124 
KANSAS, 
received evinced the deep feeling and determined spirit of the 
meeting. 
A gentleman in from Lecompton, yesterday afternoon, reported 
a most cowardly affair, in which Gen. Clarke was the actor. He 
is the Indian agent, a most infamous man; so notorious for his 
evil deeds before coming here, that it is said his life would not 
be a moment safe where he previously lived. His infamy renders 
him, however, a better tool for this corrupt administration, and a 
proper ally for the other officials here. He has become alarmed 
for his safety, and a few evenings since sent to some of his pro¬ 
slavery friends to come to his house to act as guard. They, 
answering his request by their presence, were saluted by being 
fired upon as they reached his house. It happened on this wise. 
His fears were so great, causing him to hear an enemy in every 
footstep, or the rustling of a leaf, that, supposing the knock at 
the door was that of some free-state man, he ran out of the back 
door, around the corner of the house, shot the man who proved to 
be the friend he had sent for, and ran back again. 
E. and I were sitting alone last evening, when loud shouts in 
the distance told of some new arrival. We opened the door, 
and looked out into the darkness. We could see nothing but the 
friendly lights, in the humble dwellings over the prairie, to the 
eastward, while they burned more brightly yet in the hall, and in 
the hotel, whose upper rooms are used for the committee and 
council rooms. Though a half mile from town, and nearly a 
quarter of a mile from neighbors, and those strangers, while the 
lights show that no one will be “ caught napping,” even at this 
late hour, we have no fears of danger. We feel sure the shouts 
were not those of invaders, as their yells are most unearthly. 
Again, in the distance, we heard the cheerful sounds go up to 
heaven, and reechoed among the hills. We know, instinctively, 
that it is the spontaneous burst of welcome to some new relief- 
company. 
The guard comes up ere long. They say to our queries of 
“What news?” “ The ‘ Bloomington Boys ’ are in.” “We’ve 
had a grand meeting.” “We are going to protect ourselves.” 
One laughingly says, “ Protect ourselves from whom ? ” And 
