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From the Geary City, Kansas (Doniphan county) Era, August 1, 1857. This is an abolitionist newspaper and some things in the media never change. Great period article though regarding their disdain for Missouri Border Ruffians.
*****Dr. Gihon, the private secretary of Ex-Governor Geary, in his forthcoming work on Kansas, gives the following truthful and graphic picture of the world-renowned Border Ruffian. Every citizen of Kansas will attest to its accuracy. As the race is fast becoming extinct, so few now being found who will acknowledge the name, they will soon be as scarce as witches.-Hence a painting of them drawn from life will in a few years be of great interest:
*****"Active preparations for war were discernible at all the river towns. At Lexington, a large crowd was assembled on the levee, many of the persons comprising it loaded with arms. But at Kansas City, the warlike demonstrations were still greater. This town is on the southern side of the mouth of Kansas river, which, at this point, separates Missouri from the territory of Kansas. It is situated about five miles from Westport, near the eastern landing of Kansas where the Missouri army was concentrating preparatory to the invasion of the territory. Both of these towns have become notorious as places of refuge for the most desperate characters, whose almost nameless crimes have blackened the annals of Kansas, and as being the resorts of numerous combinations which have there congregated to plot against its peace. In a word, they are the strongholds of the worst of the `Border Ruffians.'
*****"Let it not be understood that this latter term is considered by those to whom it is applied as one of reproach. On the contrary, they boast of it, are proud of it, glory in it, and do all in their power to merit it, and very many of them have been eminently successful. In their manner they assume the character of the ruffian-in their dress they exhibit the appearance of the ruffian-and in their conversation they are ruffians indeed. They imitate and resemble the guerrillas, ladrones, or greasers of Mexico-the brigands of Spain or Italy, or the pirates, robbers and murderers of the theatre. On the levee at Kansas City stood a sort of omnibus or wagon, used to convey passengers to and from Westport, upon either side of which was painted, in flaming capitals, the words `BORDER RUFFIAN'. Standing about in groups, or running in every direction, were numbers of the men who claim for themselves that gentle appellation.
*****"A description of one of these will give the reader some idea of their general characteristics. Imagine, then, a man standing in a pair of long boots, covered with dust and mud, and drawn over his trousers, the latter made of coarse, fancy-colored cloth, well soiled-the handle of a large bowie-knife projecting from one or both boot-tops--a leather belt buckled around his waist, on each side of which is fastened a large revolver-a red or blue shirt, with a heart, anchor, eagle, or some other favorite device braided on the breast and back, over which is swung a rifle or carbine-a sword dangling by his side-an old slouched hat, with a cockade or brass star on the front or side, and a chicken, goose or turkey feather sticking in the top-hair uncut and uncombed, covering his neck and shoulders-an unshaved face and unwashed hands. Imagine such a picture of humanity, who can swear a given number of oaths in any specific time, drink any quantity of bad whisky without getting drunk, and boast of having stolen a half-dozen horses and killed one or more abolitionists, and you will have a pretty fair conception of a border ruffian as he appeared in Missouri and Kansas."
Best regards
*****Dr. Gihon, the private secretary of Ex-Governor Geary, in his forthcoming work on Kansas, gives the following truthful and graphic picture of the world-renowned Border Ruffian. Every citizen of Kansas will attest to its accuracy. As the race is fast becoming extinct, so few now being found who will acknowledge the name, they will soon be as scarce as witches.-Hence a painting of them drawn from life will in a few years be of great interest:
*****"Active preparations for war were discernible at all the river towns. At Lexington, a large crowd was assembled on the levee, many of the persons comprising it loaded with arms. But at Kansas City, the warlike demonstrations were still greater. This town is on the southern side of the mouth of Kansas river, which, at this point, separates Missouri from the territory of Kansas. It is situated about five miles from Westport, near the eastern landing of Kansas where the Missouri army was concentrating preparatory to the invasion of the territory. Both of these towns have become notorious as places of refuge for the most desperate characters, whose almost nameless crimes have blackened the annals of Kansas, and as being the resorts of numerous combinations which have there congregated to plot against its peace. In a word, they are the strongholds of the worst of the `Border Ruffians.'
*****"Let it not be understood that this latter term is considered by those to whom it is applied as one of reproach. On the contrary, they boast of it, are proud of it, glory in it, and do all in their power to merit it, and very many of them have been eminently successful. In their manner they assume the character of the ruffian-in their dress they exhibit the appearance of the ruffian-and in their conversation they are ruffians indeed. They imitate and resemble the guerrillas, ladrones, or greasers of Mexico-the brigands of Spain or Italy, or the pirates, robbers and murderers of the theatre. On the levee at Kansas City stood a sort of omnibus or wagon, used to convey passengers to and from Westport, upon either side of which was painted, in flaming capitals, the words `BORDER RUFFIAN'. Standing about in groups, or running in every direction, were numbers of the men who claim for themselves that gentle appellation.
*****"A description of one of these will give the reader some idea of their general characteristics. Imagine, then, a man standing in a pair of long boots, covered with dust and mud, and drawn over his trousers, the latter made of coarse, fancy-colored cloth, well soiled-the handle of a large bowie-knife projecting from one or both boot-tops--a leather belt buckled around his waist, on each side of which is fastened a large revolver-a red or blue shirt, with a heart, anchor, eagle, or some other favorite device braided on the breast and back, over which is swung a rifle or carbine-a sword dangling by his side-an old slouched hat, with a cockade or brass star on the front or side, and a chicken, goose or turkey feather sticking in the top-hair uncut and uncombed, covering his neck and shoulders-an unshaved face and unwashed hands. Imagine such a picture of humanity, who can swear a given number of oaths in any specific time, drink any quantity of bad whisky without getting drunk, and boast of having stolen a half-dozen horses and killed one or more abolitionists, and you will have a pretty fair conception of a border ruffian as he appeared in Missouri and Kansas."
Best regards