Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 65, 28 January 1864, Page 4

Nearly gro«n children, and these two children 'Were ■ acting as nurses in the white family. Shortly after the negro ■woman was decoyed away Mrs. Beckham went to Owcnsboro,' Kentucky, on a visit, taking with her one xrf her own children, an invalid, and one of the abovemcntioned black children aa nurse. Mrs. B. Wat at Owcnsboro' at the time of the murder. A few days previous to it, these same negro aoldiers wont to Beckham'B ind demanded the negro children. Kr. B. calmly informed the nogroes they could not get the children without authority from commander of the port; that if the commander should demand them, he would give them up. Jforthwithstanding, tho blacic children refused to leave their master and mistress to go "with their mother. The black children hod "been ltt the house with the white children, and had been treated B.'ttriy alike, conscquenty their stronger attachment lor the white family than for their mothefr. Mr. B. alio informed the negro that his wife hail CJ 5 ™ Owensboro,' and had taken one of the black children for a nurse ; that as soon aa thev returned he would give up the children to proper authority. The negroes now made an attempt to forcibly enter the house; Mr. B. told them to leave his premises, and at this they become infuriated, tin'' seized the black child remaining at home, carrying it forcibly away, making ■violent threats against Mr. Beckham, and *3 thev left they fired into the house, several balls tteiVctrating the door and various parts of the houtts The family by & miracle escaped being hurt. This circumstance together with others of a similar character which had occurred in the neighbourhood, created considerable alarm for the safety of the white people living in the vicinity of the island. We now come to tho archfiend Gwin. This man, it appears, had been at the island for some time, and was the drill-master, schooltcachcr, and leader of the blacks. He w«9 regarded as a very dangerous person. Ho passed through the neighbourhood with a gang of tunned negroes every few dayß, stopping at houses, and offering every species of insult ana indignity to tho families, often threatening to commit great violence, with the aid of his coloured soldiers. On Tuesday, 4th August, eleven of Abraham Lincoln's negro soldiers, armed to the teeth, Mid in United States uniform, acting under special instructions of their lender Gwin, went to the house of Mr. Beckham, between nine and ten o'clock, and committed the most revolting mutder perhaps on record. The house stands about 30 yards from the river bonk. As tho negroes rcacftfcd the front gate, a little girl a neice of Mr. Beckham, rode up and jaw the negroes rush to tho hoase, seize Mr. Beckham, who stood on his front gallery, throw him down, and commenced tying htai. Mr. Beckham seeing the little girl on the horse, told her to run for her life, probably hoping th&t she would give the alarm. The negroes seeing her ride away, ordered her to halt, and shot at her several times. The reports frightened 3icr horse, wliich ran away with her, some of the Siegroes following, firing at the child as she ran ; fortunately no shot hit her. The girl went round tbrough the wood and back of the fields, two mile 3 Tbefore reaching her home, to give the alarm. At her twine lived a young man named Joshua Everett, who rushed to the scene of slaughter. The negroes now bound Mr. Beckham hand and foot, and then seized old Major Beckham, and bound him also. At this time there were four of the children at home—tho eldest (Laura) fifteen years of age, a charming and interesting young lady, upon whom great care and attonhad been bestowed as regards education by her doting parents. Poor girl; her refined And modest manner won for her the admiration and love of all who knew her. The next Kate, eleven years of age, and Rowena Caroline, aged six, very intelligent little girls. The youngest was Richard, a little boy, two and a half years old. The other three children wvre fortunately absent. The negroes now dragged Mr. Beckham and his father down to the riveY, imd drovo the four littlo children after then*) and then commenced the slaughter. One negro struck with a eabre at Mr. Beckham's head, and missing that, hit his shoulder, nearly severing his arm from his body. Another placed the muzzle of his musket to Mr. Beckham's left temple, and, firing, blew away all the front part of his head ; the body was then thrown into the river. They then stabbed the old Major ill the side, but the old man seized hold of the bixde, when they jerked it away, nearly cutting off all his fingers. They next thrust a bayonet through his body ; one cleft his head with a sabre, whilst another shot him through the neck. They then threw his body into the river. They next turned upon the screaming and frenzied children, who had witnessed the slaughter, and by the aid of their bayonets succeeded in driving the three eldest into the water. . Then seizing the babe, they dashed it upon the ground, and kicked and stamped it to death, and threw the lifeless body into the river among the girls, who stood in the water up to their arm-pits. Laura caught the body of her little brother in her arms, and made an attempt to bring it out of the water. When she came in reach of the shore, a negro struck her on the head with a sabre, killing her instantly. The other little girls now made an effort to come out of the water, but as fast as they came within reach the negroes hit them with the butt-ends of their muskets, killing them, and they •ank to rise no more. While the girls stood in tlic water, Joshua Everett rose up, and said to the negroes, " Boys, what in the name of God are you doing ?" Their reply was, " Shoot him ! Damn him! Never let him get away!" Mr. Everett, seeing his danger, rode away as fast as possible. As he did so, the negroes shot- at, but fortunately missed him. The girls saw Mr. Everett on the bank, and, as he turned to fly, he heard hini cry out in a faint voice, " Oh, Josh! Oh, don't leave ua!" Everett now hastened at utmost speed, to the island for help. When near the island, lie met the white cavalry stationed at the island, to whom he made known what was going on and they galloped at once to the scene-of murder. On arriving, the negroes had returned to the house, and were in the act of robbiug the house. They had broken all the doors, and had everything of any value packed up to carry away. The cavalry arrested them on the spot, eleven in all, one making his escape whilst being conveyed to the island. They were searched, and Mr. Beckham's pocket-book, containing two hundred dollars, was found on one them, and his gold watch on another. Mr. Beckham's relatives say he had fivo thousand dollars in gold, and three or four thousand in paper, which is missing. The negro who first made his escape must have had the money. The gun-boat stationed at the island, on hearing of the murder, repaired immediately to the spot, and made every exertion to recover the bodies. Their efforts were crowncd with success, for by the third d»y all the bodits were recovered. When the bodies were brought out of the water, they presented a frightful and ghastly appearance. The little girls had worn ear-rings, which had been torn out of their ears, and all their bodies presented marks of great violence. Numerous cuts and bruises were visible on the various parts of their bodies and heads, and, from the best evidence, it is certain that the eldest girl, Laura, had been violated. The negroes, on their examination, made a confession 8f all the circumstances, as above related, and stated positively that the murder was ordered by their white commander, Capt. Gwin. They declared that the last words he said to them when they left tho island, were, " This is the third time I have sent you. Don't come back again until you have accomplished my orders." Gwin was arr«sted with the negroes' and taken with them to Columbia, Kentucky, but was immediately released upon tfie ground of insufficient evidence. Negbo XVIDEXCE COULD NOT BE TAKES.