They met Jones and his company at Blanton's Bridge, on the Wakarusa River, where Jones was crossing to go to Lecompte, and called a halt.

Jones demanded: "What's up ?" Sam Wood replied: "That's what we want to know." Wood asked: "Is Jacob Branson in this crowd ?" Branson replied: "Yes, I am here and a prisoner." Wood replied: "Well, come out here among your friends." Jones threatened with oaths and imprecations to shoot.

The rescuing party leveled their guns and said: "Well, we can shoot, too." Nobody was hurt, no gun was fired, and Jacob Branson, coming out from among his captors, walked away.
It will be seen that this was a clear and palpable violation of the plan of procedure which the free State men had agreed upon among themselves, and this act made Kansas for three years a dark and bloody ground, and concentrated on this Territory the eyes of the whole nation.

Of the rescuing party only three were citizens of Lawrence.

Sam Wood was in his element.