The American Nonconformist and Kansas Industrial Liberator from Winfield, Kansas • 2

TEE AMERICAN NONCONFORMIST. HARDSHIPS OF A TRAP lit ON THE BORDER. ing: discovered bv. them At that time we-wert members of the ever, or Topeka JLetler. Dear iEorfORS -We fe 3d and on thafc pleasant' Sop'ay4 Cautiously we advanced tfcroug Treatment in a Connecttct I afternoon, at Ft.

Scott, while Sien.J bifllv tinles re. igst gIft-ioufc. i own wnue seemngwork. APii in a-rand old Darv is fbst enervescimr if? j.kse! viTi, marcn o. sdme of his subordinates Sillars; 30.

of 31 1 Third" street. Harri tinsDer-ana tindergiowtn. tupt. jjLoie-luati ott foot in wftha few the boys, including the while our horses were led in the rear. Of our little squad Of eight or ten I can recall the names of Sergeant Martin, Corp.

Newell, Thornhill and Wolf, of Co. oth mp is. Sergeant Ditmars and others of the 9th. I wish 1 could now remember the names of the rest of the ten who cleaned out one of Quantrell's camps of Lawrence raiders in less time than it takes me to relate it. We had been following an old road for some distance, which had been near-lv obliterated by encroaching vegetation owing-to lack of travel.

The discovery of the horse tracks caused our squad to halt, and Coleman raised his hand as a signal to the mounted bovs in the rear to stop, and remain quiet. By closely examining the tracks we found that they were not onlv made by crossing the road to the left, but that the horses had been shod with but three nails on a side six in each shoe. Cau tiously following the fresh trail that we were satisfied had been made by three sublimated grandeur. We have busted the -r tgged and hungry loafers who want steal Oklahoma away from us monopolists and our steers. Our dearly beloved Preston B.

will live in history as the? Savior of that fair land from being overrun by a lot of shiftless tramps who seem to have the impudence to think that Oklahoma was intended for them and their brats iu-stead of for us and our sons and daughters. But we are all right yet and if we do have to appear to yield our senator will see to it that the "clauses" will be all right for us. Say, about that dynamite business, have you noticed that C. A. Henrie, the latest Benedict Arnold has got his reward for his perfidy along with the other two traitors, Betton and Congher, in the pretended "labor" bureau? Yes, we are to have an election here too.

Ex-police Judge Joe Reed, the most heartless wretch that ever passed sentence on a fellow mortal, is the "election commissioner." He is the brute who ordered our I. W. Boutwell to the rock pile without any eau-e but nis own fiendishness. The deputy marshal who assisted in dragging him across the prison yard by the heels is now city marshal of Topeka. Henrie gets $800 a year for doing nothing or worse.

Reed gets $2,000 for two month's work and Carter gets $2,500 a year and lots of perquisites for looking after the riff-raff of the city. Verily ft pays to be a villain in Topeka if you are only a republican, and the dear, wise, honest Christian people, who pay the bills endorsed this turpitude. Business is just splendid here, young vigorous men are working for farmers round the city for their board. There, heretofore good business houses closed their doors in North Topeka this last week. A few days ago Jesse Smith's restaurant which sold last summer for $250 sold for $75, and that is about a sample of the way things are going.

I tell you it is a glorious time for scalpers and bankers, xariff and contraction will fix us The farmers knew what they were about when they "downed anarchy," of course they did. The idea that the government should furnish monev to them as cheap as to the bankers is supremely foolish. It is suh glorious fun to raise tweutv cent corn to pay twenty per cent, interest on the same money that you paid out a year ago as unnecessary taxes. Vanderbilt Was right when nb said "the public be damned." A quarter of a million dollars state printing! pretty fair, aint it? That mans, a million ifndta-quartev bushels of twenty cent corn. A urettv bushwhackers, we approached the creek near a pool of water that was' riled, and numerous fresh horse tracks, indicated that the enemy had watered their horses there that morning, and quite recently too, as the sand and gravel near the water was still wet.

Creeping through the bushes, son, this state, has had a hard struggle to keep the wolf from the door the past few weeks. He kt his position in the celcouite works in Arlington a month ago, and having a wife and infant soa depending on him, started out to hunrj up work. He went to Connecticut and from town to town. He with harsh rebuffs everywhere, and besides being looked upon as a tramp, could get no one to believe that he was actu-r ally in seareh of employment. Finally he arrived in; Brooklyn, Windham county.

and being utterly destitute and half hunger, he was obliged to shake off his pride and ber for food. He knocke afadooranu asked for a cup of coffee, as he was nearly frozen, not having sufficient clothing to protect him, and that which -he did have being worn threadbare. The woman of whom he asked the coffee would give him none, ami called a constable wno lived next door. '1 he constable promptly arrested Sillars. i he poor fellows tale was not believed, and he was sentenced to costs and 80 day's imprisonment for vagrancy.

This it fceems is the lightest penalty in th state for vagrancy, and very often the beggar gets a year's imprisonment. in the rural district the prisoners are hired, out at fiftv cents a dev. Sillars wrote to his wife, telling her how his search for work had been re-1 warded. He was put to work in thm kitchen. From the kitchen he made his escape.

He was traced to Harrison, arrested and held until the Connecticut officers arrived and identified him. Sillars wife, with her babj'in her arms, besought Justice Lynch and the warden not to take her husband back. Justice Lynch said he could do nothing in the matter, and that, when the re-' quisition: papers were made out. Sillars must go back. The Connecticut warden said that if Mrs.

Sillars cuW raise the amount of the costs, about $30, he would be liberated April 1st, the time his sentence empires, but that was all he could do for her. The poor woman bravely said shs would try and raise the money. Sillars finallv said he would go without requisition papers, and kissing his wife and baby good-bye, was taken out bv the warden on the ten o'clock train. The law under which Sillars has been made to suffer is just such a law as Victor Hugo speaks of in his wonder ful tale of Jean Val Jean, who, for the taking of a loaf of bread, Was made practically a prisoner for life. The Age of Consent Bill.

As the senate bill, reducing the age of consent, is being freely discussed and sentiment is somewhat divided, wish to inform our readers, that in qur-opinion, after a careful research, wj believe that the bill that passed the senate was for the benefit of the, brothels of the state and its patrons because it is to use girls iff following the lead of Coleman, we had gone but a few rods fr jm the water when a low "sb-h-h" by one of the boys caused a sudden halt. We soon found the cause of the warning to be his discovery of a gray horse tied to a tree a explained the object of his night march to be the capture of a number of Shawnee raiders, who were reported to be sleeping in their houses at night. "The person who brought In the report will act as our guide. He claims to be a Southern sympathizer, and that they tried to kill him, as they have had a 'fall out' anionic themselves." Some of the boys were fearful that it was a trap, and that we would be led into an ambush by the guide. Coleman was always suspicious enough to make provision for emergencies, and as we rode rapidly across the country he particularly instructed a couple of the boys to shoot the guide at the first intimation of treachery.

It was near daylight when the command halted in the woods and dismounted. A detail on foot, led by the gnide, was notice to all that we had reached our objective point. Gradually the rays of light penetrated our lejify canopy, revealing to those who had remained in hiding the features of six Lawrence raiders. A new guard, after receiving special and private instructions, took qharge of the prisoners. The new corporal, as he listened to the instructions of the corporal he relieved, gave the prisoners no warning that he would, as he did, pronounce their doom, by the hastily delivered orders to his guard Ready aim tire A crash of carbines broke the previous stillness of our surroundings, bringing down a shower of autumn's golden-colored leaves on the lifeless forms of six of Quantrell's men.

While the smoke was yet circling among the trees, like a funeral pall over the dead, we rode away, across what was known during the war as the "God-forsaken country." It was no unusual occurrence for roops unused to the ways of the bushwhackers, after scouting several days aud seeing none of them, to come to the conclusion that there werenft any, from the fact that none had materialized. Had they interviewed Coleman old scouts for an explanation of the matter they would undoubtedly have learned that the bushwhackers' tactics consisted principally in hiding, and if they expected to make a success of hunting them it woulij be best-to adopt Coleman's plan of hiding in the woods with them, and "still hunt," as it is practiced for deer, and" not as they had done, ride oyer the high prairies by daylight with guidon fluttering in th.e wind, and an occasional bugle note that gave warning to the knights of bush to hide out, as their forte was to k411 soldiers without fighting them, when it could: be avoided. i Had those "unsuccessful hunters for bushwhackers, while passing throtlgh any Considerable body of timber, rapidly counter- marched, with flankers thrown out, they undoubtedly would have found, (as Coleman often harf,) some of the enemy following in the rear, to keep track of the command and kill any stragglers. short distance ahead of us. ft SLin'S soldiers were helping he in ves to eighty head of Uncle Sam's mules, ind Qui.

Montgomery was. preaching ti his pickets that 'were allowed to leave their posts for that purpose. Shairn, in company with the writer, opened tire "on a company of advancing rebs, and then retreated in reasonably good order. But we had at least made them mad at usf for they shbuled, shoot the blue captain of a They made that request at the hands of a couple of amounted men, just then passing us, s'upposing them to be brother They were right as to one, but the other was oue-f our mule skinners, and a prisoner whose piteous appeal to save "for Gods sake," we didn't ignore, but had the satitfac-tion of knowing he appreciated our efforts in his behalf, by seeing him, tho' dismounted, outrun our houses in the direction of Ft. Scott.

Delaying to aid the prisoner, allowed the company of rebs wie had been shooting at to gain on us. and. their lead was singing too close to Re agreeable, when a recon-noitering detachment of the 6th mistaking all' five of us for rebs, open-ad fire on us in. front. As there is some talk now-a-days, of allowing pensions on account of nervous shocks, I belieye I will go on record right now of having been on or about that time, one of the most nervous boys in the U.

S. army. But hold on: I imagine some of ny readers are about to say Where do you get your fifth man The explanation is, he was not a man, but quite a small Ft. Scott boy, who p're-sisted, in spite of our remonstrance, in riding his pony out with us on our re-connoitering expedition. Should he live te be an older man than the writer, the probablities are that he will never forget the Sunday he rode ith the two sergeants on the hill east of Ft.

Scott. We were beginning to think we would have to surrender to the enemy in order to escape death at the hands of our friend, when Capt. Jim Williams, with his company of of the 3d appeared on the scene, and by his uumilitary but oft used order of give 'em li 1 boys, saved our bacon, as the previous pursuers immediately became the pursued. But they had accomplished the object of their demonstration, and that was to get away with our mule herd, as night closing in prevented ahyx tended, pursuit. Now, I have tried to give a truthful version of the first experience in the tug of war between Kansas and confed erate soldiers on Kansas sdi).

And it may interest some to' know that the first shot was fired from a Sharp's rifle (that dreaded weapon of '56) in he hands qf a free, state boy of that troublesome period, and ex- Leconiptou andV Tecumefeh prisoner On the following da3T the battle, known in history us Dry -Wood, was fought. If my memory serves me right, it was on Sept. 2, '61, that three companies of the lhird in company with some of the Fourth and Sixth Kansas, under "Colonels Montgomery and rode across the Drv-Wood creek in Missouri, and pitched into Rains' division of Price's army, which was on its march for Lexington. History says the Kansas men preserved a bold front, and I will vouch for that statement, up to the time we changed Camp," whispered Coleman, "lay low, and I'll bring up the rest of the boys and surround them." Curiosity prompted us to crawl a lit tle nearer the camp, and from among the bushes where we could see them and hear them talk, we anxiously awaited developments. Two of the ene- 111 1 1 my, who were saddling; tneir norses, caused us some uneasiness for fear they would attempt to leave camp in our di rection, and, by discovering us, spring the trap prematurely that Coleman was setting for them, and perhaps catch us i aSi i le auu on good crop for Clil not HKeiv dronghf.

to be disturbed Oh yes. ithem. under the age of consent, as it is we farmers are nappv- We are Drill a criminal opense ami men uiihiuc i. injured, because very many of their paron's are eonstraiued from taking such desperate chances Of frequentingj them- But if the age of consent w. reduced to twelve years, then children can be safely trainey to the vicious habits of such a life and the plea or former good character can sever used.

i A few men may be wrongful 1T imprisoned, but wht does that signify in. comparison to many young girls that are inveigled into crime, to be forever lost, before they reach the age of dis-' cretion. In the South American, state of Ecu-, ador girls mature at the age of eight or ten years and writers say that almost all are morally ruined and bcf come old and dc cp 1 before they have' reached an age whereby they can comprehend with any degree of intelligence their surroundings. Kind reader, can you conceive of a superior race born of such mothers? The inhabitants of Ecuador are but little superior to the brute creation. Shall we of this enlightened portion of the continent, grant such a license to our passions, that we shall degenerate morally, mentally and physically to their standard? Frankfort Sentinel.

Had they also examined any of those innocent-looking washings hanging out in a tight place. Their cooks were busy at the fire, and a wrestling match appeared to be drawing the attention of many of the 'whackers. We had remained hidden spectators of the scene but a few moments wlien one. of the 'whackers mounted his il horse, called to partner Bill to "hurry up," and with an oath to the cooks to have dinner ready when they re-tifrned, rode directly tbward us! If he got any dinner that day it certainly was in another world. lis discovering us made it necessary for us to prom ply and take advantage of their surprise, or fall back on our support.

Regardless of the fearful odds of ten to one against us, we rushed in on them firing as rapidly as possible and yelling our best. 'Had Gen. Grant's whole army been after them I don't think they could have run any faster. Our comrades came up on the double quick. The dead bushwhackers and the sixtj-head of captured horses, with all their camp equipage, was evidence to them that we had had a little scrimmage.

Breaking their abandoned guns, and piling their saddles, blankets and other plunder on their fare, we ode away toward the border, leading our captured stock, and feeling very well pleased with the results of that day's hunt. Coleman hurried the destruction of the camp, and our departure as much as possible, probably on account of another camp of the enemy supposed to be in that neighborhood, and knowing that in case of an attack our captured stock would be very much in our way. He may also have taken into consideration the desire of the average Kansas soldier of the border to quit soldiering, and turn speculator while he had contraband stock in. his possession. I don't know that they ought to be blamed much for following the example of their superiors, the regimental quartermasters.

The Kansas militia on the last Price raid appeared, in many instanees. to be affected in the same manner, for as soon as smie of them commenced playing soldier and captured a rundown horse or crippled mule, they wanted to go home. near some of the houses as they passed, they probably would have wondered why clothing that had already been starched and ironed, was again hung out, like a late washing, to dry. And, perhaps, while some of the soldiers were chasing the chickens around the premises through the weeds, in antici ing "Alliances" uphere tot. 'Un Mend--' keu township we haVfe one of) fifty members.

We are "ndn-politieal" and allow no criticism of the old parties; our bosses wanjt us tp organize in such a way as not to create any "political disturbance' and we mus cjo something or some fellows will join the Labor Union Anarchists, who are always preaching are as gcod as rich men and you know that's a lie! Apropos of the beautiful loving 9r-gard that moves the leaders of the two old parties, the Democrat of this city is supporting Metsker, a republican for mayor, and the Journal is supporting Cofran, a democrat. Tell that to some republican fool who was afraid the democrate would get in at the last election and some fool democrat who went back on his own family, his honor and the Union Labor part for fear the republican would win. Did it never occur to you that the 250,000 whelps who voted for monopoly at the last election aint worth saving? If they want to give the monops what little they have left whose business is it? Last night 1 attended an old soldier's meeting called to assist ex-soldiers who have been pauperized by contraction to get a few appointments in the new administration. Oh, but it was pitiful to see these men begging for a chance to earn their bread in a land their valor saved and at the hands a party whose supremacy is due to their effort. But they ara paupers now and beggars.

The money they have earned is in the hands of the monopolist or in the government vaults, and because they cannot see the trick by which they have been thus reduced they, like the beaten Spanial, lick still more fondly the hand that smites them. Moses was mistaken when he thought the Israelites would rally to his standard for their relief from servitude. John Brown was mistaken when he thought the blacks vould rise for freedom when he opened the way, see? Check one on your "Chasing a Phantom." That is the doctrine. "If the Prohibitionists prefer robbery under any name, let them have it. You are right as to St.

John from my own personal knowledge while he was governor of Kansas he was one the most be Men tools the railroads had and as he was hypocritical then his professions of reform if he has made them need to be salted. Yon are right too, on the fundamental difference between the two parties; we cannot mix. Let us nail the old flag to the mast and if may pation of a change of diet, the lady of the house, with sleeves tucked up, would be busy changing the red and white articles on her clothes line, thereby signaling to some distant point in the timber to a hiding bushwhacker front, and then the bold part was in the direction of Fort Scott. But we were at least two or three hours in finding out that it was really necessary for our health to change front. Our retreat was somewhat hasty at the start, to avoid being surrounded by the enemy's infantry, and as they charged over tee position we had held so long against such fearful odds, a squadron of the Third covering the retreat, heard for the first time the rebel yell.

The casualities were not numerous on either side at Dry-Wood, although considerable powder was burned on that occasion. War was a new business to many of us, and we had not yet learned how to make it efiective, by wholesale killing. And the remembrance even now of how wild eyed some of our boys looked when the enemy opened on us with a seven-gun battery, and shot and shells whistled thro' that the "feds." were on the war path, their number, and any other informa tion agreed to be reported by their sig nal service. As the bushwhackers were careful to select their camping places in the thick "Age of Consent." H. B.

Kelley, of McPherson, is said to be the man who introduced the bill in the senate. He declared that he wanted as much protection for his boy as for his girl. Surely his boy who is about 20 years of age, must be a wonderful sappy with abnormal developments to cause his distinguished father so much uneasiness lest this scion be entangled and carried captive, by some "hardened" baby girl of only 12 summers. The senator's boy must be protected, even if the mothers of McPherson have to keep their infant girls at home and off the streets. Kansas Workman.

Thank You! Our Lnion Labor exchanges are ss full of good things, that we can hardly resist filling our little paper to the muzzle with choice extracts clipped from them. To read a paper like tbs Nonconformist, the Missouri World, the Iowa Tribune or the Chicago Express and the Sentinel, after perusing ths dog-fight editorials, filling the columns of the old party papers, reminds one of a refreshing rain after a long dry spell. It is no wonder that old party adherents are driven to the polls and voted life cattle. Their only educator is the subsidized press, and they are dying frost mental famine. Nebraska Citiuen.

est of the thickets, they would often remain quie ly in camp undiscovered by the soldiers that were scouting in their immediate vicinity. As that was par ticularly their policy for weeks prior to itLtttv riil on Lawrence, old soldiers Vlll will understand how difficult it was to space, and over our heads several hun- I guard against their occasional midnight area yards, rather amuses us at this late day. (to bb continued-) As I have just stumbled on the last Price raid, I will now return to his first raid of September, '61, and claim the honor for Sergeant Shairn and the writer, of having fired the first guns of the war st Confederate regular soldi era on raids on Kansaswf, On the strength of fresh tracks mad by three horses, we discovered one of their hidden camps on Dry creek. By a night's march across the open country we reached the vicinity of their camp, without being aware ef it, bow Wild Bush Extract never fails to cure Sv phi lis in all its stages, Scrofula, and all other diseases of the blood. Price $1.00 per bottle, six for $6, twelve bottles for $10.

Address Di. J. H. not avert we may at least delay the day Vidwtt soil. of absolute bondage..