians could also carry away
much camp plumber which they had
not been able to take in fornsAr years,
such as buffalo robes, war and camp
equipment.
Mr.. Mead described one of the raid
ing parties of the Pawnees as follows;
1.-The Pawnees Invariably went on
these expeditions afoot in parties OF
two to 35 men, most young men. With
a large party there would be CHER,
an experienced, middle aged man VINO
was in command and whose orders
was implicitly obeyed. They went
lightly armed, all had a very service
able bow and CULVER OF arrows and
knife. a few carried a light gun. Each
carried pack weighing twenty
pounds or more, containing orieo
meat both fat and lean. some pieces
and straps Of tanned skins to repair
their moccasins and clothing and use
full for brides. A strip OF tanned hide
looped arouni the lower jaw of the
horse was bride enough on the
plains
pleasure Of a picnic and the JOY of
hunting or war party. The country
traversed from the solomon to the
smoky Hill inclusive was the most
beautiful of the plains and an album
dance of game abounded so that there
was no need to carry more than
enough meat than to supply the days
needs, be the party large or small,
These parties Travelled great Instances
~, foot Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado,
New Mexico and northern Texas
acknowledged their presence and
work It svas the usual custom for
these parties to return home mounted
and frequently with a considerable
bunch of horses besides
According to Mr.. Mead the chief
ambition of a Pawnee was to own
herd of horses His chances OF sue
cess was small without them and his
social status was determined by the
number he possessed
MT. Mead and his men, camped at
the trading post at Spillman's Greek
often had brushes with these ma
rauding bands OF Pawnees. One day,
with two men, he drove some distance
from the post. From there Mr. Mead
went some distance afoot and shot
several buffalo. On returning to his
wagon he found it surrounded by In
dams thirty-three in number, who
had stripped his men Of guns and
knives.
"Some lively things happened in the
next few minutes" said MT Mead. ''as
I proceeded with more energy than
Judgment to recover my property.
succeeded except with one young fell
low who refused to return a knife. I
attempted to take it from him by
force. when all flung down their
packs sprang into line and strung
their bows I jumped back covered
the chief with my double barrelled
rifle and watched for the next move
Then for the first time the chief spoke.
He said in substance to his men, Give
that young fellow his knife he is 60
ing to shoot Some of US will be kill
ed in about a minute We are going
after horses. not to get into fights with
white men, The young man return
ed the knife and the party left