Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-10
HeIped Governor Reeder to Escape.

George p Wilder of Chanute IS very
much interested in the talk of start
ING d movement to purchase for the
state the picture of Governor A. Fl.
Heeder. which hangs in the Coates
House in Kansas City, says the cha
mite Tribune. The picture shows the
governor as he appeared when he es-
capped from Kansas in disguise after
he had been indicted by a grand jury
for treason ard his arrest ordered.
Mr.. Wilder has personal interest
in this matter. because he took part
IN Governor Feeders escape and helped
him to get awav Mr.. Wilder. who was
then lad only 10 or II years old.
drove the buggy in which Governor
Rnedtr left Lawrence and went to
Fish, where the governor took the
stage for Kansas City
The other member of the party was
Mrs Eldridse, prominent among the
pioneers of Lawrence in the troublous
days of territorial settlement. The
party passed unmOeSted through d
camp of fifty border rultians at Blue
Jacket ford on the WakaruSa river.
rhe guerrillaS paid no attention to
on honest Old farmer, his wife and
his son. returning home from trading
iii Lawrence
MI Wilder did not know the mission
upon which he was going. according
to the story he told Of it recently. He
said:
Il didn't know where I was going,
or that ] was to help Governor Reed
o. get away. MY brother came to me
and asked me to drive buggy for the
governor and Mrs. Eldridge. We lived
on farm adjoining Lawrence. My
mother didn't know anything about
my trip, either. until it was all over
and 7 was safe back home. When she
found out about it she was in state
Of mind, can tell YOU
The governor was dressed as an
old farmer and Mrs. Eldredge as a
farmers wife. l went just as / was
when my brother told me to go. /
drove from Lawrence through Frank
lin and crossed the Wakarusa river a;
Blue Jacket ford. There was camp
OF border rutfians there. They didn't
say anything to us. and we didn't say
anything to them--just drove on as
unconcerned as we could under the
circumstances.
Eve reached Fish all right | left
the governor and Mrs. E,ldre dge and
drove back to Lawrence alone Fish
was on the stage line from Westport.
The governor took the stage from
there to the river and went down the
river as deck hand. getting away
altogether.
''rhat was in May. 1856. made the
round trip in one day. 1t was about
twenty miles from Lawrence to Fish,
The border rutiians were still in their
camp when went back 1t was about
half way between Fish and Lawrence
Fish was down in the Shawnee Indian
nation"
The picture to which reference has
been made shows Governor Reedcr
smoking a clay pipe and carrying a
bundle slu1g over his shoulder on an
axe. He has on a wide brimmed hat,
and his whole appearance is that OF a
farmer of those days.
He was appointed governor of the
TERRITORY Of Kansas just 6fty-tive
years ago and was removed on July
~. 1919. Dy tne pfO-SlaN"ry element De-
cause OF the steps which lie took to
secure fair count at the elections and
10 Otherwise administer the affairs of
the territory impartially and justly.
After having been ouSted through
the Influence "f the pro-slavcry fac
non, he allied himself with the free
s"iiers and became .,ne of their lead
ors october 10, 1855 te was elected
celeSate to congress and in 1856 he
ana James Lane were elected United
states senators from Kansas in case
the territory was admitted to the Union
as state. This did not come to pass
"ntil five years afterwards, however.
when Lane and Pomeroy were chosen
senators.
In May. 1856. the grand jury of
Douglas county, Judge s. ID. LeCompte
presiding over the court. found Gov
c"nor Reeder. Charles Robinson, James
II. ane and other Free state leaders
guilty of TREASON. ard indictments were
drawn up against the parties to be ar
sssvs-nwssssess