THE ATTACK UPON LA WHENCE. 
245 
had chosen their banners with singular appropriateness. One 
was a white flag with black stripes, and one had a white star on a 
red surface. This banner bore the inscription “Southern Rights,” 
and on the opposite side was “ South Carolina ” in black paint. 
Another flag had, in blue letters on a white ground, 
4 4 Let Yankees tremble, abolitionists fall. 
Our motto is give Southern Eights to all.” 
The precise bearing of these mottoes upon Marshal Donaldson’s 
writs has not jet been explained. 
The Free State office was first destroyed, the press being 
thrown into the river, while exchange papers and books were 
thrown into the street, and destroyed. The types of the Her¬ 
ald of Freedom office were also put into the Kansas, and the 
press broken. Tlje red flag of the South Carolinians was first 
hoisted upon this office, and in about fifteen minutes was removed 
to the hotel. The building was fired several times, but put out 
by the bravery of some of the young men in Lawrence, who were 
not deterred by the threats of the mob. Sheriff Jones placed two 
companies to carry the types of the offices to the river, and 
break the presses. 
After the red flag had been hoisted upon the hotel, four 
cannons were stationed about one hundred and five feet distant 
from it, and pointing towards it. The first command was given 
to fire, and the balls went far above the hotel, and over into the 
ravine beyond'the town. When the cannonading commenced, it 
was thought prudent for women and children to leave the town, 
and many went across the ravine to some houses west of Law¬ 
rence. Thirty-two balls were fired, doing little damage to the 
hotel, the balls easily going through the concrete. Was the num¬ 
ber significant of the admission of Kansas into the sisterhood of 
states ? The walls of the hotel stood firmly, almost uninjured, 
and the patience of the posse, at so slow a progress, was getting 
weary. Their anticipations had been disappointed; for, on the 
first fire, the cry had been raised, “ Now here she goes! ” 
Amid the continued roar of the eighteen, twelve, and six 
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