27 Dec 1901--THE PALMYRA MASSACRE.--H. K. Hinde in Mexico Ledger.--There was, perhaps, no single event of the civil war in Missouri that attracted more attention and was viewed with more horror than the shooting of the ten men at Palmyra by order of Gen. John McNeil on the 18th day of October, 1862. Palmyra is a border town, being 10 miles from Quincy, on the Mississippi river. It was on these border lines between the free and slave states that the factional strife was waged with the greatest bitterness. It was the fortune of the writer to have his home at Palmyra at the time referred to and during most of the years of the war. Most of the citizens of the town and country were southern men and southern sympathizers, though some families were divided, and brother was arrayed against brother, and father against son. A short time before the event of the ten men, Col. Porter, in command of a large body of bushwhackers, as they were called, dashed into Palmyra and made an attack upon the court house and jail, in which a number of rebels were held as prisoners by the Union forces then in possession of the town. My house was in line between the firing parties, and which made it rather an undesirable place of residence for myself, wife and two children. Col. Porter succeeded in releasing some of the prisoners and took out an old citizen of the town, a Union man, by the name of Andrew Aulsman. This man Aulsman, while not in the ranks of the militia, had made himself very obnoxious to the southern people by reporting to the Union authorities those whom he regarded as rebels or rebel sympathizers; and it was a matter of rejoicing in the town that he was carried away by Porter's men. I was lamenting the loss of a fine bay horse that Porter's men seemed to take a fancy to, as they retreated from town. At this time Col. Straughn, of Shelby county, was the provost marshal of the district, and Gen. John McNeil in command at the post. A few days after the Porter raid an order was issued by Gen. McNeil, at the instigation of Col . Straughn, as I understood, to the effect that if within ten days Aulsman was not brought in alive and delivered up, ten men, prisoners in the hands of the Federals, would be shot in retaliation. This order was regarded as a mere threat, and not much importance attached to it by the citizens, for they supposed that Aulsman was alive and could be produced before the time if necessary. As the days rapidly passed, however, and nothing was heard of Aulsman, some uneasiness began to be felt by the citizens. The uneasiness was increased as the limit of the ten days approached and it was learned that ten men had been selected by lot to be executed if Aulsman was not brought in at the expiration of the time. And yet scarcely any one in town could bring themselves to believe that such a diabolical order would be carried out. The men selected to be shot were taken at random from among a large number, mostly held under suspicion, who had not had a trial but were supposed to be bushwhackers or rebel sympathizers. At last the ten days expired and Aulsman did not appear, for the simple reason that he was dead, having been shot in the woods by his captors. This, however, was known at the time by the Federal officers. It was denied and not believed by many for a long time. Whether he was shot by order or approval of Col. Porter, I have never known, but men are living today who know the spot where Aulsman was shot, and by whom. Early in the morning of the eleventh day it was noticed that something unusual was going on about the court house and jail, and it was not long until there were unmistakable signs that the order of death to the ten men was about to be carried into effect. I refused to believe till I saw with my own eyes, ten wagons drive up in order, each taking a victim seated upon his coffin, filing out in procession up Main street, towards the fair grounds, the place of execution. Citizens along the line of procession looked on in mute astonishment, scarcely able to believe their own eyes. Not a word was spoken by anyone, but like dim specters, seated upon their coffins, they moved slowly along to the place of doom. Strong men, unable to bear such a sight, withdrew in doors and wept like children. One exception there was, and in memory's gallery there hangs one picture that can never be erased, and that has haunted me a thousand times. Capt. Sidener, of Monroe county, tall, young, handsome, graceful, with long black hair falling down upon his shoulders, stood erect by the side of his coffin, silently waving a farewell to the friends he recognized along the street. A friend of mine who went out to the ground to take charge of his body and one of the others, told me that upon the word "fire" all fell instantly killed, except Capt. Sidner, who fell to his knees badly wounded, and was dispatched by pistol shots in that position. I remember this fair ground spot with feelings of mingled pleasure and horror. There I first met the country girl who afterwards became my wife. The spot was forever abandoned for all public uses, and today is regarded as the "field of blood." I have always thought that Col. Straughn was more responsible for the shooting of these ten men than was Gen. McNeil. He had a wonderful influence over men, and had the reputation of being a man of shocking immorality. I have learned from good authority that he came to a horrible end just after the war at New Orleans. I have often seen the statement that a young man voluntarily offered himself a substitute in place of one of the doomed men, and preachers have used the supposed fact as an illustration of the substitutionary death of Christ. The story is not true. Upon the urgent appeals of the wife and children of one of these men he had released, and a young man selected to take his place, but it was not a voluntary act. The killing of Aulsman, was a great crime, and the parties to it ought to have been punished, but it was no justification of the wholesale massacre by Straughn and McNeil, of men who were in no way responsible for the death of Aulsman. I was a Union man throughout the war, but I never had a word of apology for the cruel and unwarranted deed, and regard it as one of the most atrocious in all the history of the war. In this connection I will mention another event in the history of this old conservative town of Palmyra that puts it ahead of Mexico for once. It was there that Gen. U. S. Grant began his military career of glory that was the pride of the nation, and that made him for eight years president of the United States. Well do I remember a raw regiment of Illinois soldiers encamped between my father's farm and Palmyra, commanded by an obscure and unpretentious looking man by the name of Grant. This was his first camping ground on the way to Donaldson, Vicksburg, the Wilderness and Appomattox. 27 Dec 1901--John P. Martin, the 2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Martin, of Elliott, died at their home in that place at 11 o'clock last night, the result of burns received at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The little one while playing about the stove, picked up a piece of paper and put it in the fire, the blaze flared out, igniting the child's clothing and before he could be rescued was horribly burned, dying as above stated at 11 o'clock after seven hours of awful agony. Funeral services were held at the house today at 1 o'clock and the remains were interred in the Elliott cemetery--Tuesday's Moberly Democrat. 27 Dec 1901--Here is an example of pluck on the part of a little girl that is worthy of emulation on the part of every girl and boy in the community that is seeking an education. Miss Versie Burton, the eleven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Burton, drives in a buggy to the Roanoke school a distance of three miles from her home and takes with her two younger sisters. During the entire school terms of the two preceding years and present term up to date, she has not missed but one day from school. And just think of the extreme cold weather of the two preceding winters, and this little girl braved the storm every day--Armstrong Herald. 27 Dec 1901--Married, in Higbee, on Wednesday, December 25, 1901, at the residence of and by Rev. J. M. Bell, Mr. Edgar L. Fray and Miss Hattie Baker. They were attended by Mr. Will Miller and Miss Maggie Fray. The groom is a prosperous young farmer of near Yates and is a son of John Fray of that neighborhood, and is a most worthy young man. The bride is a daughter of Oscar Baker of near town and is one of our sweetest and most lovable young ladies and will be sadly missed by her acquaintances and associates. Amid a plentiful shower of rice they took the train for St. Louis where they will spend a few days, after which they will be at home to their friends at Yates. The News joins other friends in extending congratulations. 27 Dec 1901--Married, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Cook, near town, on Wednesday, December 25, 1901, Mr. Rice Patterson and Miss Virgie Cook. Mr. Patterson is a young man of moral worth and the bride a most estimable and worthy young lady. May prosperity and happiness always be theirs. The writer officiated. J. M. Bell, C. P. Pastor. 27 Dec 1901--Died, near Myers, on the 26th, of general debility, Mrs. Frances Hitt, aged 83 years. 27 Dec 1901--Cards are out announcing the marriage of Mr. May Spurling and Miss Maude Botts, on Jan. 1, 1902. The News extends congratulations in advance. 27 Dec 1901--ATTEMPTED SUICIDE--Mrs. Nancy Brodie, Formerly of Higbee, Attempts Suicide at Her Home in Belleville, Ill--Recovery Doubtful.--The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of the 22nd inst. contained the following, which proved quite a shock to Mrs. Brodie's friends in Higbee: While holding the door of her home shut to prevent the interference of a neighbor, Mrs. Nancy Brodie, wife of George Brodie of 23 South Lincoln street, Belleville, swallowed half an ounce of carbolic acid yesterday afternoon. Three physicians, by working over her constantly, have kept her alive, but her recover is deemed impossible. Mrs. Brodie had been despondent for some time because she did not find it possible to live as she had been accustomed to living. Yesterday afternoon she went to the home of Mrs. William Hamilton who lives next door, and handling Mrs. Hamilton a purse containing some money, asked her to use it in taking care of Mrs. Brodie's 10-year-old son, as she was going to kill herself. Before Mrs. Hamilton could detain her she ran back to her home and closing the door, held it until she swallowed the poison. Mrs. Hamilton beat upon the door and pleaded with Mrs. Brodie not to harm herself. Mrs. Brodie answered her with a demoniac laugh and shouted that she had taken the poison. Mrs. Hamilton ran to call assistance and Mrs. Brodie went to the kitchen. Her brother, who had heard nothing, was sitting by the stove. She told him what she had done and threw the bottle in the stove. Mrs. Brodie is 33 years old. The family moved to Belleville from Missouri a year ago. Upon the receipt of the shocking news her mother, Mrs. Samuel Daniels, took the first train for Belleville and is still attendant at her bedside. The latest news from Mrs. Brodie is that she is in a very dangerous condition and her recovery doubtful. 27 Dec 1901--Married, in Kansas City, MO, on Wednesday, Dec 25, 1901, Mr. George V. Tudhope and Miss Myrtle Smith, formerly of this place. They will make their home in Sedalia. 27 Dec 1901--Married, near Huntsville, MO, Sunday, Dec 22, 1901, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Oliver, Mr. J. V. Minor and Miss Ida Oliver. The groom has a host of friends here, among them the News, who wish him all the happiness married life can bring. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.