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sances, and as such ought to be abated. The following is a copy of their finding:

"The Grand Jury sitting for the adjourned term of the First District Court in and for the County of Douglas, beg leave to report to the Honorable Court that from the evidence laid before them showing them that the newspaper, known as the Herald of Freedom,' published at Lawrence, has from time to time issued publications of the most inflammatory and seditious character, denying the legality of the Territorial authorities, addressing and commanding forcible resistance to the same; demoralizing the popular mind and rendering life and property unsafe, even to the extent of advising assassination as a last resort.

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"Also, that the paper known as the Kansas Free State,' has been similarly engaged, and has recently reported the resolutions of a meeting in Johnson County in this Territory, in which resistance to the Territorial laws, even unto blood, has been agreed upon, and we respectfully recommend their abatement as a nuisance. Also, that we are satisfied that the building, known as the Free State Hotel, in Lawrence, has been constructed with the view to military occupation and defense, regularly parapetted and port-holed, for the use of cannon and small arms, and could only have been designed as a stronghold of resistance to law, thereby endangering the public safety and encouraging rebellion and sedition in this country, and respectfully recommend that steps be taken whereby this nuisance may be removed.

"OWEN C. STEWART, Foreman."

Jones first halted in front of the Free State Hotel, and notified Colonel Eldridge to remove his furniture by five o'clock. The proprietor told him he could not remove it in so short a time, and that he would not try. About fifty or a hundred then proceeded to the building, in which was the office of the "Kansas Free State," under the leadership of G. W. Clark. They entered it cautiously, for fear of secret mines. They then assailed the press with axes, broke it in several places so as to render it useless, and smashed the type in pieces. They then carried both press and fragments

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of type to the river and threw them into the water. Three hundred volumes of books, fifty files of papers, a large quantity of exchanges, and paper stock, were torn up, scattered in the streets, set on fire and burnt up or carried off. The total loss sustained by the firm was about $10,275.

In a few moments after the office of the "Free State" was assailed, another party entered the building occupied by the "Herald of Freedom." They, too, were fearful of mines and infernal machines; in order to test the safety of the ascent to the printing office, they drove two or three free state men up before them. Soon the same work of demolition was begun here; the press hammered and bruised, the type broken into fragments, were both conveyed to the river. Growing weary in carrying type, they cast a portion out of the window. Papers, books, &c., were destroyed, making a loss to the firm of nearly $17,000. A blood red flag was first hoisted above the building, with a lone star in its centre, but in fifteen minutes was removed to the hotel. The building was fired several times, but the fire was as often extinguished.

Meantime preparations had been made to destroy the hotel. The ruffians had removed a portion of the furniture which they had dashed into the streets. Four cannon were planted within a few yards from the building. General Atchison sighted the first shot. As he swaggered over the gun giving directions he stammered out, "A little higher, boys, a little lower-a little higher. That's it, boys; let her rip." Bang went the gun, the ball passing clear over the building. It was duly lowered and fired with better effect. The other cannon opened their blasts upon the house, but only two of them would send a ball through its walls. Some fifty rounds were thus fired without affecting the building much. Finding this slow work, they next attempted to blow it up by exploding a couple of kegs of powder in the cellar. This did not have the desired effect, and fire was

applied, by which in a short time the whole house was filled with flames.

The hotel was a beautiful three story structure, with solid stone walls. It was seventy feet long by fifty wide, with an addition twenty-four by forty-five feet and contained seventy-five rooms. It was built by the New England Emigrant Aid Society at a cost of $20,000, and had been in course of erection from the spring of '55 until May, 1856. Messrs. Eldridge & Bro. had rented the building in the fall of '55 at $5,000 per year, and purchased their furniture and provisions, expecting to enter it immediately; but the Waka

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rusa war breaking out prevented the completion of the house so that they did not get it ready for the public until May following. It was very neatly and richly furnished and the cellar was well stored with luxuries. The proprietors estimated their loss by the delay in the completion and by the destruction of the hotel at $60,717.

While the flames were hissing and crackling in and over the hotel, Jones, with the complacency of a monster, sat on his horse and witnessed the sight. At one time he turned

to his companions and said: "Gentlemen, this is the happiest day of my life, I assure you. I determined to make the fanatics bow before me in the dust and kiss the territorial laws." When the walls of the burning building had fallen in, he exclaimed, "I have done it, by G-d, I have done it." Turning to his men he said, "You are dismissed, the writs have been executed."

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This was the signal for a general plunder. houses, whose inmates had fled, were burst open, ente red and ransacked. Money, clothing and guns were taken or destroyed. Stores were rummaged and robbed. Dr. Stringfellow secured two boxes of cigars and quietly walked off, saying, "Well, boys, I guess this is all the booty I want." The invaders arrayed themselves with a new suit of clothes, ribbons and tassels; many were loaded down with books, provisions, goods, guns, etc., etc. They conveyed their spoils out of town to the wagons they had prudently brought up for the purpose, and thus secured them. They began leaving about seven o'clock, and by nine all was quiet. As the rear guard departed, they fired Governor Robinson's house at the foot of Mt. Oread; the flames soon lit up the darkness of the night. In this way the Governor lost some fifteen or twenty thousand dollars. During the sacking only one man was killed. He was one of the pillagers-killed by the falling of a brick, swept off the Hotel by the South Carolina flag. Another one of the gang fell from his horse and broke his leg, while in pursuit of a fugitive whom he supposed to be Reeder.

It is scarcely possible to estimate the amount of property destroyed or taken during this campaign against Lawrence. The invaders not only gathered subsistance from the settlers, but distroyed houses, carried off clothing, stole more than two hundred horses, and robbed persons and dwellings of a vast amount of money and arms. The camps at Franklin and Lecompton were filled with plunder, resembling that of

a victorious clan of savages, or those of the Goths and Vandals. Some of them rode through the streets of Westport and Kansas City the next day, their horses adorned with cords and tassels, and their persons with sashes, taken from the windows of the Free State Hotel.

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