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THE ROBBERY AND MURDER OF DAVID
CRUISE By John Brown In Vernon County, Missouri
John Brown and his party came down the Osage valley, passing
silently along the bases of the big mounds, and making their way
unobserved to the house of David Cruise. A mile and a half to the westward
they crossed the road from Kansas City via Butler to Ft. Scott. Reaching
the premises they at once assailed them, seeking admission into the
houses. The party was guided by Bill Beckford, a former resident of
Missouri, and a desperate character. He knew the country well and hated
Cruise personally. Cruise's family consisted of himself, his wife Lucinda (who
was his second wife); two sons named Ralph and Rufus, the former a young
man, the latter a mere boy; and two slaves, a woman of middle age and a
likely man named George. Mr. Cruise himself was 60 years of age, having
been born in Oldham county, Ky., in 1798. He was all old settler of the
county, having located here shortly after the Black Hawk War, in which he
was a soldier. He owned several hundred acres of land in this county and a
large amount of personal property, including a number of horses, mules,
cattle and other stock. On the night of the raid Ralph Cruise, the older
son, was absent from home. He was later killed during the war as a
Confederate Soldier at the Battle of
Drywood. The raiders found the door of the house fastened and
demanded that it be opened immediately, or they would demolish it. Mr.
Cruise had feared trouble of some sort and had procured a revolver, which
he then had in the house. His son Ralph had carried this weapon and had
tied a loop of ribbon about the handle, partly for ornament and partly to
suspend it by. The old man sprang out of bed, seized his revolver and
attempted to shoot through the door at the robbers, but the ribbon caught
in the cylinder and became entangled about it in such a way that it would
not revolve and the weapon could not be discharged. He threw it down on
the bed. The robbers broke in the door, and one of them (said to be
Bill Beckford) fired and shot down Mr. Cruise, who fell near the fireplace
and died almost instantly, his blood flowing out upon the hearthstone.
The" liberators," in their heroic efforts in aid of the cause of freedom,
now began a systematic pillage of the entire premises. Mrs. Cruise was
made to assist in the search for plunder, without being allowed to dress
herself. Alarmed at the murder of his father, and at the terrible oaths
and threats of the robbers and their dreadful proceedings, little Rufus
Cruise run out of the house in his night clothes and made his way over the
rough frozen ground, in his bare feet and almost naked condition, three
miles, to the house of .Mr. Mitchell. a relative, where he was taken in
and cared for. The negro man, George, was also badly frightened, and he
too ran away, and succeeded in making his escape from his would-be
rescuers. The slave woman was unable to escape; perhaps she was unwilling, but at any
rate she was unable. A few days later she gave birth to a child. Kagi and
his party took from Mr. Cruise the slave woman mentioned, two yoke of
oxen, one wagon laden with provisions and clothing, eleven head of good mules, two horses, and a
number of articles found in the house and elsewhere about the premises.
They did not succeed in finding any money. The raiders also went to the
house of Hugh Martin, half a mile east of the Cruise place. Martin had no
slaves, but they got from him a valuable mule. But for lack of time they
would have undoubtedly "looted" the entire
neighborhood. They returned to Bain's fort with what booty they had.
Arriving at the fort they reunited with others of Brown's party and there
was great rejoicing over the successful issue of the
expedition. Brown's eulogists have attempted to gloss over the character
of this murderous, larcenous, and freebooting raid, and have so distorted
the facts that many persons have indorsed it.
In the first place the negroes taken away were not and had
not been badly treated. Lawrence, Lame, Cruise, and Hicklin were all
considerate men and kind masters. If the negroes had been abused, and were
tired of their condition, they were but a few miles from Kansas, had
abundant opportunities for escape, and in two hours could have been in the
territory and free from their masters. The negro men frequently went
unattended into the territory, mounted on good horses, hunting for stock,
and always returned. Save the one named "Jim" and one or two others, it is
highly probable that the slaves were actually kidnapped and forcibly
abducted. Some of them were heard crying as they left their homes, and"
George" Cruise actually ran away from his would-be "liberators" and would
not be taken by them. The citizens who were thus outrageously assailed and robbed,
were all of them quiet, peaceable men. Isaac Larue and David Cruise were
both old men, incapable of harm; and neither Larue, Hicklin, Cruise or
Martin was a " border ruffian," or had taken any part whatever in the
affairs of Kansas, for or against the Free State cause or for or against
slavery in the Territory. They were Pro-Slavery men, it is true, but they were law
abiding, and many strong Free State men knew them and respected and
esteemed them. The old gray-headed pioneer, David Cruise, who was so
ruthlessly slain in his own dwelling, in the immediate presence of his
wife, was guilty of no offense whatever. He was a good citizen, a kind
neighbor, hospitable and generous, and he had never taken up arms against
his fellow-men, save against the savage Indians of the forest, and the
equally savage cohorts of John Brown who murdered him. And even this
latter occasion was when the marauders were beating down the door of his
house with curses and threats and he arose from his sick bed to defend it;
and when he was shot down without warning he was unarmed, not half clad,
and entirely defenseless! Yet John Brown, who justified, and even
applauded, his murder, coolly says he was killed because " he fought
against the liberation! " Yes, he "fought against the liberation of
his faithful man-servant, who himself would not be freed, but ran away
from the kidnappers"; and he "fought against the liberation" of his
bond-woman, who was much attached to her master and mistress, and who was
"liberated" because she was so far advanced in pregnancy that she could
not help herself; and he "fought against the liberation" of his horses,
his mules, his cattle, and his household
goods! Literally, however, Mr. Cruise did not fight. He strove at
first to keep the brigands out of his house, but when he was shot he had
thrown down his weapon and had not hurt a hair upon the head of any of his
assailants. But if Brown and his men could find it in their hearts, and
consciences to excuse themselves for carrying off the slaves because they
were slaves, and if their admirers can excuse them for the same reason,
how shall they hold themselves blameless for the carrying away of the
other property? Why were the horses, the mules, the cattle, the wagons and
such articles as harness, saddles, log chains and farming implements
taken? Brown and his men said that the clothing
and provisions were taken to feed the poor slaves. They took in all about
1,500 pounds of pork, 300 pounds of beef, 100 pounds of lard and a lot of
flour and meal, and yet in a few days afterward, the Abolitionists of
Franklin county, Kansas, were supplying the negroes with food and
clothing, "of which they were greatly in
need." The truth is that the raid was made mainly for the benefit
of the raiders. The taking of the negroes was merely to give another color
to the real character of the expedition so as to raise up apologists for
it among the Northern Abolitionists. The idea that the expedition was
purely for that purpose is preposterous. Fancy Bill Beckford, Jim Steele,
AI. Hazlitt and other noted cut-throats in the role of philanthropists,
riding throughout a long cold winter's night solely to free a dozen
negroes! The property was taken for the use of those who took it, The
horses, mules and cattle, the wagons, harness, saddles and log chains wore
for the raiders themselves, and the provisions, clothing, bedding and
other household articles were for their families.
The truth is that Brown and Kagi and the men they led were
robbers and thieves. They who take by force, and against the will of the
owner, the property of another are robbers, and Brown and Kagi did this
thing. They who take by stealth, and without the knowledge or permission
of the owners, saddles, overcoats, farming utensils and other articles,
are thieves, And Brown and Kagi did this thing. Moreover, they who, in the
perpetration of an unlawful act, shoot an old man to death upon his own
hearth-stone, and dabble his blood about the floor, are guilty of murder
most foul. John Brown, of Osawatomie, did these
things. Brown and Kagi did not tarry but a few days at Bain's fort.
Their proceedings were generally condemned, even by the Free State people
of Kansas. The pretense that the expedition had been for the purpose of
freeing the few slaves deceived no one. Even Montgomery denounced the
whole affair as " simply a thieving, plundering, murdering raid," and
expressed a wish that John Brown would go out of Kansas and stay out. When
the first alarm was given, Montgomery was accused of participation, but
with righteous indignation, he instantly denied the charge, and easily
proved its falsity. Some of the raiders dispersed to their homes, taking
their booty with them, but Brown, with seven men and the negroes, moved up
into the southeast corner of Franklin county, and the slaves were housed
in a large cabin or cabins on Pottawattamie creek, four miles southwest of
the village of Lane. They were closely guarded because Brown had already
found that "freed" slaves would often escape and walk back to their homes
Missouri. In another cabin, one mile southwest of Lane, Brown and Kagi
were quartered. While in the cabin, Brown wrote and sent to the Lawrence
Tribune and the New York Tribune a remarkable letter, which was published
in these journals, and is known in history as "John Brown's
ParalleIs." The letter was dated at Trading Post, in Linn county, but
this was done to mislead the authorities as to the whereabouts of the
writer; it was really written in the cabin, a mile southwest of Lane, in
Franklin county, known as John Brown's cabin. This letter was as
follows: - . John Brown's Parallels. TRADING POST, KAN., January 3,
1859. Gentlemen: - You will greatly oblige a humble friend by
allowing the use of your columns while I briefly state two Parallels in my
poor way. Not one year ago eleven quiet citizens of this neighborhood,
viz.: William Roberson, William Colpetzer, Amos Hall, Austin Hall, John
Campbell, Asa Snyder, Thomas Stillwell, William Hairgrove, Asa Hairgrove,
Patrick Ross and Elder B. L. Reed were gathered lip from their work and
their homes by an armed force under one Hamilton, and without trial or
opportunity to speak in their own defense, were formed into a line and all
but one shot - five killed and five wounded. One fell unharmed, pretending
to be dead. All were left for dead. The only crime charged against them
was that of being Free State men. Now, I inquire, what action has ever,
since this occurrence in May last, been taken by either the President of
the United States, the Governor of Missouri, or the Governor of Kansas, or
any of their tools, or by any Pro-Slavery or administration man, to ferret
out and punish the perpetrators of this
crime? On Sunday, December 19, a negro called Jim came over to the
Osage settlement from Missouri, and stated that he, together with his
wife, two children, and another negro Jim, ,was to be sold within a day or
two, and begged for help to get a way. 0n Monday (the following) night two
small companies were packed up to go to Missouri and forcibly liberate the
five slaves, together with other slaves. One of these companies I assumed
to direct. We proceeded to the place, surrounded the buildings, liberated
the slaves, and also took certain property supposed to belong to the
estate. We, however, learned, before leaving, that a portion of the
articles we had taken belonged to a man living on the plantation as a
tenant, and who was supposed to have no interest in the estate. We
promptly returned to him all we had taken. We then went to another
plantation where we found five more slaves, took some property and two
White men. We moved all slowly away into the Territory for some distance,
and then sent the white men back, telling them to follow us as soon as
they chose to do so. The other company freed one female slave, took some
property, and as I am informed, killed one white man (the master) who
fought against the liberation. Now, for the comparison, Eleven persons are
forcibly restored to their natural and inalienable rights, with but one
man killed, and all hell is stirred from beneath. It is currently reported
that the Governor of Missouri has made a requisition upon the Governor of
Kansas for the delivery of all such as were concerned in the last named
dreadful outrage." The marshal of Kansas is said to be collecting a posse
of Missouri (not Kansas) men at West Point, in Missouri, a little town
about 10 miles distant, to "enforce the laws." All Proslavery,
conservative Free State, and doughface men, and administration tools are
filled with holy horror. Consider the two cases and the action of the
Administration party. Respectfully yours, JOHN BROWN. . Soon after writing his "parallels," Brown left the negroes
in charge of Kagi and Stevens and went to Lawrence to make preparations
for taking them to Canada. In the meantime the number had been increased
to twelve by the birth of a child to the Cruise slave woman. When Brown
had perfected his arrangements he moved up the party to Lawrence, which
place he left for the North on the 20th of January. The second day
afterwards he reached Topeka, where he was furnished with provisions and
everything for his journey. The entire party were said to be hungry and
cold when it arrived. Brown left Topeka with four white men and two wagon
loads of negroes. At Straight creek crossing, north of Holton in Jackson
county, he was intercepted by a band of Pro-Slavery men, who sought to
capture him. Three more white men had joined him and Brown took possession
of an empty cabin in the woods and prepared to fight. The Pro-Slavery men
moved up and guarded him, and both parties sent for
re-enforcements. Gov. Medary sent Deputy U. S. Marshall Colby with a posse of
men from Atchison to arrest Brown and bring him to Lawrence for trial, and
some troops were sent to aid the marshal. John Ritchie and 25 Free State
cavalry came up from Topeka to the relief of Brown. When Ritchie came up
the marshal and his forces ignominiously fled, practically without
resistance. The Free State men chased them and captured two prisoners,
James Green of Atchison, and Dr. Hereford of Kansas City. This affair is
known in the History of Kansas as "The Battle of the
Spurs." After this Col. Ritchie escorted Brown to the Nebraska line,
and from that point no serious difficulty was encountered. The party
reached Tabor, an Abolition colony, in Fremont county, Iowa, in the
southwest comer of that State, the first week in February. With but a
short halt the journey was continued to Chicago. Here Brown sent five of
his men in different directions, retaining John H. Kagi and Aaron D.
Stevens with himself. These three, with the negroes, reached Detroit,
March 12, and immediately crossed into Canada, where three or four of the
slaves yet reside. Brown's subsequent movements are generally unknown to
American citizens. On the 16th of October following his raid into Vernon
county, in the language of the well known Abolition song, so often sung in
his honor, " He captured Harper's Ferry with his nineteen men so
true, And frightened Old Virginia till she trembled through and
through." In this raid Kagi and Stevens both fell; and on the 2d of
December following, not quite one year from the date of the murder of
David Cruise by his followers, Brown himself was hanged for his crime
against the Commonwealth of Virginia. Perhaps there will always he those
who will consider John Brown a hero, a patriot, and a martyr to the cause
of human liberty. Certain people in Kansas h:tve built a monument in honor
of his memory, The falsified Redpath, the canting, palavering- Sandhorn,
and other fanatical anti-slavery writers, have poured upon the country a
mass of literature full of the most fulsome adulation of him as a man, a
Christian, and a hero-philanthropist. Those who have read the accounts of
these writers, full of flagrant falsehoods, (distortions, and
misrepresentations, as they are, have been deceived by them, Feeble
attempts have been made to give the truth to the world, hut they have
failed, and the lie is still believed. Yet the solid truth remains, that with his own hand John
Brown murdered in cold blood James P. Doyle in Franklin county, Kansas, on
the night of the 24th of May, 1856; the same night he stood by and
encouraged his three sons, Oliver, Owen, and Watson Brown, to hack to
death with their swords Drury and Wm. Doyle, sons of J. P. Doyle, whom
Brown himself had murdered. The same night, too, these same young Browns, assisted and encouraged by their
father, who stood by and saw it done, cut to pieces with their swords
Allen Wilkinson and Will, Sherman. And the only reason given why these men
were thus murdered was that stated by John Brown himself, that "they were
Pro-Slavery dogs, and deserved death." Not one of them, with the possible
exception of Sherman, had ever borne arms against the Free State men. Mr.
James Townsley, who still lives in Franklin county, Kas., was one of the
party of eight men under John Brown who did this killing, and he saw it
done. He is now, as he then was, a strong Republican, and he swears that
the first bloodshed that night was spilled by Brown, who drew his revolver
and blew out the brains of old man Doyle. John Brown and the men under his immediate command robbed
and plundered peaceable people of thousands of dollars' worth of property
- horses, mules, cattle, wagons, clothing, bedding, provisions, furniture,
money, and other articles. They burned poor men's cabins, rich men's
houses, and destroyed the premises of both classes, because they were of
different politics from themselves. Brown himself openly defied all law,
Territorial, State, or National. From early manhood he lived a life of
contention and turbulence, and when he died there was the blood of at
least seven innocent men upon his hands or upon his
skirts. And this is the man whose memory certain people delight to
honor. And the "glory" of whose deeds they have built a lasting monument
to perpetuate! ---History Of Vernon County, Missouri 1887 (with modifications) |
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