Scouting Big Drywood Creek, May 1863 - by Christian H. Isely, 2 Ks.Cav.

DISCUSS NEED FOR NEW JAIL
Present Structure Is Worse Than
Calcutta's Black Hole, They Say
Nevada Daily Mail, August 11,1949 

Talk about a new county jail has popped up in official quarters around the courthouse.
The possibility of constructing a new building to replace the 60-odd year old county bastille still is very much in the idea stage, but the first feelers for public opinion of the project are being unfurled. The need for a new structure, with modern jail facilities, arose Monday afternoon as the county court was sitting as the county board of tax appeals.
The three county judges, as well as Sheriff L. K. Hunt and Nevada Mayor C. W. Loving, also tax board members, all agreed that something must be done soon about the many-times con­demned "hoosegow" at Main and Hunter streets in Nevada.
Sheriff Hunt remarked that the county jail "made the Black Hole of Calcutta" look like a resort hotel. He explained, the "bull pen"—the main enclosure in the jail—was hot in the summertime, cold in the wintertime, and dark all the time. The windows are six feet above the floor. The main cell block is heated in cold weather by a single small potbellied stove. The sher­iff said that during the extremely cold weather last winter one prisoner had to stay awake during the night to keep the stove going or "they'd all have frozen to death."
Structurally, the jail building is in bad condition also, Sheriff Hunt said in an informal con­versation today. A new roof is needed and the sand mortar between the stones in the wall con­stantly is being eaten out by sparrows.
How to go about getting a new jail built is the big problem, the county judges agreed. A bond issue was suggested by someone at the meeting. Then, it was recalled that a $25,000 bond issue for a new jail was defeated about 12 years ago by a six-to-one vote.
The proposal to levy a direct tax and use the funds from it for the jail was advanced. The proponent of this plan noted that the present courthouse was financed by this means, and it was necessary to have the tax in effect for only three years.
Where it would be located, if and when funds for the new jail became available, also con­cerned the officials at the Monday meeting.
One of the officials remembered that when the courthouse was built, the plans were to put the jail in its huge attic. For some reason no one could recall, this was never done.
The site of the present jail was given to the county by the late j. T. Birdseye. However, the deed to the land states that should it ever not be used for a jail, the land will go back to the Birdseye estate. Rather than lose the land, the officials tentatively decided that any new jail structure should be located on the site of the present one.

J. HURLEY KAYLOR MANUSCRIPTS TURN UP
Nevada's "Music Man" Recalled By Patrick Brophy

Not long ago, making room for new accessions in the Bushwhacker Museum's crowded archival and library space, this writer unearthed a thick sheaf of manu­script, reminiscent of a papyrus roll right out of the Great Library of Alexandria. The old accession record, rolled up with the rest, identified the discovery, or redis­covery: "Sheet music manuscripts of J. Hurley Kaylor."
They'd reached the Museum (i.e. the old jail) in 1977. The donor v/as Kenneth Platen, Milo, a sometime State Hospital employee, who shared with old Hurley the vocation (among others) of piano tuner, plus presumably the love of music in general. Whether Kenny had gotten the papers straight from Hurley himself or at or after his death in 1970 (aged 101) remains an open question.
The old accession record itemized only three of the 14 items that met the eye when the bundle was unrolled. One was Kaylor's familiar "Weltmer March," the other two the work of strange hands—or strange pens or pencils; for these were "manuscripts" indeed (i.e. "handwritings"), not printed sheet music. The only printing on the 101/2 x 13l/2 inch sheets are groups of green lines, the scaffolding for the composer to build his musical edifice on. Such a line layout is called a "staff," we're told, and the blank forms themselves by extension generically sometimes called "staff." The likes are still being printed and sold.
The bundle seemed to consist of "copy" for early-published Kaylor sheet music. Instructions to the printer clutter the margins: "Title page all green." "Green large block letters." "Put copyright in Roman numerals." The copyrights range from MDCCCXCVI ('1896) to MDCDI (1901)
Yet the manuscripts aren't all Kaylor work. And not all the Kaylor works found here appear in his well-known "Musical Folio," not published till 1946. The manuscripts include lyrics (words); the "Folio" doesn't.
Many have chronicled J. Hurley Kaylor's long life in full detail: Betty Sterett, Lucille Bussinger, Ken Postlethwaite, Richard Carpenter'(just this year). Yet sur­prisingly little has been written (or even known) about Hurley's composing hey­day, on which the rediscovered manuscripts shed such tantalizing light. While Hurley's musical interest lasted till the very end, his "inspiration," as with more famous musical prodigies, came and went early. ("Memory Waltz," the "Folio's" first offering, bears the note: "My first composition, age six"!)
Still, the manuscript sheaf seems to ask as many questions as it answers.
"I quit farming in '95," Hurley once remarked (meaning 1895, of course; or MDCCCXCV!), as a. kind of prelude to a life story that was to go on through Nevada's first Ford dealership, its longest-lasting music store, faithful church and civic club service, to an air trip to Japan at age 99.
This writer's own one experience of Hurley was a cemetery meeting, on that ever-tragic occasion of a parent outliving a child, over the raw grave of his only son. Even so, Hurley was as composed and clement and cheery as the autumn morning itself, radiating as ever that seemingly-extinct, mysterious Roman virtue, gravitas, that once graced all the older generation.
It was decades after the composing, and the first, sheet-music appearance, of most of Kaylor's works that the bestselling, yellow-bound "Musical Folio" saw daylight in April, 1946. Almost every inclusion came with its own story, and no updating effort was made. The "Weltmer March" echoed, though Prof. S. A. Weltmer himself was long-silent (reportedly he'd snapped up 2,000 copies of the sheet-music!) Eponymous "Lake Park" had long bome another name; not so the "Lake Park Schottische." (That dance form, being simply the German for "Scottish," gave poor Hurley and others endless spelling troubles.) A visit to Hot Springs, Ark., had inspired "The Vapor City Two-Step," with its mystery dedication, suggestive of a romance, to "Miss Stella Ellis." And Hurley's nine siblings logically inspired "The Kaylor Brothers' Schottische.'.'
Most striking of all, surely, is the story of Blind Boone, well-known colored pianist performing at the Nevada Christian Church. Part of his program was to invite anyone to come forward and play any piece, after Which Boone would repeat it, note for note. Egged on by friends, Kaylor went up, played a waltz he'd just composed, and that not another soul had yet heard, and waited for Boone to confess himself stumped. "But much to the composer's surprise, the artist played clearly and with great depth of feeling the song he had just heard.
"From that moment the piece was known as 'The Blind Boone Waltz.'"
Among lingering mysteries in the manuscript sheaf are the non-Kaylor works. Who is Keil Volmer Barnekov, who dedicates his "Moore's Opera House Schottische" to "Miss Glessner Moore, dau. of Col. H. C. Moore, prop, of Moore's Opera House, Nevada, Mo.," and who titled his "valse poetique" in both English ("On Missouri's Beautiful Plains") and German ("Am die Schonen Planen des Missouri"), managing small errors in both languages?
And what about Nellie E. High, whose "Monte Carlo Mazurka for Mandolin and Guitar" was "Published by J. Hurley Kaylor, Nevada, Mo."? The sheet-music calls her "Composer of the famous hits, 'Marimbo Bells,' 'Living Picture Gavotte,' and 'Sweet Lotus March.'" Nellie High seems to have lived in Bucyrus, Ohio. How did her connection to Hurley Kaylor come about?
We homefolks, it seems, haven't only lately neglected but long underestimated our premier "Music Man," as he was known in his lifetime.
When some of Hurley's music was heard anew, for likely the first time in
decades, in the first of Marsha Martin's "Meet Me in Missouri" summer musical
shows, three years ago, some local ears were surprised as well as pleased. J.
Hurley Kaylor was no bumpkin tunesmith, to be politely suffered through. Though
his only musical training seems to have been his father's tutelage, his music was,
and'is, both professional and pleasant to listen to.                                                    :
The Internet, no less, enshrines him among the immortals of ragtime.

HORRIBLE MURDER - MOB LAW TRIUMPHANT

FORT SCOTT
A PRISONER RESCUED FROM THE SHERIFF
Ft Scott Democrat • Dec. 23,1858

The reader of the Democrat remember to have read in our columns that "Ben Rice" of the Osage, one of Capt. Montgomery's men, was arrested a few weeks ago by Capt. John Hamil­ton, a Free State man, on the charge of having assisted in the robbing of Mr. Poyner.
When once in the hands of the Sheriff, it became that officer's duty to detain him—in­dictments having been found against him by a Grand jury composed of active Free State men with but a single exception, for murder in one case and in two others for assault with intent to kill, and writs for his arrest being then in the hands of the Sheriff.
On Thursday morning the 16th inst., just at the break of day and before the citizens were up, our town was entered by Capts. Montgomery, Stephenson and Bain, with about 100 men under their command doubly armed with Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, and sustained by a v/ell mounted cannon. Our citizens had been thrown off their guard the previous night by a false alarm and were slow to be aroused to their danger. They did not suppose that the town could be approached without their receiving notice from the country. Before we knew it this armed gang had gained possession of what is known as the "Free State Hotel" in which Rice was imprisoned.
The Sheriff, unfortunately, was on his claim, a mile or more out of town and did not receive notice in time to prevent the rescue of Rice. Having thus secured everything, they effected an entrance into the room where Rice was imprisoned, and easily succeeded in releasing and carrying him off. One of the gang snapped a cap at Mr. Diamon, Rice's jailor. There was but little chance for the inmates of the hotel to make resistance. All the rooms were surrounded before they could draw and arm and effect a concert of action, and the halls were in the possession of Montgom­ery's men. It was too late to save Rice—and life and property might be saved by nonresistance. A fire was kindled outside with which to burn the building in case a shot was fired. Besides, many of our citizens had been taken and were in the midst of the bandits as hostages.
It was pre-arranged to disarm and imprison every man who made his appearance on the streets. They had a guard at every house and kept detailing men to assist. Col. Wilson, one of our leading merchants, with his wife and servant man were the first that were taken. They were marched into "ihe prisoner's ring"—a circle formed on the pavement by about 20 of these ruffians, stationed with the points of their rifles towards the prisoners. They tried to persuade the negro man to accept his freedom, but he refused. Next Gov. Ransom, the Receiver of the U. S. Land office, came out'of his house to investigate the cause of so early a noise. Three rifles were cocked upon him and he was ordered forward into the prisoner's ring, with a threat that they were going to hang him. Next came Dr. Hill, another of our merchants. Then, Mr. Dennison, Mr. Sullivan, M'. White, Mr. Bentley and others. Esq. Blackett was also taken by them. Mr. Alex.

McDonald stepped upon his porch to see what was going on, when he was called upon to surren­der. Upon his refusal he was instantly fired upon—the Sharpe's bail passing through the door ?nd barely missing him in consequence of a quick movement to one side. The fellow was sure he had hit him and so reported to (apt. Montgomery. In another part of the town two or three of them were following Mr. Marble and firing upon him. They would probably have hit him but for a fortunate shot from one of our citizens which hit the bandit in the'side when he was taking aim. At the-same instant another of the gang sent a ball close past the citizen who was firing. The ball went through the store of Col. Wilson. Mr. Ray was also fired at.
Meanwhile the house and store of Dr. Blake Little, adjacent to the hotel, were the scene of intense interest. They were occupied by the Doctor, his son John II, who was very recently deputy marshal, and the black servant girl and boy. Mr. Geo. A. Crawford had slept with his friend John Little the night previous, to assist in the defense in case the long rumored attack should come. They were waked, as day was breaking, by the little black boy, announcing that the town was full of "Jay-Hawkers" and the hotel was taken. As soon as they could dress, John stepped to the door with his gun to see the position of friend and invader. The guard appointed for that door ad­vanced and was told not to come further. He did so and in an instant John fired, dosing the door and remarking that he had shot one of them. The guard lodged a ball in the side of the door about an inch above his head. The shots were simultaneous. It was at first believed that Mr. Lit­tle had fired the first shot as but only one report was heard—but now it is quite apparent that he had to shoot to keep from being shot. Soon after, a Sharpe's rifle ball was sent through the window, the stove pipe.and the partition wall. Spies were set to watch every door and window. Mr. C. took his friend's gun to load, and L. disappeared into the store room by an inside door. He mounted a box and was looking to the hotel out of a window over the door when a Sharpe's rifle ball penetrated his forehead and landed against the ceiling. He felt instantly his blood and brains pouring out upon the floor. Dr. Little and Mr. C. for two long hours remained imprisoned —their guns in their hands, and they at a loss to know whether the citizens outside were mak­ing preparations to help them defend against the inevitable doom. As for themselves they could but await the final attack upon the house and sell their lives as dearly as possible. There was not the faintest hope of escape. Every window and door was guarded, even if they desired to get away. At last they heard threats of burning the house. Then the bringing and planting of the cannon close against the house and the investing of every door and window with another array of rifles. The order to make ready was given. Just at that moment Miss Campbell raised the cry that women and children were in the house. A few minutes were given to get them out.
During this pause, it was ascertained outside that John Little was killed. The ladies rushed in and soon any further attempt at bloodshed was stopped.
The body of the dying young man was carried into the next room—not, however, until some villain had despoiled him of his pistol and belt. Some of them, fiend-like, seemed to exult over his dying struggles. They stole articles from the room where he w« dying. The death of so noble a favorite of the people threw a panic over the whole town—but there were but few guns left in town with which to resent the murder. Before we fairly knew what they were about, the fiends were carrying away from the store armfuls of the Doctor's most valuable goods. They took at least $5,000 worth. The Sepoys [in the Indian Mutiny of 1857] never witnessed a worse scene of pillage. Citizens shamed them but all to no effect. They had previously taken from the young men of the hotel whatever they could find that was valuable. They took a rifle worth $50 belong­ing to Mr. Gallaher, the Postmaster. They took a horse of Mr. Nail, but were persuaded to give it up. They broke into the hotel stable to take horses, but were persuaded to let them alone as they belonged to strangers. Having done their work of rescue, robbery and murder, they started for the north. Many of them belong far away from this county.
The company of "old John Brown" of Osawatomie memory was among them. They threat­ened Col. Wilson that his turn will .come next. They were particularly anxious to do violence to Mr. Campbell, the Deputy Marshal, and to the Editor of this paper;
And thus ended a scene which surpasses anything that even the history of Kansas has yet revealed—a scene'enacted, as one of them triumphantly remarked, "to show what free men can do." We have since ascertained that their two men who were shot were not dangerously hurt. We wish to say that the pen that gives this hurried account of free State ruffianism is wielded by a free-state hand. Let it not be said therefore by the Parson Beechers of this country that this is a partisan statement.—Ft. Scott [Kansas Territory] Democrat, Dec. 23,1.858.
[Ed. Note: "It was the infamous bands of Montgomery, jennison and Lane that did the prin­cipal burnings and murders in Kansas which were charged over to the border ruffians of Missouri under the guise and pretense of eradicating the wicked slaveholders. With the exception of the raid out of Missouri under Quantrill, all the other abominations perpetrated there were do,ne by Kansas patriots themselves."—The Letters of Richard Ely Selden, jr., 1866.
[The above newspaper article reminds us that much of Kansas, especially the southeast, was "Southern" and conservative (the "law-and-order" party) until the original settlers were mur­dered or forcibly driven out by the virtuous "Abolitionists." The murder of former U.S. marshal j. H. Little, reported in the above account, made national news. John Brown's thug John Henry Kagi accompanied Montgomery on this assault on Ft. Scott. Reportedly he helped kill Little—and then himself wrote the New York newspaper account of the raid!]

From State Mine Inspector's 9th Annual Report, 1S95

The miner of today, it must be remembered, is a far different man from the miner of some years past. Changed conditions brought about by the introduction of so many new men, foreign not only to the old miner in language and habits, but many of them also in the color of their skin, and many of both descriptions totally lacking in the elements of pride and decency.
As a class, the miners are of a liberal disposition, and it is a difficult matter for them to reconcile their wants to the scanty fare made necessary by present earnings. They take great pleasure in entertaining liberally at their homes, and ofttimes in order to furnish their entertainments in good style for a brief time, they are compelled for a while thereafter to deprive themselves of many needed things until they can even up with their earnings.
The nature and character of the miner's employment will not permit even a suspicion of his being well attired while at work, but let him get out of the mine after his day's work, finish the very thorough bath which he takes every day, don his good clothes and aside from the appear­ance of his hands which bespeak his hard work, he would not be regarded as a man doing labor of any kind. The miners keep themselves cleaner than any other class of laboring men. It is not an uncommon thing for the old miner, if he should put on his working clothes for only a few moments, and for some reason not work that day, to go through the bathing performance just as though he had been working in the mine all day. The miner must, to be equipped in accord­ance with his views, have a Sunday suit, in accord with the fashions of the day.
The miner is fond of reading and will often be found well posted on all the current topics of the day. Newspapers are welcome visitors at their homes, and he is poor indeed who does not subscribe for some paper or periodical. It is seldom that you can visit the home of a miner and not find some good as well as entertaining book to read. Large numbers of them entered the mines at a tender age and were thus deprived of an education; forcibly realizing the disadvan­tages they labor under, they are using every effort possible to take advantage of the splendid opportunities offered in this direction to have their children attend school.
In mining camps the miner rents his house, but where the mines are located near a city or town, the miner in many instances owns his home and takes great pleasure in surrounding it with an air of cheerfulness and with the comforts that would do honor to more pretentious domiciles.
The religion of the miner is very similar to that of all other classes of people in this country. There is a great diversity of faith. Many families are conscientious and devout Christians and very devoted to their respective churches but the great majority are not religiously inclined in the general acceptation of this term. There are many reasons why this great majority are indifferent to the subject of religion. Too often the pulpit is occupied by a minister who lacks the ability and influence to command attention. The great majority of the miners are fond of amusements. All athletic sports, quoit-pitching, jumping, baseball and other games are engaged in with great vim and pleasure. The miner is also extravagantly fond of social parties, especially dancing.
There is no great hungering and thirsting after total abstinence; to the contrary, it is a rare case indeed when you meet a miner who will refuse to join you in a social glass of beer, which is their favorite and almost universal drink, and yet drunkenness is no more common among the miners than with other classes.

GRANGE IS ACTION
By Neoma Foreman

What is the oldest organization in the United States that has continually served people, especially those living in the rural areas? The Grange, which was begun by Oliver Kelly in 1867. The Department of Agriculture had recent­ly been founded with Mr. Kelly as an employee.
He was looking for ways to heal the land and relationships after the Civil War. He per­ceived a fraternal organization for farmers where they could work together to improve their financial situation and in the process work together as friends. He said, "Politicians will never restore peace in the country. If it comes at all, it must be through a fraternity. The people North and South must know each other as members of the same great family." Since the term "Grange" means farm or farmhouse, this was the name given to the organization.
He met with limited success until he went to Minnesota. By the end of 1873, there were over 1,000 Granges in 31 states.
Continuing education is an objective of the Grange, as it was over 130 years ago. The pro­gram chairman at each local Grange is encouraged to provide programs on the cutting edge, which will stimulate each Granger to think for themselves amd broaden their viewpoint. To this end the National Lecturer or Program Chairman suggests some books to read and program ideas. The local Grange implements them according to the needs and interests of the people.
The Grange was the first national fraternal organization to allow women to participate as equal partners with men. The youth and children have their own organizations, but work and play together as a family unit.
When you multiply the services of one Grange by the 3,600 other Granges and some 300,000 members, Grange makes a difference, for the better, in many lives.
Another aspect of the Grange which binds the members together is a series of rituals which are like short plays and depict some aspect of agriculture. The first four degrees represent the four seasons. The opening and closing ceremonies are the same in all the Granges and have the same moral lessons carried down from 1867.
In the past the Grange was largely responsible for bringing rural mail delivery and electri­city to the rural areas. Today they continue to try and bring water to all rural residents and sponsor programs to get Internet access into all rural schools, and other services such as low-cost, long distance calling and insurance.
The Grange is bi-partisan in politics and religion. Every member who is old enough is urged to vote and participate in community affairs, but never is dictated to as to their choice.
To learn more about the Grange, check it out at www.nationalgrange.org, or telephone I-888-447-2643.
[Ed. Note: Unfortunately, since this was written, the last Grange in Missouri, our own Blue Mound Grange, went out of existence; the organization is still thriving in Kansas. Changing life­styles and the decline of the rural population are the likely reasons. The Grange came to Vernon County in 1874. By 1877 there were 20 Granges, but by I88S the number was down to four. For years in modern times there were two, Stotesbury and Blue Mound.]

THE BANDITTI CONTINUE THEIR WORK!
Missouri Invaded!
Her Citizens Robbed and Murdered!
(Fort Scott Democrat,
Dec. 23, 1858),

The startling intelligence has reached us that Missouri has been invaded by the Kansas Ruffians. The plot originated in this [Bourbon] county, and was carried into effect on Monday night last, and the general impression is that the notorious John Brown, the warm personal friend of Gerrett Smith, of New York, headed the move­ment. Brown has been "forted up" in Linn county for some time past, and was last seen at the house of one Wimsett, a few miles west of this place, and had in his possession a valuable "stallion" that was lately stolen from Mr. Poyner, adjoining town. The thieves organized in two distinct parties, one taking the north and the other the south side of the [Little] Osage River, which at the time was past fording.
The band on the north side proceeded into the State, by way of Fail's trading Post, and commenced operations, by robbing the widow Lawrence of five negroes, one ox team and wagon, besides other valuable property that our informant could not give, from Mrs. Lawrence. They went to Isaac Larue's about one mile distant, and robbed him of the same number of negroes, six valuable horses, one yoke of oxen, and most of his household goods.
In the meantime John Larue and Dr. [A. Ervin] were taken prisoners and car­ried up the Osage, in the direction of Osage City, and when some six miles from the State Line were released and allowed to return to their homes.
During all this while the party on the other side of the river had not been idle; they not only robbed but murdered. On coming to the house of old Mr. Crews [Cruise] who had been a valuable and law-abiding citizen of Vernon County, Mis­souri, for the past twenty years—they entered his house and demanded his money. On his refusal, one of the gang fired, the bullet piercing the old man's heart. He expired immediately. Eleven mules and a large amount of other property was taken from his premises. Mr. Martin was also robbed.
They thus having all the property they could manage, retreated for their old harbors in the Territory.
Should this outrage provoke an invasion from Missouri, and result in all the horrors of civil war, it will be nothing more than what we as a journalist have pre­dicted for nearly a year past. The citizens of Missouri have sat quietly and beheld these "Gerrrilla bands" driving their people out of Kansas merely for opinion's sake, thinking it would end there, but when the sanctity of State bounds are obliterated, her citizens murdered and robbed, awful as the calamity may result, to whom is the crime to be charged?
Our advice to these outraged communities is: organize, protect your firesides at all hazards, remain within the bounds of your own State. We have seen and con­versed freely with Governor Medary in regard to Southern Kansas, and from our knowledge of the man, we can safely assure the citizens of both the State and Ter­ritory, than Kansas ruffianism will speedily be blotted out and good order main­tained while he stays among us.
Doubtless some of the ultra Republican Journals will justify these villainous crimes, and term it ''another blow for freedom." It is just what we expect, but no honest journal or man whose heart is pure and whose zeal for freedom is guided by a mind untainted with the corrupt political opinions of the day, but what will view them as crimes of the greatest magnitude, deserving the severest punishment.
[Ed. Note: The above is interesting proof that conservative Kansas too took a dim view of such outrages as John Brown's 1858 raid—until the "patriots" finally succeeded in driving all such people out of the Territory.]

METZ BANK ROBBED ... AGAIN Metz Times, March 12, 1954

The Metz Banking Company was the victim of burglars sometime last Friday night or early Satur­day morning. The exact time is not known, as no one heard any commotion during the night and the act was not discovered until Saturday morning. Entrance to the bank was made by forcing open the west window and then prying loose from the casing the steel mesh that is used as a protec­tion on all the windows. Having forced their way in, it is evident all atten­tion was centered on the vault. The safe containing the bank's money was not molested. First the combination lock was knocked off the vault door but it failed to open. Then a large hole was knocked through the south side of the 2-foot brick wall and entrance made in this fashion.
Those involved gained very little for the time and labor it must have taken. No money is kept in the vault except pennies and about $40 in these coins were taken. However, as a favor, many of the bank's patrons keep their lock boxes of personal papers-in the vault. Several of these had been opened and their contents scattered. About mid-moming six of these boxes were found north of Panama, just east of Highway 71. They were taken to Rich Hill and later returned here. They had all been forced open, but as far as is known the contents were still intact. Deeds, bonds and personal papers were left behind. Whether any of those rifled contained any cash or jewelry or has anything missing can only be told by having the owners check. The bank has no record.
Law enforcement officials were notified as soon as discovery of the robbery was made. Sheriff Hunt, his deputies, the FBI and the state patrol spent the day in Metz searching for clues and running down leads. Wheth­er any worthwhile clues were discovered is not known, as it will be several days before a complete report of the robbery can be made.

 PODCAST INITIATIVE - The Kansas Humanities Council is pleased to announce that the Vemon County Historical Society has been selected to be a part of Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area Podcast Initiative. A podcast that tells your local story will be featured on the Freedom's Fron­tier National Heritage Area website.
KHC wall host a meeting with all podcast participants after the next Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area meeting (date and location pending). The meeting will provide you with an opportunity for you to: leam more about the podcast project; schedule a time to record your pod-cast in March or April 2008; discuss revisions to your final script with the KHC staff; meet with historical consultant Christy Davis and leam about her research into the participating sites. KHC looks forward to working with you on this exciting project.—Tracy Quillin, Director of Communications., KHC, 112 SW 6th Ave., Suite 210, Topeka KS 66603-3895.
The Vemon County Historical Society proposes to create, for the Kan­sas Humanities Council's audio tour project, a podcast relating John Brown's 1858 slave-liberating raid into Vemon County, Missouri, one of the most important events in all the Kansas-Missouri troubles of the 1850s.
For Kansas, as the noted Kansas historian James Malin said, along with Brown's other deeds, it "really precipitated the conflict in SE Kansas.
For the nation, it propelled John Brown into national prominence for the first time; and was the dress rehearsal for his Harpers Ferry raid, a major incitement to the Civil War.
For Missouri, it further embittered the people of western Missouri against Kansans, Abolitionists, and the North generally, confirmed their Southern sympathies and their sense of grievance, and sealed their support of the Confederacy in the coming war. 

COMMEMORATION
Three Vernon County figures of Civil War days will be honored and their new gravestones dedicated Saturday, May 10, in ceremonies jointly sponsored by the Society and the Col. John T. Coffee Camp #1934, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The occasion, to which the public is welcome, will include a picnic at the old schoolhouse in the center of Montevallo.
Those to be honored are: Lt. Joe Wood, in Sandstone Cemetery; lady Bushwhacker Eliza Gabbert, in Montevallo Cemetery; and John Brown, in Brasher Cemetery. The ceremonies will include a rifle salute, etc.
Sandstone Cemetery is located exactly 5 miles east of highway 71 at Milo on highway E. The turnoff will be marked. The event here is set for 10:30. Those coming from the Nevada area may choose to go there first. Those coming from the east are recommended to convene first at the Montevallo schoolhouse at 10:00 and carpool from there.
After Sandstone will come the event at Montevallo Cemetery, then the picnic at the schoolhouse; and the day will conclude at Brasher Cemetery, which is located not far south and east of Montevallo.
Those wishing to contribute to the picnic lunch may bring an item of their choice. Or for suggestions call Ruth Ann Ayres, 417-754-8397. Every­body is welcome to what should be an enjoyable occasion, not to say one of genuine historical substance.