in october 1855, john brown came to kansas territory to fight slavery. on november 21, 1855 a skirmish called "wakarusa war" started when a free-stater named charles dow was shot by a pro-slavery settler. the war had one death, a free stater named thomas barber was shot and killed. on may 21, 1856, missourians invaded lawrence and burned the free state hotel. they destroyed two newspaper offices, and ransacked homes and stores.