No 367 ?ar* 
 
 Published WeeJcly. By Subscription, $5 Per Annum. 
 
 [KNTEBKD AT THK AUCUSTA POST-OITICE AS SECOND CLASS MATTER.[ 
 
 THE FIRESIDE LIBRARY. 
 
 INDIAN MASSACRES 
 
 AND 
 
 Tales of the Red Skins, 
 
 P. O. VICKERY, Publisher. 
 
 AUGUSTA, ME. 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES 
 
 AND 
 
 TALES OF THE RED SKINS: 
 
 AN 
 
 AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN 
 INDIAN FROM 1492 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY A. D. PORTER, 
 NEW YORK 
 1895. 
 
COPYRIGHT 1895, BY 
 A, D. PORTER. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 The assertion that "truth is stranger than fiction " is again 
 verified in this little volume, the contents of \vhich have been 
 collated from historical facts about Indians from time im- 
 memorial in America down to the present day far surpass- 
 ing the blood-curdling stories evolved from the imaginations 
 of sensational novel writers. All the bloody massacres and 
 Indian \vars with our aborigines are here succinctly tran- 
 scribed for the benefit of those who have not the time or data 
 for research, yet crave the exciting and horrible in literature. 
 It is not the intention of the compiler to inflame the minds 
 of Young America, or provide that kind of mental pabulum 
 that creates a desire to go West to light the Red Men. Hence 
 he advises the putting away of all guns, for all the remaining 
 savages in this country are now corraled on reservations 
 under the eyes of Government soldiers, and there is small 
 possibility of ther<* ever being occasion again to record par- 
 allel Indian horror- with those here presented. 
 
 THE PUBLISHER. 
 

m 
 
 INDIAN MASSACRED 
 
 CHAPTEB I. 
 
 ORIGIN OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS THEIR CUSTOMS, RELIGION 
 AND PECULIARITIES. 
 
 PERHAPS the Indian, as far r;s color goes, has the clearest 
 o of all the races of the earth as the lineal descendant of 
 Adam, the first man, (whose name signified red dirt), God 
 having chosen such material for his formation. This, how- 
 ever, is only speculation. 
 
 The native races of no; ia a nd the Indians of Amer- 
 
 5 belonging to the same Mongoloid variety 
 of the human race ; but whether America was originally peo- 
 ple*; r Asia from America, is a problem which 
 prc-historio research has not yet solved. The strongest 
 proof tli lians are from Asia is afforded by the fact 
 that the nomadic tribes of Alaska are related to the Eam- 
 chatkaos, who even now pass and repass Behring Straits. 
 A tribe was found in Alaska who spoke the language of Kam- 
 chatka, and many tribes on both sides of the Straits were 
 identical in manners and customs. Ot':er similarities estab- 
 lished were those of features and complexion ; religion, dress 
 and ornaments; marriages, methods of warfare, dances, 
 sacrifices, funeral rites, festivals and beliefs concerning 
 ireams ; games, naming of children, dwellings and forms of 
 government. 
 
 Columbus, when he touched land in 1492, believed he had 
 reached luuia, and consequently he called the natives In- 
 dians. How long the Continent had been peopled before Ids 
 discovery is unknown, but ancient remains, such as the 
 mounds in the Mississippi valley, the pre-historic copper- 
 mines south of Lake Superior, and the shell-mounds (kitchen- 
 
 ^1- the fact th;t m\ aborig- 
 
^ INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 inal people, or most likely two aboriginal peoples, had ex- 
 - isted in what is now the United States for an indefinite 
 period extending over many hundreds and perhaps thou- 
 sands of years. The colonists of this country found the na- 
 tive Indians divided into numerous tribes, speaking differ- 
 ent dialects. East of the Mississippi, the chief of these, with 
 their probable number ab'out A. D. 1650 were : the Algonquin 
 tribes, 90,000 ; the Sioux or Dakotas, 3,000 ; the Huron Iro- 
 quois, 17,000 ; Catawbas, 3,000 ; Cherokees, 12,000 ; Uchees, 
 1,000 ; Natchez, 4,000 ; and Mobilians, 50,000 about 180,000 all 
 told. 
 
 The Indians, before receiving instruction concerning the 
 white man's God, generally believed in the existence of a 
 Supreme Deity, embodying a principle of universal benevo- 
 lence, and that to him their gratitude was due for all natural 
 benefits. On the other hand, they stood in fear of a spirit of 
 evil, whose influence upon human affairs they considered as 
 being more direct and familiar. To this being, known 
 among many tribes as Hobamocko, much more assiduous 
 devotion was paid than to the Great Spirit, it being far more 
 essential in their view to deprecate the wrath of a terrible 
 enemy, than to seek the favor of one already perfectly well 
 disposed toward his creatures. Beside these two superior 
 deities, a sort of fanciful mythology invested every notable 
 object with its tutelary divinity, and bestowed on each indi- 
 vidual his guardian spirit. A general idea that the good 
 would be rewarded, and the bad punished, was entertained. 
 A pleasant land was fabled, in which the hunter, after death, 
 should pursue his favorite employment, in the midst of abun- 
 dance, and a stranger forever to want or fear. Their heaven 
 was as far removed from the sensual paradise of the Mahom- 
 etans, as from the pure abstractions of an enlightened re- 
 ligion. Ease, comfort, and a sufficiency for the natural 
 wants, seemed all-sufficient to these simple children of nat- 
 ure, to render an eternity delightful. 
 
 The general appearance of a North America' Indian can be 
 given in few words ; the resemblance between those of differ- 
 ent tribes being full as close as between different nations of 
 either of the great fa 'nilies into which the human race has 
 been arbitrarily divided. They are about of the average 
 height which man attains when his form is not crammed by 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 7 
 
 premature or excessive labor, but their erect posture and 
 slender figure give them the appearance of a tall race. Their 
 limbs are well formed, but calculated rather for agility than 
 strength, in which they rarely equal the more vigorous of 
 European nations. They generally have small feet. 
 
 The most distinguishing peculiarities of the race are the, 
 reddish or copper color of the skin ; the prominence of the 
 cheek-bone ; and the color and quality of the hair. This is 
 not absolutely straight, but somewhat wavy, and has not in- 
 aptly been compared to the mane of the horse less from its 
 coarseness than from its glossy hue and the manner in which 
 it hangs. Their eyes are universally dark. The women are 
 rather short, with broader faces, and a greater tendency to 
 obesity than the men, but many of them possess a symmet- 
 rical figure, with an agreeable and attractive countenance. 
 
 It was formerly quite a general impression that the Indians 
 were destitute of beards. This error resulted from the almost 
 universal custom prevalent among them of eradicating what 
 they esteemed a deformity. Tweezers, made of wood or 
 muscle-shells, served to pluck out the hairs as soon as they 
 appeared ; and, after intercourse with the whites commenced, 
 a coil of spiral wire was applied to the same use. "It was es- 
 teemed greatly becoming among the men to carry this oper- 
 ation still further, and to lay bare the whole head, with the 
 exception of a top-knot, or ridge like the comb of a cock, in 
 which feathers or porcupine quills were fantastically inter- 
 woven. 
 
 The Indians are naturally taciturn,but fond of set speeches. 
 Their oratory is of no mean order, and is distinguished 
 for a pithiness, a quaintness, and occasionally a vein of dry 
 sarcasm, which have never been surpassed. The most pleas- 
 ing traits in the character of these strange people are their 
 reverence for age, their affection for their children, their 
 high notions of honor, and their keen sense of justice. The 
 great stigma upon the whole race is their deliberate and 
 systematic cruelty in the treatment of captives. It is hard 
 t<> account for this, but it really appears, upon investigation, 
 to be rather a national custom, gradually reaching a climax, 
 than to have arisen from any innate love of inflicting pain. 
 It is perfectly certain that, if the children of the most en- 
 ned ^nation on earth should be brought up in occasion- 
 
8 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 al familiarity with, scenes like those witnessed at the execu- 
 tion of a prisoner by the American savages, they would ex- 
 perience no horror at the sight. We need not seek further 
 than the history of religious and political persecutions in 
 Europe, or the cruelties practise 1 on reputed witches in our 
 own country, to satisfy us that the character of the Indians 
 will suffer little by comparison with that of their coiiteni 
 raries of our own race. 
 
 Among some of those nations which included an extensive 
 confederacy, where a system of government had become 
 settled by usage, and the authority of the chief had bee a 
 strengthened by Ion gsubmission to him and las predeces- 
 sors, an arbitrary monarchy see;vs to have prevailed ; but 
 among the smaller tribes, the authority of the chief was 
 rather advisory than absolute. There was generally a king 
 who held hereditary offices, and exercised the powers of a 
 civil governor by virtue of his descent, while to lead the war- 
 riors in battle, the bravest, most redoubted and sagacious 
 of the tribe was elected. These two chiel' offices were not 
 unfrequently united in the same person, when the lawful 
 sachem, from a spirit of emulation or from natural advan- 
 tages, showed himself worthy of the position. 
 
 All matters of national interest were discussed at a solemn 
 council, consisting of the principal men of the tribe, and at 
 which great decorum and formality were observed. As the 
 debate proceeded, the whole cone lave, whenever a remark 
 from the orator speaking excited their approbation, would 
 give expression to their approval by a guttural ejaculation, 
 
 A natural instinct of retributive justice ordained that the 
 crime of murder should be punished by the hand of the de- 
 ceased person's nearest relative. 
 
 The institution of marriage among the American Indians 
 in their palmy days was by no means so restrictive a system 
 as that adopted by enlightened nations. It was for t' <e u : 
 part dissoluble at the pleasure of the parties, and polygamy 
 was extensively practiced. As with other barbarous nations, 
 the woman was compelled to undergo the drudgery of daily 
 labor, while her lord and master lounged indolently about 
 the village, except at times when his energies were called 
 forth for hunting or war. When once engaged in these pur- 
 suits, his fixedness of purpose, and the readiness with which 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 he would undergo the extremes of toil, exposure, hunger, 
 and privation, was marvelous. 
 
 Our museum. s throughout the country teem with speci- 
 mens of the primitive instruments used by Indians for of- 
 fciu-c or d fence. Arrow heads were made of triangular bits 
 or wrought Hint, quartz, or other stone. Larger pieces of 
 the same material served for lances and tomahawks. How 
 the arrow and lance heads could have>jaqgn attached with ' 
 any degree of firmness to the wood, seems almost incompre- 
 hensible. A species of glue assisted in accomplishing this 
 object, but the shank or portion of the stone that entered the 
 wood is in some of the specimens so short and ill denned, 
 that it seems impossible that it should have been held firm 
 in its place by such means. A handle \vas commonly affixed 
 to the "tom-hog" or tomahawk by inserting it in a split sap- 
 ling, and waiting for the wood to grow firmly -around it; 
 after which, it was cut off at the requisite length. 
 
 The Indian bow was shorter than that formerly used in 
 England, and was so stiff as to require great strength or skill 
 to bend it. It became a much more effective weapon after 
 the introduction of steel or iron arrow-heads. Clubs, some- 
 times studded with flints, with the bow and tomahawk, con- 
 stituted the principal weapons of the race. Daggers of flint 
 or bone, and shields of buffalo-hide, were in use among some 
 of the Western tribes. 
 
 The habitations and clothing of the Indians varied greatly 
 with the temperature of the climate. In the warm regions 
 of the South, a slight covering proved sufficient, while to 
 resist the severity of a New England winter very efficient 
 precautions were taken. The usual manner of building their 
 wigwams was by fixing a row of poles firmly in the ground, 
 in the form of a circle, and then bending and confining the 
 tops together in the centre. A- hole was left for the smoke i 
 of the fire to escape, at the top of the cabin ; every other part i 
 being warmly and closely covered with matting. A tight 
 screen hung over the doorway, which was raised when any 
 one entered, and then allowed to fall into its place. 
 
 A species of matting was prepared by peeling the bark 
 from trees, and subjecting it, packed in layers, to a heavy 
 pressure. With this material, or with mats woven from 
 rushes, etc., the walls of the huts were" so closely thatched, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES, 
 
 as to effectually resist wind and weather, however stormy au 1 
 cold. 
 
 Some of these wigwams were of great size, being from fifty 
 to a hundred feet in length, but the generality were of di- 
 mensions suitable to a single family. Their bedding ton- 
 sisted of mattresses disposed in bunks attached to the walls, 
 or upon low movable couches. Bear and deer skins fur- 
 nished additional covering. Their other furniture and house- 
 hold utensils were simple in the extreme. Clay or earthern 
 pots, wooden platters, bowls and spoons, and pails ingenious- 
 ly fashioned of birch bark, served their purpose for cookery 
 and the table. They were skilled in basket-making. 
 
 In many of their towns and villages, the wigwams were 
 set in orderly rows, with an open space or court near the 
 centre ; while th whole was surrounded by a strong palisade, 
 having but one or two narrow entrances. 
 
 The clothing of the Indians consisted mostly of skins, 
 dressed with no little skill. Leggins of deer skins, with a 
 hand's breadth of the material hanging loose at the side 
 seam, and often highly ornamented with fringe and em- 
 broidery ; moccasins of buck, elk, or buffalo skin ; and a gar- 
 ment of various fashion, from a simple cincture about the 
 loins, to a warm and ornamental mantle or coat, completed 
 the equipment of the men. 
 
 The women wore a short frock, reaching to the knees ; their 
 covering for the legs and feet .was similar to that worn by 
 the men. Ornamental mantles, covere 1 with neatly arranged 
 feathers, were in vogue. Colored porcupine quills were in 
 general use, both for stitching and ornamenting the clothing 
 and other equipments. 
 
 A fondness for gay colors and gaudy decorations was con- 
 spicuous in all the tribes. From pocone and other roots a 
 brilliant red paint or dye was prepared, with which and other 
 pigments, as charcoal, earths, and extracts from the barks 
 of certain trees, they painted their bodies, either to make a 
 a terrible impression on their enemies, or simply to bedeck 
 themselves in becoming manner in tne eyes of their friends. 
 The usual savage custom of wearing pendants at the ears 
 was common. 
 
 The "qua-hog" or round clam furnished the principal 
 material for money or wampum, the variegated purple por- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 1 I 
 
 tions of the shell being much the most valuable. The great 
 labor in preparing it was the borin g, which was effected by 
 a sharp flint. When we consider the slow nature of such a 
 process, we can scarcely credit the accounts siven of the im- 
 mense quantities of wampum that were procured by the 
 white colo nists, while it retained its value in exchange for 
 European commodities, or which were exacted as tribute, 
 in atonement for national offences. With this "wompom- 
 peague" they paid tribute, redeemed captives, satisfied for 
 murders and other wrongs, purchased peace \vith t ieir po- 
 tent neighbors, as occasion required; in a word, it answered 
 on all occasions, with them, as gold and silver doth with us. 
 They delighted much in having and using knives, combs, 
 scissors, hatchets, hoes, guns, needles, awls, looking-glasses 
 an 1 such like necessaries which they purchased of the En- 
 glish and Dutch with their "peague," and then sold them 
 their peltry for their "wompeague." 
 
 The principal articles of food used by the aborigines were 
 the products of the chase,fish, beans, some species of squashes 
 and pumpkins, and maize or Indian Corn. Wild rice,growing 
 in rich wet land in the interior of the country, furnished a 
 wholesome and easily gathered supply of farinaceous food to 
 the tribes of the temperate portion of the United States. Shell 
 fish were a very important addition to the resources of those 
 who dwelt near the sea-coa t, and in the interior, various 
 species of wild roots, and certain nutritious bark supplied 
 the failure of the cultivated crop, and furnished the means 
 to eke out a subsistence when the hunt was unsuccessful or 
 the last year's stores had boo* consumed before the season 
 of harvest. The use of milk was entirely unknDwn to the 
 Indians until the white man taught them its value. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FIRST TBOUBLES WITH WHITE MEN FLOEIDA INDIANS. 
 
 LITTLE is known of the history of American Indians previ- 
 ous to the discoveries by Spaniards. It was unfortunate 
 that these early voyagers were mo'stly hard-hearted men. 
 In almost every instance of first contact with the aborigines 
 deeds of violence were unnecessarily committed by the in- 
 vaders. If they did not kill, they generally managed to en- 
 tice a few of them aboard their ships, and conveyed them to 
 Europe as vouchers of the truth of their reports. Columbus, 
 on his first voyage in 1492, carried away a number of natives 
 to Spain. Only seven survived the sea voyage, and these 
 were presented to King Ferdinand. The blodd of several In- 
 dians was shed by Columbus' crew. Sebastian Cabot gave 
 three Newfoundlanders to Henry VII. In 1508 the French 
 discovered the St. Lawrence and on their return carried off 
 several Indians to Paris. 
 
 The adventures of Spaniards with the Indians ot Florida 
 are among the earliest, chronologically, and are very thrilling 
 in interest. Juan Ponce de Leon, governor of Porto Eico, 
 was led by Indian fables in 1512 to search the low islands of 
 the coast for a fountain that should bestow perp'etutU youth. 
 All of North America, to the northward and eastward of Mex- 
 ico, went by the name of Florida, before English settlements 
 were made upon the coast. Failing in his first search, Leon 
 undertook a second expedition into the unknown world, in 
 hopes of finding mines of the precious metals, but was killed 
 in a fight with the natives. 
 
 The perfidious Luke Valasquez de Ayllon, in 1518, visited 
 Florida, to procure gold and slaves. The kindly natives, 
 whom he tempted on board, were shut under hatches, and 
 conveyed to Cuba. Returning again to the country, he and 
 his party were justly punished for their treachery, nearly al 
 of them being slain by the inhabitants, \vho, mindful of for- 
 mer injuries, rose upon them unawares. Those who had 
 been carried into servitude mostly perished, by volu&tary 
 starvation, grief and despair. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 13 
 
 The Indians of Florida showed a great degree of resolution 
 and desperate valor, in defending their bomes against the 
 murderous Spaniards. Unappalled by the terrible execution 
 of the unknown weapons of their enemies, who, mounted up- 
 on horses i hitherto unknown in the country) and clad in de- 
 fensive armor, presented a novel spectacle to their wonder- 
 ing eyes, they disputed the invaded territory inch by inch. 
 
 Pamphilo de Narvaez, in April 1528, with a commission 
 from Charles the Fifth to conquer and take possession, land- 
 ed four hundred men and forty or fifty horses at East Flori- 
 da. Penetrating the wilderness, they crossed the country to 
 Appalache. Finding no gold, and but little provision at this 
 town, from which they drove out the inhabitants, the Span- 
 iards shaped their course toward Aute, only to find it burned 
 and deserted by its inhabitants. Many of the party having 
 already perished, the rest, hopeless of making further prog- 
 ress by land, set to work to construct boats in which they 
 might reach a port of safety. With singular ingenuity they 
 prepared tools from the. iron of their accoutrements ; and, 
 with no further materials than were furnished by the pro- 
 ductions of the forest, aud the manes, tails, and skins of their 
 horses, five small boats were built. They embarked and set 
 sail, but nearly all perished, either by famine or by the dan- 
 garo of the sea. Only a handful of the number were ever 
 , from, among whom was Alvar Funez Cabeza de Vaca. 
 With only four companions he kept on his course to the 
 West, and, after years of peril, reached the Spanish settle- 
 ments of Mexico. 
 
 The next Spanish expedition to Florida was that of Fernan- 
 do de Soto, who w r ith seven ships of his own providing, and 
 accompanied by from six hundred to one thousand warlike 
 and energetic adventurers, many of whom were of noble 
 rank, he set sail, in April 1538. Upward of a year was spent, 
 mostly upon the island of Cuba, before the fleet set sail for 
 the Florida coast. In May 1539, the vessels camb to anchor 
 off Tampa Bay, and a large division of soldiers, both horse 
 and foot, were landed. The I ndians had taken the alarm, 
 ar.. 1, although the smoke of their fires had been seen from 
 ship-board in various directions, all had fled from the district, 
 or lay concealed in the thickets. Some skirmishes tjok place 
 near the point of landing, and the Spaniards speedily pos- 
 
H INDIAN MAfcSACKEH. 
 
 seesed themselves of the nearest village, where were the head- 
 quarters of the Hiriga, the chief. 
 
 At the inland extremity of the town stood the temple de- 
 voted by the Indians to religious observances. Over the en- 
 trance was the wooden figure of a fowl, having the eyes gild- 
 ed placed there for the purpose of ornament. Cle, 
 war* now made around the village to give free scope to the 
 cavalry, and parties were sent out to explore the country, 
 and to make prisoners who should serve as guides or hos 
 tages. The remembrance of outrages committed upon him- 
 self and his people by Narvaez, had so embittered Hiriga 
 against the whites, that no professions of friendship and good 
 will could appease his hatred. In the tangled forests the In- 
 dians were found to be no contemptible opponents. Their 
 bows and arrows'wero so effective that coats of mail did not 
 prove a sufficient protection against their force. The arrow? 
 were headed, as usual, with stone, or with fish-bones; those 
 which were made of canes or reeds produced the deadliest 
 effect. 
 
 A party, under Gallegos, scouring the country a few miles 
 from the camp attacked M small body of Indians, and put 
 them to flight ; but, as a horsemau. was charging with his 
 lance at one of the number, he was amazed to hear him cry 
 out: " i-irs, I am a Christian ; do not kill me, nor these p .or 
 men, who have given me my life/' Naked, sun-burned, and 
 painted, this man was scarcely distinguishable from his wild 
 associates. His name was John Ortiz, and he had lived with 
 the Indians twelve years, being one of the few followers of 
 Narvaez who escaped destruction Since the disastrous fail 
 lire of that expedition ho had made his way to Cuba in a 
 small boat, and had returned again to Florida in a small ves- 
 sel sent in quest of the lost party. The Indians enticed a fo'.v 
 of the crew on shore, and made them prisoners. Orti 
 among the number, and was the only one who escaped im- 
 mediate death. After amusing themselves by various ex- 
 pedients to Unify and torment their captive, the sava<- 
 the command of Hiriga, bound him to four stakes, and kin- 
 dled afire beneath him. He was preserved, oven in this ex- 
 tremity, by the compassionate entreaties and persuasions of 
 a daughter of the chief. His burns having been healed, he 
 was deputed to keep watch over tho temple where the bodies 
 
INDIAN MAS. 
 
 of the dead were deposited, to defend them from attacks of 
 wolves. His vigilance and resolution, in dispatching a wolf, 
 whi h had seized the body of a child of oie of tha principal 
 chiefs, aroused a kindly feeling toward him, and he was well 
 used for three years. At the end of that time Hiriga, haying 
 been worsted in a fight withMoscoso, a hostile chief, thought 
 it necessary or expedient to make a sacrifice of his Christian 
 subject to the devil. Forewarned of this dai.ger by his for- 
 mer benefactress, Ortiz fled in the night toward the country 
 of Moscoso. Upon first meeting with the subjects of this 
 chief, he was in great danger from the want of an interpreter 
 to explain whence he came, and what was his errand ; but, at 
 last, finding an Indian who understood the language of the 
 people with whom he had lived, he quieted the suspicions of 
 his hosts, and remained with them in friendship no less than 
 nine years. Moscoso, hearing of the arrival of De Soto, gen- 
 erously furnished his captive with an escort, and gave him 
 free permission to return to his countrymen. 
 
 De Soto now concluded to send his vessels back to Cuba, 
 and, leaving a strong guard in Hiriga's country, proceeded 
 northward to Vitachuco. The treacherous chief pretended 
 friendship, but prepared for an overwhelming attack. The 
 vigilance of John Ortiz, however, averted the catastrophe. 
 The cacique, or chief, was secured, and his army routed. 
 Many of the fugitives were driven into a lake, where they 
 concealed themselves by covering their heads with the leaves 
 of water-lilies. The lake was surrounded by the Spanisii 
 troops, but such was the resolution of the Indians, that they 
 remained the whole night immersed in water, and, on the 
 following day, when the rest had delivered themselves up, 
 being constrained by the sharpness of the cold they had en- 
 dured in the water, twelve still held out, resolving to die 
 rather than surrender. Chilled and stupefied by exposure, 
 these were dragged ashore by some Indians of Paracoxi, be- 
 longing to De'Soto's party, who swam after them, and seized 
 them by the hair. 
 
 Ithough a prisoner, with his chief warriors reduced to the 
 Condition of servants, Vitachuco did not lay aside his daring 
 purposes of revenge. He managed to circulate the order 
 among his men, that on a day appointed, while the Spaniards 
 were at dinner, every Indian should attack the one nearest 
 
INDIAN MASSACKES. 
 
 him with whatever weapon came to hand. When the time 
 arrived, Vitaclmco, who was seated at the generals table, 
 rallying himself for a desperate effort, sprang upon his host, 
 and endeavored to strangle him. ''This blade," says the 
 Portugese narrator, " fell upon the general; but before he 
 could get his two hands to his throat, he gave him saeh a 
 furious blow with his list upon the fa^e that he put him all in 
 a gore of blood." De Soto would have doubtless perished by 
 the unarmed hands of the muscular chief had not his attend- 
 ants despatched the assailant. 
 
 All the other prisoners followed their cacique's example. 
 Catching at the Spaniards' arms, or the " pounder wherewith 
 they pounded the maize," each set upon his master there- 
 with, or on the first that fell into his hands. They made 
 use of the lances or swords they met with, as skilfully 
 as if they had been bred to it from childhood ; so that one of 
 them, with sword in hand, made head against fifteen or twen- 
 ty ^men in the open place, until he was killed by the govern- 
 or's halberdiers. Another desperate warrior, with only a 
 lanee, kept possession of the room where the Indian corn was 
 stored, and could not be dislodged. He was shot through an 
 aperture in the roof. The Indians were at last overpowered, 
 and all who had not perished in the struggle, were bound to 
 stakes and put to death. Their executioners were the In- 
 dians of Paracoxi, who shot them with arrows. 
 
 De Soto, about the last of November, sent a detachment 
 back to the bay of Espiritu Santo, with directions for two 
 caravels to repair to Cuba, aoid the other vessels, which had 
 not already been ordered home, to come round by sea and 
 join him at Palache. Twenty Indian women were sent as a 
 present to the general's wife, Donna Isabella, 
 
 De Sota died upon the Red river, and those of his compan- 
 ions who escaped death from exposure, disease, or savage 
 weapons, years after the events above described, made their 
 way down the Mississippi to the <u7*, and thencG reacted ^ne 
 Spanish provinces of Mexico. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTEK III. 
 
 VIRGINIA INEIANS ADVENTURES OF CAPT. JOHN SMITH. 
 
 IN 1584 Sir "Walter Kaleigh, under a patent from Queen 
 Elizabeth, sent out two small vessels, which duly arrived at 
 the island of Eoanoke, where the voyagers were royally en- 
 tertained by Winginia, King of the country, and his wife. 
 Sir Walter christened the land Virgin ia in honor of the 
 queen. 
 
 Sir Pdchard Grenville visited Virginiain 1585 and left over 
 100 men to form a settlement at Koanoke. All returned, how- 
 ever, within a year. 
 
 The most complete account of the aboriginal inhabitants 
 of Virginia, particularly those who dwelt in the eastern por- 
 tion of that district upon the rivers and the shores of Chesa- 
 peake Bay, is contained in the narrative of Captain John 
 Smith. This bold and energetic pioneer, joined his fortunes 
 to those of Bartholomew Gosnoll and his party, who sailed 
 from England on the 19th of December, 1606, and soon be- 
 came leader ia the colony he brought from the mother- 
 country. 
 
 Smith, with a barge and boat's crew, undertook an explor* 
 ation of the sources of the Chickahominy, which empties 
 into James river, a few miles above Jamestown. After 
 making his way for about fifty miles up the stream, his prog- 
 ress was so impeded by fallen trees and the narrowness of 
 the channel, that. he left the boat and crew in a sort of bay, 
 and proceeded in a canoe, accompanied only by two English- 
 men and two Indian guides. The men left in charge of the 
 boat, disregarding his orders to stay on board till his return, 
 were set upon by a great body of natives, and one of their 
 number, George Cassen, was taken prisoner. Having com- ' 
 pelled their captive to disclose the intentions and position 
 of the captain, these savages proceeded to put him to death 
 in a most barbarous manner, severing his limbs at the joints 
 with shells, and burning them before his face. As they 
 dared not attack the armed company in the boat, all hands 
 then set out in hot pursuit of Smith. 
 
 Coming upon the little party among the marshes, they 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. * 
 
 shot the two Englishmen as they were sleeping by the canoe ; 
 and, to the number of over two hundred, surrounded the 
 gallant captain, who, accompanied by one of his guides, was 
 out with his gun in search of game. Binding the Indian fast 
 to his arm, with a garter, as a protection from the shafts of 
 the enemy, Smith made such good use of his gun that he 
 killed three of his assailants and wounded several otheis. 
 The whole body stood at some distance, stricken with terror 
 at ,ne unwonted execution of his weapon, while he slowly 
 retired toward the canoe. Unfortunately, attempting to 
 cross a creek with a miry bottom, he stuck fast, together 
 with his guide, and, becoming benumbed with cold, he threw 
 away his arms, and surrendered himself. Delighted with 
 their acquisition, the savages took him to the fire, and re- 
 stored animation to his limbs by warmth and friction. He 
 immediately set himself about conciliating the king, and 
 presenting him with an ivory pocket compass, proceeded to 
 explain its use. Perhaps with a view of trying his courage, 
 they bound him to a tree, and all made ready to let fly their 
 arrows at him, but were stayed by a sign from the chief. 
 They then carried him to Orapaks, where he was well fed, 
 and treated with kindness. When they reached the town, a 
 strange savage dance w T as performed around the chief and 
 his captive, by the whole body of warriors. 
 
 Although the Indians would not, as yet, eat with their 
 prisoner, he was so feasted that a suspicion arose in his mind 
 that they " would fat him to eat him." One of the old war- 
 riors, whose son had been wounded at the time of the capt- 
 ure, was with difficulty restrained from killing him. The 
 young Indian was at his last gasp, but Smith, wishing to 
 send information to Jamestown, said that he had there a 
 medicine of potent effect. The messengers sent on this er- 
 rand made their way to Jamestown, carrying a note from 
 Smith. They returned, bringing with them the articles re- 
 quested in the letter, to the wonder of all that heard it, for 
 they thought he could either divine, or the paper could 
 speak. 
 
 A plan was at that time on foot to make an attack upon the 
 colony, and such rewards as were in their power to bestow 
 ''life, liberty, land and women" were proffered to Smith by 
 tbe Indians, if he would lend his assistance. They made a 
 
INDIAN MASSACi 19 
 
 triumphal progress with their i.lustrious captive, among the 
 tribes on the Kappahanock and Potomac rivers, and else- 
 where. At Painaunkee, a solemn incantation was performed 
 with a view to ascertain his real feelings toward them. Hav- 
 ing seated him upon a mat before a fire, in one of the larger 
 cabins, ail retired, and presently there came skipping in a 
 great grim fellow, all painted, with a hellish voice and a rat- 
 tle in his hand. He sprinkled a circle of meal about the 
 lire, and commenced his conjuration. Six more similar 
 devils then entered, and having danced about him for a 
 time, sat down and sang a wild song. The chief conj uror 
 next laid down five kernels of corn, and proceeded to make 
 an extravagant oration. At the conclusion they all gave a 
 short groan, and then laid down three grains more. The 
 operation was continued till they had twice incircled the fire 
 and was then varied by using sticks instead of corn. Three 
 days were spent in these wearisome barbarities, each day 
 passed in fasting, and the nights being as regularly 
 ushered in with feasts. Smith was, after this, entertained 
 with the best of cheer at the house of , a brother to the king. 
 He still observed that not one of the men would eat with him, 
 but the remains of the feast were given him to be distributed 
 among the women and children. 
 
 The great monarch of the country, Powhatan, at this 
 period, was holding his court on the bank of York river, and 
 thither S iih was conveyed to await the royal pleasure. 
 The reception of so important a captive was conducted with 
 suitable solemnity and parade. Powhatan sat upon a raised 
 seat before a fire'. He was about sixty years of age, of noble 
 figure, and commanding presence. A young girl sat on each 
 r the king, and marshalled around the room were rows 
 of warriors and women, bedecked with beads, feathers and 
 {Taint. Smith's entrance was hailed by a shout; the queen 
 brought him water to wash, and he was magnificently enter- 
 tained. Having ended his repast, a long consultation was 
 held, when two great stones were brought before Powhatan ; 
 then as many as could, laid hands on the captive, dragged 
 him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready 
 wi;h their olubs to beat out hia brains, Pocahontas, the 
 king's nearest (laugat^r, when no entreaty could prevail, got 
 his head in her aims, and laid her own upon his to save him 
 
20 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 death : whereat the Emperor was contented he should 
 
 live. 
 
 Of late years strong doubt has been entertained as to the 
 truth of Captain Smith's story about Ponahontas. 
 
 After two days of friendly intercourse, Smith was informed 
 that he might return in safety to Jamestown ; but as a pre- 
 lude to the conveyance of this satisfactory intelligence, Pow- 
 hatan was at much pains to get up a theatrical scene that 
 should terrify his prisoner. Loft alone in a large cabin, 
 Smith's ears were saluted by frightful noises from behind a 
 mat partition, and, soon Powhatan, with hundreds of attend- 
 ants, in hideous disguises, made his appearance. He ap- 
 pointed twelve Indians to guide him to the settlement,- re- 
 questing that a grindstone and two great guns should be 
 sent back by them in return for liberty. Captain Smith 
 felt little security- or easo until he was safely restored to his 
 companions at Jamestown. Two demi-culv^rins, together 
 with a millstone, were proffered to the guides; but, seeing 
 the terrible effect of a discharge of stones among the 
 branches of an ice-covered tree, the poor savages were great- 
 ly terrified, and accepted divers toys in place of so weighty 
 and dangerous a present. 
 
 So reduced were the settlers at this time, that all must 
 have perished with starvation but for the intercourse estab- 
 ished by Smith between the in and the people of Powhatan . 
 Every four or five days, his noble and generous little pro- 
 cess, Pocahontas she was then only about ten years of 
 age -would make her appearance, accompanied by attend- 
 ants laden with provisions. Part of these supplies came as 
 presents from the king or his daughter; for the rest, the 
 price paid in toys and articles of use was left entirely at 
 Smith's discretion. 
 
 Captains Newport and Nelson now arrived from England 
 with tvo ships, laden with necessaries and articles of traffic. 
 Rejoiced at the arrival of friends and pro visions, the colonists 
 allowed the sailors to hold what intercourse they pleased 
 with the natives, and the consequence was that the market 
 was soon spoiled by the irregularity of prices offered by the 
 English for Indian commodities. Smith had possessed Pow- 
 atan and his people with extravagant ideas of the power and 
 majesty of Newport, whose speedy arrival he predicted, and 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 preparations were now made to give a still more forcible im- 
 pression. Messengers were sent to inform the Indian mon- 
 arch that the great captain of the seas had reached James- 
 town, and would make a visit to his royal friend and ally. 
 
 Powhatan received the officers with the greatest dis- 
 tinction. .He declined any petty traffic, but requested New- 
 port to bring forward at once ail" the goods that he had 
 brought for trade, expressing his vdllingness to give full re- 
 turn. His desire v, as complied v.ith, Newport wishing to 
 outdo the king in generosity ; but the result hardly equalled 
 his expectation, for the cunning savage valued his corn at 
 such a rate that the English thought it cheaper in Spain. A 
 few blue beads in the possession of Smith caught the eye of 
 Powhatan, and aroused his curiosity and avarice. The wary 
 captain pretended to be loth to part with them, as being of a 
 rare substance worn by the greatest kings in the world. To 
 obtain them, Powhatan readily paid an immense quantity of 
 corn. The trade in blue beads, after this, became a royal 
 monopoly. 
 
 On the 2nd day of June 1608, Smith set out upon his explor- 
 ation of Chesapeake bay. His companions numbered four- 
 teen and their boat was an open barge. As they coasted 
 along the eastern shore, everywhere the greatest astonish- 
 ment and fright wore manifested by the savages. The dis- 
 charge of the guns invariably filled them with terror. Be- 
 fore reaching the head of the bay Smith was compelled to 
 turn back, owing to the fatigue of his men, who were unac- 
 customed to such exposure. 
 
 On the 2ith of July a second expedition up the Chesapeake 
 was undertaken. Encountering a fierce tribe belonging to 
 the redoubtable Iroquois or Six Nations of what w T as after- 
 ward New York state, they pacified them and obtained 
 of their shields, with which they fortified their boat ; remind- 
 ing one in this of Stanley, the African explorer, who did the 
 same in his immortal descent of the Congo river. Upon one 
 occasion, while Smith wns exploring the Eappahannock 
 river, he was attacked by a party of Eappahaniiocks, who 
 were so cunningly disguised with bushes that they were sup- 
 posed to be a natural growth of trees on the shore. On these 
 two voyages Chesapeake bay was surveyed and an accurate 
 chart of the entire country drawn up. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 2'. I 
 
 Great distress was experienced from want f f*d, md 
 every means was resorted to in order to procure it from tk 
 Indians. Powha&in had come to despise th Jamestown 
 colony, owing to a foolish coronation scene by Newport, 
 who had recently arrived from ED gland with a crowd of use- 
 less adventurers. 
 
 iThe splendor of the articles of coronation fairly turned the 
 head of Pewhatan, who became treacherous toward Smith 
 and tried to kill him when he came to barter for corn. But 
 the daring captain performed prodigies of valor in repelling 
 attacks single-handed. His Indian angel, the friendly little 
 Pocahontas, came at night to warn him of an attack. Pow- 
 hatan decoyed Smith and his " old fifteen " into his house, 
 and was profuse in his offers of provision and friendship; 
 but in the meantime an ambuscade had surrounded the 
 house. Smith was urged to come out to the door to receive 
 his presents ; but he saw that " the bait was guarded with 
 at least two hundred men, and thirty lying under a groat 
 tree (placed athwart as a barricade), each with his arrow 
 ready to shoot." Smith, perceiving th3 plan to betray him, 
 sprang upon the king, >eizing him by the hair, and, holding 
 a pistol to his breast, led him forth ; where, making a terri- 
 ble speech before the people, he succeeded in gaining peace 
 and provisions. 
 
 Several incidents occurred about this time which tended to 
 establish the power of Smith over the savages. One was the 
 explosion of a quantity of gun-powder which the Indians 
 were trying to dry upon a plate of armor as they had seen the 
 English do. Another was the affair of the pistol and the 
 charcoa-i. An Indian had stolen one of these weapons : his 
 two brothers were seized by Smith as pledges; one of them 
 was sent in search of the pistol, and told that his brother 
 would l)e hanged in twelve hours if it wore not returned. 
 The one who was retain; 1 1 was placed in a dungeon. Smith, 
 pitying the poor, nake 1 savage, sent him some food and 
 some c!i ircoal for a fire. To .vari midnight the brother re- 
 turne i with the weapon, but the poor fellow in the dungeon 
 was found stupefied by tJio <-h:irco,il and terribly burned. 
 The lamentations of the brother were so touching that 
 Smith promised him. if he would abstain from future thefts, 
 that he would restore the captive to life. This was accom- 
 
24 INDIAN MASSACKES. 
 
 plished by the proper means, and the rumor spread like wild- 
 fire that the white chief could bring the dead to life. These 
 incidents so amazed and frightened Powhatan and his people 
 that they came in from all quarters returning stolen property. 
 
 In the latter part of 1SQS) Captain Smith met with a terrible 
 accident by the firing of a bag of gunpowder. He was so 
 fearfully torn and burned that he leaped into the river, 
 and was with difficulty, rescued from drowning. He was 
 obliged to go to England to procure medical assistance, and 
 was never after able to revisit the colony which he had helped 
 to found. 
 
 After his departure things went rapidly to ruin, and there 
 was a general revolt of the Indians. In 1613, Pocahontas 
 was captured and held as a hostage. While she was at James- 
 town a young Englishman, John Kolfe, became passionately 
 attached to her, and on the first of April they were married. 
 They excited great attention everywhere, even at court, 
 where Captain Smith made a speech about her before the 
 queen. This interesting little woman died in 161 7, as she was 
 about to revisit America. She was known'as Rebecca after 
 her baptism and conversion to the Christian religion. She 
 left one child, Thomas Kolfe, who afterward lived in Virginia, 
 and to whom many old Virginia families still trace their 
 origin. Powhatan, her father, died a year later. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. - 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 NEW ENGLAND INDIANS THE PURITANS 'AND THEIR THRILLING 
 EXPERIENCES WITH BED MEN. 
 
 ON the 6th of September, 1G2), the Mayflower, freighted 
 with forty-one adventurous enthusiasts, sailed from Ply- 
 mouth in England ; and on the Cth of the following Novem- 
 ber arrived on the barren shores of Tape Cod. A few days 
 afterward a reconnoitering party caught sight of a small 
 number of the natives, who, however, fled at their approach. 
 On the 8th of December, a slight and desultory action oc- 
 curred, the Indians attempting to surprise the Pilgrims by 
 night. They were, however, disccmilted and compelled to 
 retreat. On the llth of December the little baud lauded, and 
 iixed their first settlement at Plymouth. 
 
 In the month of March a peaceful communication was es- 
 tablished with the natives through the intervention of Sam- 
 oset. He introduced Tisqua itum, or Squanto, who was one 
 of the twenty-four kidnapped by Thomas Hunt, in 1614. By 
 his knowledge of the country and coast, and his acquaint- 
 ance with their language, Squanto became of great service to 
 the colonists, and continued their friend until his death in 
 vhile he was on his passage down the coast for the pur- 
 pose of purchasing corn and other necessaries. Much of ro- 
 mantic interest attaches to the history and adventures of 
 this serviceable Indian, both during his captivity and after 
 his restoration to his own country. Escaping by the assistance 
 of certain kindly -disposed monk*, from Spain, where he, 
 with his companion^, had been sold in slavery, he reached 
 ud, and was taken into the employment of a London 
 merchant. He was brought back to Patuxet, the Indian 
 name of the country in which the pilgrims first landed, by 
 Captain Thomas Dermer, who sailed in the employ of Sir 
 Ferdinando Gorges, during the summer preceding the ar- 
 the May dower. After his introduction by Samoset, 
 he remained with his new allies, instructing them in the 
 mode of raising corn and in the best methods of fishing. By 
 the fi i luence of ftquanto and i-amoset, who acted as 
 
 interpreters, a league of amity and mutual protection was af- 
 
26 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 feoted between the colony and the powerful sachem Massa- 
 soit, father of the still more celebrated Philip. 
 
 In 1622, two ships were sent over from England by Thomas 
 Weston, Vith a considerable number of colonists. A new 
 settlement waa formod by them on Massachusetts Bay, 
 known as Weston's colony. They were mostly idle and im- 
 provident fellows who had much difficulty in obtaining any- 
 thing to eat. It was charged against them that they once 
 hanged an innocent and comparatively worthless member of 
 the community in order to spare the life of an able-bodied 
 man who had stolen some corn from the Indians and whose 
 life the savages demanded. 
 
 In 1623, all the Indians of Eastern Massachusetts,excepting 
 those under the immediate control of their faithful ally, 
 Massasoit, made a league to extirpate the colony at Wes- 
 sagusset and probably that at Plymouth also. The plot was 
 betrayed by Massasoit, who sent Hobomok, rival interpret- 
 er of fequanto, to tell the Plymouth people of it. Captain 
 Miles Standish, with eight men, set out for Wessagusset to 
 crush this conspiracy by one terrible blow. In conjunction 
 with Weston's men this little company overpowered the In- 
 dians, killing six of their number, among them Chief Witta- 
 wamet. 
 
 In April of 1637, an attack was made upon the village of 
 Wethersfleld, by a body of Pequots, assisted by other In- 
 dians of the vicinity, whose enmity had been excited by some 
 unjust treatment on the part of the white inhabitants. Three 
 women and six men of the colonists were killed and cattle 
 and other property destroyed. Two young girls, daughters 
 of Abraham Swain, were taken and carried into captivity. 
 Their release was afterward obtained by some Dutch traders, 
 who inveigled a uumber of Pequots on board their vessel, 
 and threatened to throw them into the soa if the girls were not 
 delivered up. During the time that these prisoners were in 
 power of the Indians, they received no injury, but were treat- 
 ed with uniform kindness, a circumstance which, with many 
 Othtrs of the same nature, marks the character of the bar- 
 barians as being by no means destitute of the finer feelings 
 of humanity. 
 
 Th settlers on the Connecticut now. resolved upon active 
 operations against the Pequot tribe. Although the whole 
 
, INDIAN MASSACRES. 27 
 
 number of whites upon the river, capable of doing military 
 service, did not exceed three hundred, a force of ninety men 
 was raised and equipped. Captain John Mason, a soldier by 
 profession, and a brave one, was appointed to the command 
 01 the expedition. 
 
 The Pequot camp was upon the su limit of a high rounded 
 hill, still known as Pequot hill, in the present town of Gro- 
 ton, and was considered by the Indians as impregnable. The 
 English, under Mason, resolved on a night attack upon the 
 palisaded Pequots, who were sunk in sleep after a great feast 
 and dance. The alarm was given by the barking of a dog, 
 and the cry " Owannux, Owannux! " was raised, this being 
 the Indian name for the English. Mason and his men rushed 
 through the narrow brush-filled opening in the palisades and 
 fell upon the Pequots with fury. Presently Muson resolved 
 to fire the wigwams ; the dry material caught like tinder and 
 the flames held carnival everywhere. The Pequots fought 
 desperately, but their bow-strings snapped from the heat and 
 a general massacre ensued. About four hundred men, wom- 
 en and children wore destroyed (most of them burned), with 
 a loss of but two killed on the part of the English. 
 
 There are preserved some thrilling legends, moro or less 
 reliable, concerning the early warfare of the famous Iroquois, 
 or Six Nations, whose sway at one time extended over what 
 are now the Middle states, their principal seat being in the 
 beautiful lake region of New York. The bands composing 
 tho Six Nations were the Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Mo- 
 hawks, Senecas and Tusoaroras. No other American tribes 
 ever produced so many renowned warriors and orators as the 
 Iroquois. Their chief enemies were the Delaware s, Appa- 
 lachians and Cherokees. One of the Indian legends is to the 
 effect that chief Piskaret of the Adirondacks started off alone 
 into the enemy's country, using every precaution to avoid 
 detection reversing his snow-shoes and pursuing the most 
 unfrequented routes. Upon reaching an Iroquois village ha 
 murdered and scalped for t\vo successive nights ; on t :e third 
 a watch was set at every lodge. Piskaret knocked one of th 
 watchmen on the head, and then fled, hotly pursued ; but he was 
 fleeter of foot than any man of his time, and, always mauag- 
 ing to keep just in sight of his pursuers, he enticed them to 
 a great distance from their village. At uigiit, \vhiie they 
 
28 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 were asleep, overcome with fatigue, he murdered the eufare 
 number and bagged their scalps. 
 
 The principal settlements of the Delaware Indians lay be- 
 tween the Hudson and the Potomac. That these savages 
 had many noble traits of character all the world knows 
 through the prominence given to them by the treaty of Will- 
 iam Penn, who came over in 1632. The grand treaty-council 
 was held just above Philadelphia. The comparatively mild 
 character of the Delawares may be judged by the esteem and 
 veneration in which they held their famous chief, Tammany. 
 This man was so beloved by both Indians aud whites, that, 
 after his death, he was actually canonized a* ' St. Tammany. 
 Throughout the Revolutionary War his day was celebrated 
 with great respect, both by the army and civJJ-ians, until Jef- 
 ferson's administration. 
 
 The fame of this great chief extended ev^n among the 
 whites. His festival was celebrated on the first day of May, 
 at which time a numerous society of his votaries walked to- 
 gether ia procession through the streets of Philadelphia (their 
 hats decorated with bucks' tails), and proceeded to a hand- 
 some ^>lace out of town, which they called the wigwam, 
 where, after a long talk, and the calumet of peace and friend- 
 ship had been duly smoked, they passed the day in festivity 
 and mirth. After dinner Indian dances were performed on 
 the green in front of the wigwam ; the calumet was again 
 smoked and the company separated. ' Since that time Phila- 
 delphia, New York and other towns have had their Tammany 
 societies. Tammany halls and the old relic of 1-adian g^eat* 
 ness have degenerated into an organization 
 poses. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 29 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 f 
 
 KINS PHILIP'S WAR DESTRUCTION OF BROOKFIELD AND DEERFIELD 
 SHOCKING BARBARITY. 
 
 THE war of the New England colonies with King Philip 
 waft the most important as well as the most dangerous to 
 their existence of all the Indian contests in that part of the 
 country. Philip was the son of the chief Massasoit, and suc- 
 ceeded his brother Alexander as leader of his tribe. What- 
 ever were the motives which actuated him in the war of ex- 
 termination (whether revenge for his brother's death or jeal- 
 ousy of the increasing power of the whites', it is certain that 
 he had brooded over his plan in secret for years. 
 
 Long-continued and extensive negotiations were ei 
 into by him with surrounding tribes. On the 2ith of June, 
 1675, the first attack was made at Swanzey, when about eight 
 or nine men were killed. The alarm was given to Boston, 
 and a detachment of men sent out under Captains Hench- 
 man and Prentice. These united with the Plymouth force 
 under Captain Benjamin Church and Major Cutworth. They 
 took up their quarters in a house in Swanzey. After some 
 skirmishing, the region was cleared of the Indians. One 
 tvhite was killed, and a Mr. Gill struck by a ball that would 
 have proved fatal, but for a singular defensive armor, in the 
 shape of a quantity of thick brown paper which he had in- 
 serted under his clothes. 
 
 Captain Church was a brave and energetic man, and fig- 
 ured prominently in this war. At the outbreak he was living 
 as a solitary pioneer-colonist in the country. He was in the 
 habit of tailing Indian captives, whom he put through a sort 
 of taming process by treating them with kindness ard gener- 
 osity. Thus, he soon had about him a devoted bodyguard 
 of soldiers, v\ho served him with the greatest enthusi- 
 asm. 
 
 On the 18th of July, 1875, the united forces of the colonists 
 drove Philip with his warriors into a swamp near Pocasset. 
 After some skirmishing the whites withdrew. It was said 
 that a vigorous attack here might have ended the war. 
 
 The story of the destruction of Brookfield by the Nipmucks 
 
30 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 is a thrilling oiie. The terrified inhabitants of this village 
 had collected in a single house that stood upon a rising knoll 
 of ground. They had fortified their place of refuge as well as 
 they were able by piling logs and hanging feather beds 
 against the walls. The troops under Wheeler and Hutchinson 
 (who had come here for the purpose of a treaty, but had, in- 
 stead, been treacherously fired upon) also entered this house, 
 which was then closely besieged by the Indians, who shot 
 burning arrows upon the roof, and, attaching rags dipped in 
 brimstone to long poles, fired them and thrust them against 
 the walls. 
 
 From Monday, the 2nd of August, till Wednesday evening 
 these attempts continued. Finally, they filled a cart with 
 combustible materials, and, attaching long sets of poles to 
 it, so that it could be operated from a distance, they sent it 
 forward blazing against the building. But a timely shower 
 of rain extinguished the flames and saved the besieged 
 whites. Assistance reached them that night. Major Willard, 
 with forty-six men, effected an entrance into the house, and 
 the Indians retired, after the destruction of a large part of 
 the town. 
 
 In this war the Narragansetts, the old friends of theEnglish, 
 had remained neutral, or had at Jeast pretended to do so. 
 But, on what seems insufficient grounds, the colonists re- 
 solved to wage war against them, it being alleged that they 
 had aided and abbetted the enemy. Accordingly, a very 
 large body of English under command of Josias Winslow, 
 governor of the colony of Plymouth (Church also taking part), 
 moved down upon the Narragansetts in the middle of the 
 winter. A guide was found who piloted them to the chief 
 fort of the enemy, which was situated on mi island in the 
 midst of a large swamp. 
 
 The entire village was surrounded by a strong palisade, 
 and the only means of approach was by crossing the marsh 
 upon an immense fallen tree. l r ile after file of soldiers was 
 swept from this narrow bridge by the fire of the Indians. At 
 last an entrance was effected. Church, who had been wound- 
 ed, tried to dissuade the general from firing the wigwams, 
 since on such a bitterly cold night they would need their 
 shelter and warmth themselves, the nearest refuge from the 
 snow-storm which was impending being some sixte 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 31 
 
 distant. But his advice was unheeded and a terrible scene 
 3ns no 1. 
 
 Large numbers of old men , women and children were 
 burned alive in their huts. The colonists lost eighty killed 
 ami one hundred and fifty wounded. Beside the unnumbered 
 wretches who perished in the huts by the flames, it i- supposed 
 that about- five hundred warriors were killed and seven hun- 
 dred wounded. 
 
 Upon one occasion the English permitted a young Narra- 
 $ansett captive to be tortured to death by their Indian allies, 
 partly that they might not displease these confederates, and 
 also that they might have ocular demonstration of savage 
 cruelty. The victim had kille 1 and scalped many English- 
 men> as he acknowledged, and they thought fit to let him 
 suffer, although the sight brought tears to their eyes. The 
 Mohegaus cut round the joints of his fingers and toes suc- 
 cessively, and then broke them off. They compelled him to 
 dance and sing in this condition until he had wearied both 
 himself and them, and then broke his legs. Sinking in si- 
 lence on the ground, he sat till they finished his miseries by 
 a blow. 
 
 The capture of Philip and the close of the war was in the 
 month of August, 1676.- Church was worn out with hard serv- 
 ice, but, at the urgent request of the government, consented 
 to pursue Philip to the death. With a company of men he 
 marched to Pocasset, and then made a flying trip to Rhode 
 Island to visit his wife, who fainted with joy at seeing him 
 alive. 
 
 But scarcely had the first greeting been given, when a 
 messenger brought word that Philip was at his old quarters 
 at Mount Hope Neck. Church, bidding his wife good-bye, 
 imme liately mounted his horse that he had just left at the 
 door, and set off at full speed. The king, dejected in spirits 
 and reduced to the utmost straits, was encamped upon a spot 
 c f dry land in the swamp. Church distributed a portion of 
 Ms force so as to command the avenues of escape ; the re- 
 mainder he ordered to beat up Philip's head-quarters. The 
 Indians, startled by the first fire of the guns, rushed into the 
 swamp. Philip passed within easy shooting range of two of 
 the attacking party an Englishman and an Indian ; the gun 
 of the former snapped ; but the latter shot the king through 
 
83 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the heart as, half naked and flinging his accoutrements be- 
 hind him, he advanced at full speed. His body was quartered 
 and insulted ; his hand was given to Alderman, tho Indian 
 who shot him ; and the head was long exposed at Plymouth, 
 where grim, and harsh old Mather says exultingly that he 
 with his own hand displaced the jaw from the skull of " that 
 blasphemous leviathan." 
 
 Annawan, Philips bravest chief, escape! the massacre, but 
 was pursued by Church to Rhode Island. He was tracked 
 to Squannaconk Swamp, in the southeastern part of Eeho- 
 both, an old Indian having turned traitor and piloted the 
 English to his lair, which they found to be on a ledge of steep 
 rocks which stood over the marsh. The only way to ap- 
 proach it was by climbing down from above. 
 
 It was night when Church arrived there; stopping the 
 guide with his hand, he crawled to the edge of the rock and 
 looked down upon the scene below. Annawan 's hut consist- 
 ed of a tree felled against the wall of rock, with birch bushes 
 piled up against it. ' Fires were lit without, over which meat 
 was roasting and kettles were boiling, and the light revealed 
 several companies of the enemy. Their arms were stacked 
 together and covered with a mat. In close proximity to 
 them lay old Annawan and his son ; an aged squaw was 
 pounding corn in a mortar, and, as the noise of her blows 
 continued, Church, proceeded by the guide and his daughter, 
 and followed by his Indian allies, let himself down by the 
 bushes and twigs which grew in the crevices of the rocks. 
 With his hatchet in his hand he stepped over the young An- 
 nawan, who drew himself into a heap with his blanket over 
 his head, and reached the guns. The old chief sat up, cry- 
 ing out " Ho won ! " but, seeing he was taken, lay down again 
 in silence. All submitted. Annawan ordered his women to 
 prepare supper for Church and his men, an I they supp<^_ to- 
 gether harmoniously. Then all fell asleep, except the lead- 
 ers, who lay looking at each other for nearly an hour ; when 
 Annawan arose and brought the regalia of Philip, which he 
 presented on his knees to Church, saying: " Great captaiu, 
 you have killed Philip and conquered his country ; for I believe 
 that I and my company are the last that war against the En- 
 glish. The war is ended by your means. These things belong 
 to you.'' 
 
INDIAN MASS AC 33 
 
 He then handed him two broad belts richly- worked in wam- 
 pum, one of which, fringed with re.i hair from the Mohawks' 
 country, reached from the shoulders nearly to the ground. 
 He also gave him two horns o. and a rod cloth blank- 
 
 et. He said th:it Philip was accustomed to ornament his per- 
 son with this regalia upon state occasions. 
 
 The chief facts of this long and eventful conflict with Phil- 
 ip are thus summarized by Baylies : "In this war, which last- 
 ed but little more oar and a half, six hundred En- 
 glishmen were killed; thirteen towns iu Massachusetts, Ply- 
 mouth and Rhode Island were destroyed, and almost every 
 family had lost a relative; six hu nired dwellings had been 
 burned; a vast amount in goods and cattle had been de- 
 stroyed, and a great debt created. But the result of the con- 
 test was decisive ; the e ;emy was extinct, the fertile wilder- 
 ness was opened and the rapid extension of settlements 
 cvi it? eel the growing prosperity of New England." 
 
 Up to the time of Philip's Avar the people of Maine and New 
 ut little to complain of in the co;>ductof the 
 .ians of their country. But after the date of the openirg 
 of hostilities in 1G75 they were of course continually under 
 suspicion ; in fact, from that time there were many uprisings 
 . massacres in these two colonies. Captain Church was 
 sent against them, and he waged the war with his usual en- 
 ergy and more thin his accustomed cruelty. In the summer of 
 1680 the Indians made an attack on Dover, where MajorWal- 
 dron was in command with a considerable force. The savages 
 were burning to avenge a wanton insult and injury inflicted 
 upon them, the major having kidnapped and sent to Boston 
 t\v<) hundred Indians, of whom eight or ten were hanged and 
 and the rest sold as slaves. The attack was made at night. 
 Two (sh I s<;uaws, having obtained permission to sleep in the 
 garrisoned houses, arose at night and imbarred the doors, 
 when the savages rubhed in and completely overpowered the 
 troops, among the captives being Major \Vaidron. Although 
 eighty years of age, he : [ himself with desperate 
 
 bravery, but was iinaliy struck down by a blow from behind. 
 Bruised and mangled, he w:is placed in a chair on a fcabie, 
 and the savages gathered round glutted their long-cherished 
 hatred by torturing 1;; 
 
 One of their charges against him was that he had eh< 
 
34 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 them in trading transactions. It was reported among therm 
 that he used to estimate the weight of his fist to be a 
 pound ; also, that his accounts were not crossed out accord- 
 ing to agreement. As they gashed his naked bre -.st, each 
 said, "I cross -out my account." They would tb en cut a 
 joint from his finger, with the question: " Will your fist 
 weigh a pound now ? " These fiendish barbarities continued 
 until he fainted from loss of blood, when he was placed out 
 of misery for ever. 
 
 In January, 1699, the war with the French being over, the 
 Indians of Maine and New Hampshire concluded a treaty 
 with the colonies. But in May, 1702, war was again declared, 
 and all the old difficulties broke out again with renewed 
 bitterness. One of the most famous episodes of the wars 
 with these Northeastern Indians was LovewelPs fight. The 
 engagement took place near Saco Pond, in Maine, the In- 
 dian in command being Pangus, chief of the Pequawkets. 
 His men numbered eighty, while Loveweil had but thirty- 
 four. 
 
 The cruel and barbarous murders committed by the In- 
 dians in these regions had indused the general court of 
 Massachusetts to offer a bounty of five hundred dollars for 
 each Indian's scalp brought in. Loveweil, with forty men, 
 coming upon a small body of Indians sleeping round their 
 fires, killed and scalped all of them ; then, with their trophies 
 mounted on hoops, they marched in triumph to Boston and 
 received five thousand dollars. 
 
 Loveweil left Dunstable on the 16th of April, 1725. Early 
 on the following morning, while at prayers, they heard the 
 report of a gun. Leaving their packs, they pressed forward 
 to meet the Indians. Pangus discovered the packs, and 
 thereby learning the inferior strength of the enemy, boldly 
 advanced and provoked battle. On the morning of the 8th, 
 Ensign Wyman discovered an Indian who was returning 
 from a hunt, having in one hand some fowls which he had 
 killed, and in the other two guns. Perceiving that his hour 
 had come, he levelled a gun at Captain Loveweil and mortal- 
 ly wounded him, though he did not immediately fall, but was 
 able to lead his men in the second engagement, which oc- 
 curred soon after when they had returned to the place where 
 they had left their packs. Here the Indians fell upon them 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 35 
 
 from an ambusca-Ie. T.iey held up ropes and asked the En- 
 glish if they would surrender ; they replied by charging and 
 firing, thus driving back the savages, who, however, soon 
 rallied and, in turn, forced the English to retreat. Loveweil 
 now fell. The fight continued obstinately un til night, the 
 Indians howling, yelling and barking like dogs, and the 
 English cheering each other with huzzas. Pangus, chief of 
 the red men, and Powan, another chief, were slain. Fourteen 
 of the English escaped from the battle ground at midnight, 
 and, although fifty miles from any settlement, succeeded in 
 i ing their friends. 
 
 One Solomon Keyes, who had received three wounds from 
 t'ie Indians, had a remarkable escape. Thinking to crawl 
 away and die in some spot where the Indians could not scalp 
 him, he crept along the shore of the pond and found a canoe, 
 into which he rolled himself and was floated away by the 
 wind. To his amazement, he found that during the night he 
 had been drifted to within a short distance of the fort called 
 Ossipee, which LovewelTs men had built as a refuge. Here 
 he found a few companions, and, eventually recovering^ rom 
 his wounds, returned home with them. 
 
 Another sadly memorable event of the wars of the northern 
 New England settlers with the Indians was the destruction 
 of Deerfleld in Massachusetts, "which event formed part of a 
 deep-laid plan of the Canadian French and the Indians for 
 laying waste the entire frontier. The scheme was, however, 
 but partially successful. Deer field had been palisaded a ad 
 twenty soldiers quartered there i i different houses. But 
 these guards forgot their duty. The snow afforded easy ac- 
 cess over the fortifications to the town, and the conquest of 
 the place was made with the greatest ease. 
 
 The story is given in the words of the Rev. John Williams : 
 "On Tuesday, the 29th of February, 1703-4, not long before 
 break of day, the enemy came in like a flood upon us, our 
 watch being unfaithful an evil whose awful effects, in the 
 surprisal of our fort, should bespeak all watchmen to ; 
 if they would not bring the charge of blood upon themselves. 
 They came to my house in the beginning of the onset, and by 
 their violent endeavors to braak open doors and windows 
 with axes and hatchets awakened me out of sleep ; on which 
 I leaped out of bed, and, running toward the door, perceived 
 
36 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the enemy making their entrance into the house. I called 
 to awaken two soldiers in the chamber, and, returning 
 toward my bedside for my arms, the enemy immediately brake 
 into my room, I judge to the number of twenty, with painted 
 faces and hideous acclamations. I reached up my hands to 
 the bed-tester for my pistol, uttering a short petition to G-od, 
 expecting a present passage through the valley of the shad- 
 ow of death. Taking down my pistol, I cocked it and put it 
 to the breast of the first Indian who came up, but my pistol 
 missed fire. I was seized by three Indians, who disarmed 
 me and bound me, naked as I was, in my shirt, and so I 
 stood for near the space of an hour." 
 
 In the mean time the work of destruction went on. Forty- 
 seven person were killed, and the entire town burned, with 
 the exception of one house, which stood next to Mr. Will- 
 Hams', and in which seven men withstood the entire force 
 of three hundred French and Indians. Mr. Williams con- 
 tinues : " About sun an hour high we were all carried out of 
 the house for a march, and 1 saw many of the houses of my 
 neighbors in flames, perceiving the whole fort, one house ex- 
 cepted, to be taken. We were carried over the river to the 
 foot of the mountain, about a mile from my house, where we 
 found a great number of our neighbors, men, women and 
 children, to the number of one hundred, nineteen of whom 
 were afterward murdered by the way and two starved to 
 death near Coos in a time of great scarcity or famine the 
 'savages underwent there. \\hea we came to the foot of our 
 mountain they took away our slioes and gave us Indian 
 shoes to prepare us for our journey.'' 
 
 At this point a few English who had escaped, and a few 
 from Hatfield, attacked the Indians and pressed jem hard 
 so much so that the French leader sent a command to have 
 the captives slain. Luckily, however, the messenger was 
 killed on the way. 
 
 They now commenced a journey of three hundred miles 
 through a trackless wilderness, consuming forty days in its 
 accomplishment. Boughs of trees formed the : only beds of 
 women and little children; the latter were, in general, 
 treated well, probably because they desired to obtain ransom 
 for them. At the first encampment some of the Indians be- 
 came intoxicated, and in their fury killed Mr. Williams' man. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 37 
 
 On the second day's march occurred the death of Mrs. 
 Williams. On the occasion of the capture in Deerfield, she 
 received a, terrible shock through the murder of two of her 
 children at her own door, together with a black woman be- 
 longing to the family. At the upper part of Deerfield mead- 
 ow it became necessary to cross Green river. The Indian 
 who captured Mr. Williams was unwilling that he should 
 speak to the other captives ; but on the second day he had 
 another master, who allowed him both to speak to his wife 
 and to help her along. This was their last meeting ; she 
 very calmly told him that she was dying. 
 
 Having now reached the river, and Mr. Williams' old 
 master returning, the two were separated. In crossing the 
 stream, which was very rapid and about two feet deep, Mrs. 
 Williams became thoroughly wet by falling down. Her hus- 
 band learned this and other subsequent facts concerning her 
 from others, he himself being farther on in the van. Direct- 
 ly after she had emerged from the water she felt unable to 
 proceed, and the wrelch whose captive she was slew her with 
 one stroke of his hatchet. 
 
 Others were killed and many died from exposure. It was 
 debated whether they shoul 1 not take the life of Mr. Williams 
 also, but his master prevailed upon them not to do so. A 
 young woman who was unable to proceed without continual- 
 ly falling down, was told by her master that she must die. 
 She obtained leave to talk a few moments with her minister, 
 Mr. Williams, and, then returning, was executed. 
 
 In 1706 fifty-seven of these Deerfield people were sent in a 
 flag-ship to Boston, but many never left Canada. The Jes- 
 uits made strenuous endeavors to convert Mr. Williams and 
 others ; their efforts were succef sf ul with his daughter Eunice, 
 who afterward married an Indian (by whom she had several 
 children), and passed her life in a wigwam. After her mar- 
 riage, dressed in the Indian garb, she visited her friends at 
 Deerfield, and was kindly received by them, but all attempts 
 to regain her proved unavailing. 
 
38 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WAR WITH THE SIX NATIONS. HORRIBLE MASSACRES AND TOR- 
 TURES. 
 
 THE colonial wars with the Iroquois, or Six Nations, were 
 numerous and bloody. The principal Indian leaders wen; 
 Shingis and Captain Jacobs, whose bead-quarters were at 
 Kittanning, on the Allegheny river. In 175G, Colonel John 
 Armstrong, with three hundred men, proceeded against them, 
 .the attack beginning on the 8th of September. The savages 
 fought desperately in their log cabins, and when told that 
 they v, r ould be burned if they did not surrender, one of them 
 replied that he did not care, as he could kill four or live be- 
 fore l.e died. As the fire approached them, some began to 
 sing, while others, darting from the flames, were shot. 
 Captain Jacobs was killed. Shingis was reputed to be one 
 of the most famous, daring and cruel warriors of his time. 
 He was a terror to the whole frontier of Pennsylvania. 
 
 One of the great conflicts of this epoch occurred in 1775 at 
 Lake George, between the French and Indians, under Gen- 
 eral Oicskau, and the English, under General William John- 
 sen (superintendent of Indian affairs in America) and the 
 brave Mohawk chief, Hendrick. After a stubborn .fight the 
 French were defeated. General Dieskau was found wounded 
 and leaning against a stump for support. Supposing that 
 his captors wanted plunder, he put his hand in his pocket to 
 draw out his watch ; but one of the soldiers, mistaking it for 
 a movement to secure his pistol, shot him again in the hips. 
 He lived to reach England, but died soon afterward. It is 
 related that, before the battle, upon General Johnson con- 
 sulting the opinion of Hendrick upon the advisability of de- 
 taching a certain portion of his foice, and asking him if he 
 thought the number sufficient, he replied: " If they are to 
 fight, they are too few ; if they are to be killed, they are too 
 many/' Hendrick was killed in the engagement. 
 
 One of the noblest chiefs of the Iroquois, the most mag- 
 nanimous and friendly Indian of the times, was the famous 
 Logan. He took no part in the French wars of 1760, except 
 to act as peace -maker. It was the murder of members of 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 559 
 
 his family that roused his fury against the white- 
 cu instances of this brutal outrage being as follow 
 spring of 1774 some Englishmen wore exploring lands 
 Wheeling, Ohio, for the purpose of settling there. 'J ho In- 
 dians were said, or thought, to have robbed them ; the land- 
 jobbers, regarding this as a demonstration of hostility, and 
 learning that there were two savages on the river abov 
 against them Captain Michael Cresap, who succeeded in kill- 
 ing them, and directly afterward several monfc among whom 
 were members of the family of Logan. r 
 
 In a short time from this another brutal murder occurred, 
 by which Logan lost a brother and sister. T wo wretche 
 Wheeling, named Greathouse and Tornlinson, with thirty 
 others, resolved to massacre a party of Indians who wore as- 
 sembled on the opposite shore of the Ohio -river, and bent 
 on revenge for the murder of their two friends. Great-house, 
 enticing a part of them to drink ru:n wiih him at his house 
 across the stream, murdered them all in ids house after they 
 had become considerably intoxicated. The remaining sav- 
 ages, hearing of the slaughter of their friends, sent over two 
 canoes manned with warriors ; but being fired into by an 
 ambushed party of the whites, they were obliged to retreat 
 and seek a place of safety. 
 
 After an ominous lull, Logan, with eight followers, sudden- 
 ly appeared on the Muskingum, where he was least expected, 
 and, attacking some men who were at wcrk in a field, killed 
 one and took two prisoners. Nothing could possibly show 
 the humanity and gentleness of Logan more than his kind 
 treatment of one of these men, notwithstanding the deep and 
 terrible injuries which he had received at the hands of the 
 English. He not only instructed the prisoner, whose name 
 was Kobinson, how to ran the gauntlet with the least possi- 
 ble harm, but, when he was tied to the stake to be burned, 
 cut the cords that bound him, and afterward had him adopt- 
 ed into an Indian family. This man subsequently became 
 Logan's scribe. 
 
 Other tribes now joined in the war. The Shawnese took 
 the field under their famous chief Cornstalk and the Dela- 
 wares also assisted, being justly provoked by the cold-blooded 
 murder of their inoffensive > Bald Eagle. This old 
 
 man was accustomed to wander up and down among the 
 
40 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 whites, visiting ac those houses where he was best enter- 
 tained. As he was ascending the Kanawha alone in his canoe 
 one day, he was foully murdered by a man who had suffered 
 many wrongs from the Indians. Placing the aged chief up- 
 right in his canoe, he let it drift down tk >. river with the cur- 
 rent. For along time no one suspected that he was dead; 
 but when at last the deed was discovered, the most fierce re- 
 sentment dwelt in the breasts of his tribe. 
 
 When the news of the breaking out of hostilities was re- 
 ceived the Virginia legislature was in session. Governor 
 Dunmore at once issued orders for the assembling of three 
 thousand men, one half of whom were to march for the 
 mouth of the Great Kanawha,under the command of General 
 Andrew Lewis ; and the remainder, under the governor in 
 person, were to proceed to some point on the Ohio above the 
 former, in order to fall upon the Indian towns between while 
 the warriors should b.e drawn off by the approach of Lewis in 
 the opposite direction. He was then to pass down the Ohio 
 and form a junction with General Lewis at Point Pleasant, 
 whence they were to march according to circumstances. 
 
 On the llth of September the forces under General Lewis, 
 amounting to eleven hundred men, commenced their march 
 from Camp Union for Point Pleasant on the Great Kanawha, 
 distant one hundred and sixty miles. The country between 
 was a trackless wilderness ; the army was piloted by Captain 
 Matthew Arbuclde; all the baggage was transported by 
 pack-horses, and the expedition consumed nineteen days on 
 the march. 
 
 JJefore General Lewis could learn the whereabouts of Gov- 
 ernor Dunmore, he was attacked. by a large force of the In- 
 dians, and the famous battle of Point Pleasant was fought. 
 The savages were said to cover four acres of ground as close- 
 ly as they could stand side by side. 
 
 The general, upon learning of the approach of the enemy, 
 gave orders to his brother, Colonel Charles Lewis, advance 
 with two regiments and reconnoitre. The foe was soon en- 
 countered ; the colonel was mortally wounded, and his regi- 
 me ut driven back ; but another coming up, the Indians were 
 forced to retreat behind a breastwork of logs and brush 
 which they had constructed. They had chosen their ground 
 well, and, in the event'of a victory on their part, not an En- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 41 
 
 glishman would have escaped from the narrow neck of ground 
 on which the battle was waged.* They had stationed men on 
 both sides of the river to prevent any that might attempt 
 flight by swimming from the apex of the triangle made by 
 the confluence of the two rivers. The battle was obstinately 
 contested. Colonel Fleming conducted himself with great 
 bravery, notwithstanding he had received t\vo balls through 
 the left wrist. 
 
 The entire line of the Ti dian breastworks now became one- 
 blaze of fire, which lasted the rest of the day. Here the In- 
 dians under Logan, Cornstalk, Elinipsico, Bed Eagle and 
 other mighty chiefs of the tribes of the Shawanese, Dela- 
 wares, Mingoes, Wyandots and Cayugas, amounting, as was 
 supposed, to fifteen hundred warriors, fought as men will 
 ever do for their country's wrongs with a bravery which could 
 only be equalled. 
 
 At length the~day was decided b^ three companies of the 
 English getting in the rear of the Indians and rushing down 
 upon them. They, supposing that reinforcements were at 
 hand, at once fled acros-j the Ohio and set out for their vil- 
 lages on the Scioto. A stratagem employed by the English 
 in this fight was the holding out of a hat from behind a tree 
 to be fired at, and dropping it at the first shot; when the 
 Indian, running from his shelter to scalp his supposed vic- 
 tim, was easily picked off. The troops of Governor Dun- 
 more marched to Chillicothe, where, much against the de- 
 sire of the soldiers, a treaty with the Indians was entered in- 
 1' . 
 
 Not long after the treaty of Chillicothe, Logan was foully 
 murdered as he was returning home from Detroit. Previous 
 to his death he had fori'eited his manhood by excessive drink- 
 ing. 
 
 The great chief, Cornstalk, was barbarously killed in the 
 fort at Point Pleasant, to which he had come for the purpose 
 of notifying his white friends of the impending storm of war 
 that v> as about to break upon them, and which he was unable 
 to avert. His so;;,Elinipsico,prompted by deep filial affection, 
 had traveled far to see him. (Cornstalk, Red Hawk and 
 others had been detained in the fort as hostages after they 
 had given their friendly warning.) On the day following the 
 arrival of Elinipsico an Englishman was murdered by the In- 
 
42 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 dians near at hand and the body was brought over to the fort ; 
 whereupon an infuriated banfl of men, with a certain Captain 
 Hall at their head, cried out, " Let us kill the Indians in the 
 fort ! " As the murderers approached, Elinipsico discovered 
 agitation, which, when Cornstalk saw, he said, " My son, 
 the Great Spirit has seen fit that we dio together, and has 
 sent you to that end. It is his will, and let us submit." 
 They shot him through with ^even bullets. He fell and died 
 without a struggle. 
 
 The colonial wars with Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa nation, 
 in the region of the present Michigan and Wisconsin, also 
 claim the attention of the reader. In 1760, Major Rogers 
 marched into Pontiac's domain. He had always declared a 
 willing; ess to have the English settle in his dominions, pro- 
 vided his rights as sovereign were respected ; and it seems 
 pi-obable that the breaking out of the hostilities*was due to 
 the indiscreet treatment of him by the English. 
 
 Under the rule of this great chief were the Miamis, Otta- 
 was, Chippewas, Wyandots, Pottawatomies, Mississagas, 
 Shawanese, Ottagamies and Winnebagoes. He was a person 
 of great intellect ; as an instance of his superior understand- 
 ing it may be mentioned that he issued bills of credit, all of 
 which he afterward redeemed. They consisted of pieces of 
 the inner bark of trees, on which was pictured the object 
 which he wished to obtain. The government stamp, so to 
 speak, was the figure of an otter drawn, under the article de- 
 sired, on each piece of the bark ; this animal was the es- 
 cutcliron of his nation. 
 
 The iirst outbreak occurred at Fort Michillimackinac. 
 Traders had several times warned commanding officer Ether- 
 ington of the unfriendliness of the Indians; but he refused 
 to listen to the stories, and threatened to send as a prisoner 
 to Detroit the next man who should come to him with such 
 false rumors. Gradually, the Indians assembled around the 
 fort until their number amounted to four hundred ; but 
 slight attention was paid to them, however. On the 4th of 
 June, xvhich was the king's birthday, the savages began to 
 ' play in front of the fort a game called baggallwau, similar to 
 the national diversion in Canada called lacrosse. In the ar- 
 dor of the sport, the ball was tossed over the pickets of the 
 fort ; this occurred several times, that suspicion might be 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 4> 
 
 averted. The last time, however, when a ].. 
 
 rusiied in after the ball, the wor< I 
 
 rapidly in all directions, they took possession of tb 
 
 !y any difficulty. Seventy of i 
 and the remaining twenty retained as sir 
 
 Pontiac was the instigator of this affair; and in 
 few days after the massacre he was in possession of ail the 
 garrisons In the West except three. Detroit alone w 
 ofT from assistance. The story of the narrow escape of this 
 city is most tnrilling. Whei> Pontiac arrived with his braves 
 he brought many women and children with him, as well as 
 goods for traffic, for the purpose of quieting suspicion. Hav- 
 ing encamped, He sent word to Major Glad A-in that he wished 
 to trade, but wouid first like to hold a council with him. As- 
 was given, and the next morning appointed for the 
 meeting, no distrust having been aroused. The plot, how- 
 ever, was revealed by a squaw, who had made for Major 
 G-ltt i win a pair of moccasins out of a curious elk skin. Being 
 much pleased with tnem, he requested her to make another 
 pair for him to present to a friend, and to keep what was 
 left to convert into a pair of shoes for herself. She was then 
 paid for her work and dismissed, but was afterward found 
 loitering within the gates. Being asked what she wanted, 
 she did not reply, an 1 she was again summoned before the 
 major, when, after much confusion and trepidation, she re- 
 vealed the following plot for the massacre of the garrison on 
 the morrow. 
 
 Each chief was to come to the council with such a piece 
 cut from the end of his gun that it could be concealed under 
 his blanket ; also, as many as possible, armed in the same 
 manner, were to enter outside, ostensibly for the purpose of 
 trading. The woman was sent away and the news imparted 
 to the men. In the morning all, being prepared, nervously 
 awaited the hour for the meeting. At ten o'clock Pontiac 
 appeared with thirty-six chiefs and a train of warriors. He 
 observed, with some uneasiness, the unusual spectacle of 
 troops marching from place to place, and some investing, or 
 at least facing, the council-house, but was 'reassured upon 
 being told that it was only parade. The council began by a 
 speech from Pontiac. The signal for attack was known to be 
 the presentation of a wampum peace belt to Major Gladwin 
 
44 INDIAN MASSACRFS. 
 
 in a certain manner. As Pootiac reached this part of his 
 speech, and was about to offer the belt, the officers around 
 the major half drew their swords from their scabbards, the 
 soldiers clutched thsir g.iis more firmly, and the chiefs 
 saw at once that they had been betrayed. Pontiac turned as 
 pale as it is possible for an Indian to do, and the chiefs ex- 
 changed glances of the utnv-st astonishment. Pontiac, 
 however, having regained his compos are, ft, ashed his speech 
 as though nothing had occurred. When Major Gladwin be- 
 gan his reply he at once charged the treachery upon Pontiac, 
 Who endeavored to excuse himself, but the major stepped 
 quickly to the nearest chief, and, pulling aside his blanket, 
 revealed the short gun. Of course nothing further could be 
 said, and they were told to leave the fort instantly, as the 
 soldiers could with difficulty be restrained from cutting them 
 to pieces. 
 
 On the following day the Indians began a furious attack. 
 They ei deavored to set on lire the stockade, and in several 
 places commenced to cut it with axes, so as to form a breach. 
 Major Gladwin finally instructed the men not only to per- 
 mit the opening to be made, but to assist them by cutting 
 away on the inside. As soon as the passage was effected the 
 Indians rushed forward to enter it; but at that moment a 
 brass four-pounder was discharged at -the opening from with- 
 in, and made' dreadful havoc among them. After this they 
 contented themselves with blockading the fort. 
 
 There was much difficulty in relieving Detroit, owing to 
 its great distance from the other extreme western forts. At 
 length, on the 29th of July, 17G3, Captain Dalyell arrived with 
 succor. Shortly after, sallying forth with two hundred and 
 forty-seven men, he was attacke 1 by the Indians in ambush, 
 and what is known as the battle of Bloody Bridge was 
 fought. This engago i ent derived-its name from the bridge 
 where the attack was made. The main body of the En- 
 effected a retreat, but they left the bridge actually blocked 
 up with their dead, showing the desperate character of the 
 struggle. 
 
 It seemed almost impossible for any ship bringing aid to 
 escape the detection of Pontiac. Upon one occasion a 
 schooner laden with provisions appeared near the fort, and 
 Pontiac determined to attempt its capture. The. vessel 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 45 
 
 tarkod short about, followed by the cauoes, the savages pert- 
 iis as hornets, often coming so close to the vessel as to 
 be severely burned by the powder from the guns. They had 
 picked off nearly all the crew, and were at length clambering 
 over the sides of the vessel and up the shrouds, when the 
 captain, being determined not to fall into their hands alive, 
 commanded the gunner to fire the magazine. A Huron 
 chief, understanding a little English, overhead the order 
 and communicated it to the rest, whereupon they precipi- 
 tately fled the ship in the greatest alarm, and the remnant of 
 the crew were then enable.! to bring the vessel safely to the 
 fort. This schooner had been sent from Niagara with a force 
 of eighteen, twelve of whom were Mohawk Indians. So 
 gratified was Major Gladwin by the bravery of the men in 
 rescuing the garrison from the horrible and certain fate of 
 starvation that he caused silver medals, descriptive of the 
 to be struck and presented to each of the survivors."^ 
 r i he fame of these wars of Pontiac spread even to Europe. 
 Finally, General Bradstreet, with three thousand men, took 
 Id against him. Thereupon the chief sued for peace, 
 which \vas granted, and he afterward became apparently a 
 firm friend of the whites. The manner of his death is not 
 certainly known. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTEB VII. 
 
 HOSTILITIES ON THE FRONTIER. KESCUE OF CAPTIVES. THRILL > 
 ING SCENES. 
 
 DURING hostilities at Fort Detroit, Fort Pitt had been 
 closely besieged by Indians. After Pontiac abandoned the 
 siege at the former place, it was decided by the ifngiish (in 
 July, 17G3) to send relief to Fort Pitt, which was situated on a 
 point of land made by the junction of the Monongahela with 
 the Ohio. Captain Ecuyer had suffered severely from the 
 galling fire of the Indians, as well as from the great floods 
 which had nearly destroyed the foundations of his fort. He 
 was two hundred miles from any settlement, and could send 
 no word of his danger. General Amherst appointed Colonel 
 Henry Bouquet leader of the relief expedition, and the forces 
 (consisting of about live hundred men) were to rendezvous at 
 Carlisle, Pa. As soon as the Indians learned that the colonel 
 was (ML route, they broke up the siege and resolved to waylay 
 him. Accordingly, on the 4th of July, they made an attack 
 from an ambuscade at a place called Bushy Enn. The En- 
 glish, embarrassed by their convoy of horses laden with 
 flour, were being much distressed and harassed by the sav- 
 ages when the night closed in and forced them to desist from 
 fighting. But the same scene was again enacted, until Colonel 
 Bouquet bethought him of a stratagem which undoubt- 
 edly was the measis of saving his force from destruction. He 
 feigned a retreat, and the Indians rushed forward into a cir- 
 cle prepared for them by sending one of the wings of the 
 army around a hill where they were unperceived by the ene- 
 my, who? being now attacked on all sides, were completely 
 vanquished. In this battle fifty whites and sixty Indians 
 were killed. In a few days Colonel Bouquet arrived at Fort 
 Pitt. 
 
 The next year, the depredations of the Indians upon the 
 settlements continuing, it was resolved to send out a still 
 larger force and awe the Indians into submissiofi. Colonels 
 Bradstreet and Bouquet were appointed to co-operate 
 the former proceeding by way of the great lakes and falling 
 upon the rear of the Wyandots, Ottawas and Miamis, while 
 

48 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the latter set out. from Car i a, force of fifteen hundred 
 
 men. On reaching For .'Pitt, vari -11^ conferences were held 
 with the crafty redskins, wlr > y frightened 
 
 and expressed a desire for peace, finding they had no trifler 
 to deal with, in the person of Colonel Bouquet, who, while 
 stern and exacting, was m; oil, and desirous 
 
 of avoiding the shedding of blood. 
 
 He had been sent word by Bradstieet that he had conclud- 
 ed a peace with the Delawares and Hliawa'jese ; but Colonel 
 Bouquet would place no relia.nce upon the good faith of the 
 Indians, and told them so. He demanded of them, in the 
 first place, to prove their sincerity by permitting to return to 
 him in safety two messengers whom he was about to send to 
 Colonel Bradstreet. In the meantime he moved on to Tus- 
 carawas, and, finding here his messengers safely returned, 
 he gave notice that he would hold a council with the chiefs. 
 
 At this meeting the Indians in the mo-t abject manner 
 sued for peace. The colonel dismissed them, saying that ho 
 would confer with them the next day. At the appointed time, 
 after recounting to them all their outrages and treachery, he 
 gave them twelve days in which to deliver up their captives. 
 He demanded that all prisoners should be surrendered, 
 " Englishmen, Frenchmen, women and children; whether 
 adopted, married, or living among them under any denomi- 
 nation or pretence whatsoever ; and to furnish horses, clothes 
 and provisions to carry them to Fort Pitt." When these 
 terms had been complied with they were to be informed of 
 the conditions of peace. 
 
 Moving forward to the Forks of Muskingum, in what is 
 now the state of Ohio, Colonel Bouquet caused houses to be 
 built for the reception of the captives ; and by the 9th of 
 November two hundred and six had been delivered into his 
 hands, of whom ninety were Virginians and one hundred 
 and twenty-six Pennsylvanians, one hundred and twenty-five 
 being women and children. 
 
 The meeting of the adult prisoners wifrh their friends and 
 relatives, many of whom were with the army, was a scene 
 that beggars description. Of the children, many clung to 
 their adopted Indian mothers, and at first refused to depart 
 with theiswal parents. A number of the Indians declined 
 to b separated from their whito captives, and followed the 
 
INDIAN MASb^ORES. 49 
 
 aimy on its return to Philadelphia. Thus, having complete- 
 ly humbled the Indians and obtained their promise to send, 
 in the spring, one hundred more captives who were off on 
 distant hunting expeditions, hostages boing taken to secure 
 the faithful performance of this stipulation, Colonel Bouquet 
 returned to Pennsylvania. 
 
 In the year 1782 was committed the diabolical murder of 
 the inoffensive Christian Indians of Gnadenhuetten, Salem 
 andSchonbruan in Ohio. In February a party of Sanduaky 
 Indians had massacred a family consisting of a man, his wife 
 and five or six children. The settlers on the Pennsylvania 
 frontier concluded that either the Moravian Indians at Gna- 
 danhuettea were the guilty parties, or that the murdbrers 
 were quartered among them. Accordingly, organizing 
 themselves into a band of eighty or ninety men, mounted 
 and provisioned, they set out for Guadenhuetten under the 
 command of David Williamson, it should here be men- 
 tioned that these praying Indians, as they were called, had, 
 the previous autumn, narrowly escaped destruction, having 
 been carried off to Detroit by the notorious Captain Pike (an 
 Indian) by command of the governor at that fort. However, 
 since it was found impossible to prove any \\ rong against them, 
 they had been released, and were now (the Ctli of March) out 
 in the fields gathering in the Indian corn which they had 
 left in the fields the autumn previous when they were taken 
 u'-vay. 
 
 The white guerillas informed them that it was their pur- 
 pose to remove them to Fort Pitt for safety. Much pleased, 
 they at once laid down their arms. Those at Salem were 
 then summoned, and all were placed in guarded houses. 
 Colonel Williamson, then drawing up his men in li::e, put the 
 question whether the Indians should be taken prisoners to 
 Fort Pitt or put to death, requesting those who favored the 
 former movement to step forward and form a new line. Only 
 sixteen or eighteen men are said to have advanced. The 
 savages, in the meantime, having a presentiment of their 
 fate, were praying, singing hymns and exhorting one anoth- 
 er to remain firm. In a short time the two buildings were 
 converted into slaughter houses, filled with the mangled and 
 bleeding bodies of these innocent people gray-haired men, 
 women and tender children; none were spared the fatal 
 
50 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 wounds of the tomahawk, club, spear and sealping-knite, but 
 two young lads who escaped by feigning death, and creeping 
 unobserved into a cellar. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRSS. 5 1 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL BOONE HIS HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES. 
 
 THE exploits of Danit-1 Boone in Kentucky form one of the 
 most interesting chapters in the history of Indian wars, both 
 on account of his thrilling and romantic adventures in a la-id 
 of enchanting beauty and fertility, aud from the noble person- 
 al character of this hero. He was born in 1735 near Bristol, ou 
 the Delaware river. His ancestors were from DevoLshire, 
 England. Both his grandfather (George Boot, e) and his fa- 
 ther (Squire Boon e) had large families, and were characterized 
 by a love of the freedom and advantages to be found in newly- 
 settled lands. It was this roving and independent spirit that 
 led George Boo oe to emigrate to America, and thatinfluenced 
 his son, Squire Booue, to remove from Pennsylvania to North 
 Carolina. This characteristic was inherited iu full by Daniel. 
 He was eighteen years of age when his father we rt to their new 
 home ; and as early as 1764 he had visited the eastern border 
 of Kentucky, which was not far from his dwelling-place on 
 the banks of the Yadkin. 
 
 In 1767, John U indlay, with a companion, discovered and 
 traversed the lo.iely region of Central Kentucky and Tennes- 
 see, and brought to the Carolina settlers glowing accounts of 
 the country. Among his listeners was Boone, who was now 
 married, and who, with his instinctive dislike of crowded set- 
 tlements, had left his father and settle 1 in a log cabin in the 
 Yadkin Valley as its first resident. But already others were 
 coming in, and he therefore listened eagerly to the .description 
 of the beautiful lands to the westward. 
 
 On the first of May, 176D, with a small company of com- 
 rades, Boone started on his first expedition iuto that re^io.", 
 which was hereafter to be the scene of actions that were to 
 make hini immortal. They found the country beautiful with 
 flowers, green grass and pleasing prospects, and abounding 
 with buffaloes and all varieties of game. 
 
 Near the Kentucky river, Boone and a friend named Stew- 
 art were taken captive by the Indians, but escaped on the 
 seventh day. Daniel and his brother erected a small cabin, 
 and remained here all winter, Stewart having been killed by 
 
52 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the savages, and the remainder of the party having retiir o<l 
 to Carolina. In May, Squire Boone set out alone to return 
 to the settlements for the purpose of procuring two horses 
 and ammunition, thus leaving Daniel alo;;e and (as he savsi 
 without broad, salt or sugar ; deprived of the company of his 
 fellow-creatures, or even a horse or dog ; alone in the vast 
 wilderness and five hundred miles from the nearest settle- 
 ment. For three months he continued his solitary existence, 
 going on exploring expeditions, ar.d often so fearful of the 
 approach of the Indians that he dared not sleep in his cabin. 
 At length his brother returned with the horses, and the iwo 
 explore! the region between the Cumberland and the Green 
 rivers. When they again reached the Kentucky river they 
 resolved to make their future home there. 
 
 After a time they revisited North Carolina, but only with 
 the intention to return and inherit this goodly land which they 
 had seen and admired. A company did actually start; but 
 among the mountains seven young men of their party, hav- 
 ing strayed f;om the rest, encountered the Indians, who 
 killed six of them, including one of the sons of Boone. This 
 so disheartened the little band that they turned aside to the 
 settlements on Clinch river, in Virginia. During the next 
 year (1773-74) Boone performed various services as guide and 
 explorer for the Virginia government. 
 
 In the autumn of 1774 the singular Transylvania Company 
 was formed. Eight private gentlemen, at the head of whom 
 was Richard Henderson, conceived and carried out the bold 
 scheme of purchasing from the Cherokee Indians a large 
 tract of country in the West. A council was held, and the 
 red men ceded to them all that region between the Kentucky 
 and Cumberland rivers. With, this remarkable self-consti- 
 tuted government Daniel Boone entered it! to relations, con- 
 senting to act as guide and leader of a small colony to be 
 planted in the ewly-purchased territory. This advance 
 guard was to make a road through the wilderness, and 
 Colonel Henderson would follow with pack mules and wagons. 
 When within fifteen miles of the present Boonesborough the 
 pioneers were attacked by the savages and four men were 
 killed. 
 
 Upon reaching the banks of the Kentucky the first duty 
 was to build a fort, and this was accomplished by Boone with 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 53 
 
 
 
 his characteristic thoroughness. This structure subsequent- 
 ly became the great tower of defence for the young and 
 struggling colony. It was a wonderful work for that time 
 and place, and filled the Indians with alarm anl dismay. 
 The houses inside the enclosures appear to have been ranged 
 along the pickets contiguously, in order to strengthen the de- 
 fence v It was rather unfortunate that the clearing was no 
 larger than the fort, as the woods would a Tord. shelter to the 
 enemy. In two months and a half the structure was com- 
 pleted, and was no doubt regarded with feelings of pride by 
 all. 
 
 Boone now returned to North Carolina for his family, Mrs. 
 Boone being the first woman to brave* the perils of the wilder- 
 ness. Colonel Henderson soon arrived with forty men ; the 
 clearing of land began and a land-office was opened. Soon 
 there were four settlements and forts in the region, and in 
 1775 all the pioneers, in jlie capacity of a legislature, as- 
 sembled in the open air at Boonesborough in response to a 
 call to form a state ! This was certainly the most extraordi- 
 nary legislature that ever met. They, however, with the par- 
 liamentary formalities, passed bills and transacted business 
 with all possible gravity. 
 
 The first difficulty with the Indians was the capture, on 
 July 14th, 1776, of three young girls, two of whom were the 
 daughters of settlers who had come in, and the other the 
 daughter of Boone. They had carelessly crossed in a canoe 
 to the opposite side of the Kentucky river (the fort being on 
 the bank of that stream) at a late hour in the afternoon. The 
 merry girls, playing and splashing in the water, permitted 
 the canoe to drift to the opposite side. Lurking there, were 
 five hideous savages, one of whom, crawling stealthily down 
 the bank, seized the rope attached to the boat and drew it, 
 away out of sight of t! ic fort. The shrieks of the maidens 
 were heard ; but the cano< was the only one, and none dared 
 risk the chance of swimming the river, lest a large body 01 
 Indians might be concealed in the woods. Boone was absent 
 at the time, but the next morning he and others were on the 
 track of the Indians, and came up with them just as they 
 were kindling a fire to cook their meal. Firing on them, 
 they wounded or killed two, and routed the remainder so 
 suddenly that they had no time cither to injure the " broken- 
 
54 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 hearted" girls or to take their moccasins and tomahawks 
 with them. 
 
 One of Boone's bravest and most fearless scouts was Simon 
 Kenton. Eight times did he run the gauntlet, three times 
 he was tied to the stake and once nearly killed by a blow 
 from an axe. At one time, when he had taken an Indian 
 horse, he was seized and beaten by his captors until their 
 arms were tried ; they then proceeded to secure him in the 
 following manner for the night : Being placed on his back, 
 his legs were drawn apart and .each foot lashed firmly to 
 stakes driven into the ground. A pole was then laid across 
 his breast, his hands tied to each end and his arms lashed 
 round it v;ith thongs. Finally, a strap was passed round his 
 neck and the end secured to a stake in the ground, his head 
 being stretched back to prevent his choking. 
 
 This being the time of the Eevolutionary War, the savages 
 used frequently to visit their British employers and allies ?,t 
 Eort Detroit. To this place Kenton was taken, and there 
 won, by his deportment, the interest of the wife of an In- 
 dian trader named Harvey. 
 
 A little romance followed, for this lady promised to assist 
 the escape of Kenton and two other Kentuckian captives, 
 and the opportunity, soon presented itself. On the 3rd of 
 June, 177:*, the Indians assembled near the fort to have a 
 " spree," which meant to get gloriously drunk on British 
 whisky. They stacked their guns near Mrs. Harvey's 
 house. "When it was dark she stole silently out, and, select- 
 ing three of the weapons, hid them in a patch of peas in her 
 garden. Hastening to Kenton, she told him what she had 
 done, and instructed him to come with the others at mid- 
 night to her palisaded garden, where they would find a lad- 
 der, by means of which they could climb over and secure the 
 guns. She also told him of a hollow tree 'at some distance 
 from the town in which she had concealed such articles of 
 clothing, food, ammunition, etc. , as they would require on 
 their journey. At the appointed time the captives appeared 
 at the garden. No time was to be lost, as the yells of the 
 drunken savages could be heard and daylight would soon ap- 
 pear. Taking an affectionate leave of his benefactress, Ken- 
 ton set out with his companions and escape 1 safely to Ken- 
 tuck v. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 55 
 
 One of the great needs of the colonists was .bait. Boone 
 headed an expedition to the Blue Licks for the purpose of 
 making it by evaporating in kettles the water of the famous 
 salt springs situated there. The undertaking was successful 
 as far as the immediate object of it was concerned, but was 
 otherwise disastrous, since all the party were captured ex- 
 cept the three who had gone to the* fort with the salt which 
 had been manufactured during the month in which they 
 were not disturbed by the redskins. This was the beginning 
 of the long and remarkable captivity of Boone, of which I 
 shall presently speak. 
 
 Before the capture the following famous incident is said to 
 have occurred : Boone, while hunting in the woods near the 
 Licks, came upon two Indians. Perceiving that it was use- 
 less to think of attempting a retreat, he slipped behind a tree 
 to let them rome within rifle-shot, and then exposed him- 
 self ; the foremost levelled his gun ; at the flash Boone, who 
 well knew how to dodge bullets, again stepped behind the 
 tree. In the s-nne manner the next Indian was induced to 
 throw away his bullets, and while they were trying, with 
 eager, trembling hands, to reload, he was upon them and 
 succeeded in shooting one of them dead. 
 
 The two antagonists, now on equal grounds, the one un- 
 sheathing his knife, the other raising his tomahawk, rushed 
 toward the body of the Indian lying between them. Boone 
 caught the well-aimed tomahawk of his foe on the barrel of 
 his rifle ; and, being at close quarters, with only the slain 
 savage intervening, as the redskin, in poising his weapon, 
 exposed himself to attack, he plunged his knife up to the 
 hilt into his body. This occurrence is commemorated in 
 sculptured stone in a group placed over the northern door of 
 the Capitol at Washington . 
 
 After the Indians had captured Boone, he took what proved 
 to be the wisest course, submitted quietly and ingratiated 
 himself in their favor,and, when they met the rest of the party 
 at the Licks, signed to them also to surrender. Reposing 
 the greatest confidence in him, they did as directed, and 
 this, no doubt, was the means of saving the fort ; for if the 
 savages had not been conciliated here, but had fought and 
 been victorious, they would certainly have gone on to attack 
 this structure, as this had been a part of their programme. 
 
56 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 They were Shawanese from Chillicothe, and thither they im- 
 mediately returned, taking Boone with them. 
 
 They next conducted their illustrious captive, by a long 
 journey, to Detroit, to exhibit him to their friends and grati- 
 fy their vanity. The comrades of Boone were delivered up 
 to Commandant Hamilton at Detroit, who offered the Indians 
 a large ransom for their prisoner; but they would not ac- 
 cept it. The taciturn, quiet, gentle and unassuming nature 
 of this hero pleased tne savages, and they purposed adopt- 
 ing him into their tribe. He was formally adopted by a dis- 
 tinguished old chief named Blackfish, who had recently lost 
 a son, and remained with the tribe four months. 
 
 The ceremony of adoption was a severe ordeal. By a pain- 
 ful process his hair was plucked from the head, leaving only 
 a scalp-lock tuft, which wa^ dressed up in feathers and rib- 
 bons. He was then thoroughly washed and taken to the 
 council-house, where a speech was made to him, and finally 
 he was generously overspread with paint, the ceremony con- 
 cluding with a feast and pipe-smoking. His captors did not 
 entirely trust him, but carefully counted the bullets given 
 him for hunting, so that he could not conceal any for future 
 use ; but Boone outwitted them by halving the balls and 
 using light charges of powder. 
 
 At length, when he saw four hundred and fifty warriors 
 painting, pow-wowing and otherwise preparing for an expe- 
 dition against Boonesborough, he determined to escape if 
 possible. Having always carefully concealed from them his. 
 accurate knowledge of the Shawanese dialect, he thus learned 
 all their plans. They had ascertained that during his ab- 
 sence the fort had fallen out of repair, and anticipated 
 an easy subjugation of it. Although appearing to evince no 
 interest in their preparations, and having seemingly become 
 an adopted son of the tribe, the heart of Boone was secretly 
 filled with anguish at the thought of his wife and children, 
 whom he believed to be at the fort, although they, with the 
 exception of one daughter, had in reality returned to the 
 home of his father-in-law. 
 
 On the 16th of June he arose very early, went out to hunt 
 and never returned. The flight of Boone to the fort on the 
 Kentucky river, one liuucl red and sixty miles away, is one 
 of the most thrilling adventures to be found in the annals of 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 5? 
 
 Indian warfare. Four hundred and fifty fleet-footed warriors 
 were on his track, stung to fury by his ingratitude, and by 
 the consciousness that he possessed their secrets. In this 
 remarkable flight Boone occupied four days, during which 
 he had but one regular meal, which consisted of a turkey 
 that he had shot after crossing the Ohio river. 
 
 So disconcerted were the Indians by his e cape that they 
 were unable to recover from their surprise for three weeks. 
 In the meantime Boone had strengthened the fort in antic- 
 ipation of the certain siege that was to come. The Indians 
 soon arrived, four hundred and fifty strong, under command 
 of Captain Du Quesne and Blackfish. Boone despatched a 
 messenger to Colonel Arthur Campbell for assistance, and 
 then used every device to gain time. During a truce of two 
 days the besieged were strangely permitted to bring into the 
 fort water and provisions. 
 
 After a treacherous attempt to seize Boone and eight others, 
 during a council, hostilities began. A siege had now opened 
 which lasted nine days and night * without intermission. 
 The enemy, from their shelter in the woods, poured in a 
 steady hailstorm of lead against the fort; but they did but 
 little damage to any one, and the one hundred and twenty- 
 five pounds of bullets which were picked up outside of the 
 fort at the close of the siege had been thrown away to little 
 purpose. 
 
 The garrison fought heroically, having only two men 
 killed and four wounded ; one of the former was the victim 
 of a negro who had deserted from them, carrying with him 
 the skill in shooting which he had acquired in tSe fort. This 
 renegade had climbed a tree and was firing into the build 
 ing, when Boone, marking him and taking advantage of a 
 moment when he exposed his head, sent a bullet toward him. 
 After the battle the negro was found dead with a ball in his 
 head, the shot of Boone having been made at a distance of 
 five hundred and twenty-five feet. At length the siege was 
 raised, and the Indians returned in deep chagrin at their 
 failure to secure Boone. 
 
 The terrible blow which the whites received in August 1782, 
 at the battle of Blue Licks, is too familiar to render necessary 
 more than mere allusion to it here. The number of settlers 
 slain in that battle was seventy-seven, among whom was a 
 
58 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 son of Boone. A word as to the latter years of Boone, who 
 experienced the usual fate of great benefactors. He lost his 
 farm in Kentucky, owing to some quibble about the title ; 
 and afterward, when he had removed to Missouri and had 
 been granted a large tract of land, he was deprived of that 
 also by the United States authorities. These despicable acts 
 of in justice will ever be a stain upon the escutcheons of 
 Kentucky and the United States, notwithstanding the fact 
 that he did finally receive from the United States government 
 a petty grant of eight hundred acres in Missouri, upon which 
 he lived until his death. He died in 1820 at the age of eighty- 
 six, and was buried in the grave he had designated. In 184S 
 the legislature caused his remains to be brought to Frank- 
 fort, Ky. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 59 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WAES OF NEW ENGLAND AS TOLD BY JUDGE PENHALLOW, WHO 
 DIED AT PORTSMOUTH IN 1726. 
 
 A KEOORD of nearly all the horrible deeds committed by 
 various tribes of Indians in New England early in the 18th 
 century, was kept by Samuel Penhallow, a Christian gentle- 
 man and a judge of the Massachusetts superior court, and 
 hence were not overdrawn. We give some excerpts from his 
 history : 
 
 February 8th, 1704, Joseph Bradley's garrison of Haverhill 
 was unhappily surprised by a small band of Indians, who 
 skulking at a distance, and seeing the gates open and none 
 on the sentry, rushed in and became masters thereof. The 
 housewife perceiving the misery that was attending her, and 
 bavin--' boiling soap on the fire, scalded one-of them to death. 
 The sentinel within was slain, and she with several others 
 were taken; which was the second time of her captivity. 
 But that whic-h heightened her affliction was being with 
 child, and yet obliged to travel in a deep snow, under a 
 heavy burden, and many days together without subsistence, 
 excepting a few bits of skin, ground-nuts, bark of trees, wild 
 onions, and lily roots. Nevertheless she was wonderfully 
 supported, and at last safely delivered ; but the babe soon 
 perished for want of nourishment, and by the cruelty of the 
 Indians, who, as it cried, threw hot embers in its mouth. 
 After a year's bondage, she was sold to the French for eighty 
 livres, and then redeemevl by her husband. 
 
 May 13th, about break of day, a company of French and 
 Indians fell on a fortified house, at Pascomuck, after ward 
 Easthampton, Mass., where no wateh being kept, the peo- 
 ple were alarmed in their beds, by the noise of the enemy's 
 rushing on the house ; and before the inhabitants could rise, 
 the Indiana had shot those that first appeared, killing some 
 and wounding others. The surprised people made what re- 
 sistance they could, firing briskly on the enemy; but the 
 houso being soon set on fire, they were forced to yield them- 
 selves prisoners. The enemy soon drew off, but fearing a 
 pursuit, dismissed one of the wounded, with this caution. 
 
60 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 that if the English followed them, they would slay the pris- 
 oners; but the unfortunate messenger in returning back, 
 was slain by another Indian. On the same morning, anoth- 
 er party attacked a farm house, two miles off; but the fury 
 of the dogs so alarmel the inhabitants, that they instantly 
 got up and tired several guns, to very good advantage, which 
 prevented any further attempt. As for those at Pascomuck, 
 they were immediately pursued ; three made an escape, eight 
 were rescued, nineteen slain, and three carried to Canada. 
 
 In the same month intelligence came from Albany that a 
 number of hostile Indians were up the Connecticut river at 
 a place called Cowassuck. A company from Northampton 
 went after them. Not far from the place, a spy was sent out 
 with green leaves for a cap and vest, to prevent his discovery 
 and to find the enemy. Y/hen evening came on, the search- 
 ers moved toward the river, and soon perceived a smoke at 
 about half a mile's distance, where it was afterward found 
 they had taken up their lodging. About two o'clock in the 
 morninc.T, the wigwam where they lay was reached. The 
 ground was so covered with dry sticks and brush, for the 
 space of five rods, tha f it could not be passed without mak- 
 ing such a crackling, as to alarm the enemy, and give them 
 time to escape. A very small cloud arose, fortunately which 
 gave a smart clap of thunder, and a sudden shower of rain. 
 And this opportunity was embraced to run through the 
 thicket within sight of the wigwam. The enemies were 
 awake ; but, however, being unwilling to lose any time, the 
 attacking party crept on hands and knees till within three cr 
 four rods of them. Then arising they ran to the side of the 
 wigwam, and fired in upon them : and flinging down guns, 
 surrounded them, and with clubs and hatchets knocked down 
 several. But after all diligence, two of their number made 
 their escape, one mortally wounded. 
 
 The Indians commenced their attack on Lancaster on the 
 31st of July, early in the morning. In their first onset, they 
 killed Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, near the gate of his own gar- 
 rison ; and on the same day, three others, viz. Abraham How, 
 John Spaulding and Benjamin Hutchins, near the same gar- 
 rison. 
 
 On the 8th of August, as several persons were busy in 
 spreading flax, on a plain, about eighty rods from the house 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 61 
 
 of Mr. Thomas Bice, and a number of boys with them, a num- 
 ber of Indians, seven or ten, suddenly rushed down a woody 
 hill near by, and knocked on the hea<! NahorRice, the young- 
 est boy, and seized Asher and Adonijah, sons of Mr. Thomas 
 Rice, and two others, Sila* and Timothy, sonsof Mr. Edmund 
 Rice, and carried them away to Canada. The persons en- 
 gaged in spreading flax, escaped safely to the house. Asher, 
 in about four years, returned, being redeemed by his father. 
 His brother, Adonijah, grew up in Canada, and married 
 there. Silas and Timothy mixed with the Indians ; lost their 
 mother tongue, had Indian wives, and children by them ; 
 and lived at Cagnawaga. The last became the third of one 
 six chiefs of the Cagnawagas. 
 
 On the 15th of October following, eighteen Indians fell on 
 Cape Neddick, where they took four children of Mr. Stover's 
 at a little distance from the garrison. The youngest,notable 
 to travel, was knocked on the head, the other three were cur- 
 ried captive ; but being attacked by Lieut. March, and los- 
 ing one of their company, they killed a second child in way 
 of revenge. 
 
 Col. Schuyler from time to time was of eminent service to 
 his country, who advised of 270 men coming to attack Dun- 
 stable on the 3rd of July. They fell on a garrison that had 
 twenty troopers posted in it. They had been ranging the 
 woods in the vicinity, and came toward night to this gar- 
 rison; apprehending no danger, turned their horses loose, 
 piled their arms and harness in the house, and began a car- 
 ousal, to exhilarate their spirits after the fatigues of the day. 
 A party of Indians had lately arrived in the vicinity, and on 
 that day had designed to attack both Wells' and Galusha s 
 garrisons. One of their number had been stationed to watch 
 each of these houses, to see that no assistance approached, 
 and no alarm was given. A short time previous to the ap- 
 proach of the cavalry, the Indian stationed at Wells' had re- 
 tired to his party, and reported that all was safe. At suDSot, 
 u Mr. Camings and his wife went out to milk their cows, and 
 left the gate open. The Indians, who had advanced undis- 
 covered, started up, shot Mrs. ('timings dead upon the 
 spot, and wounded her husband. They then rushed through 
 the open gate into the house, with all the horrid yells of con- 
 quering savages, but stared with amazement on finding the 
 
62 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 room filled with soldiers merrily feasting. Both parties were 
 completely amazed, and neither acted with much propriety. 
 The soldiers, so suddenly interrupted in their jovial enter- 
 tainment, found themselves called to fight, when entirely 
 destitute of arms, and incapable of obtaining them. The 
 greater part were panic-struck, and unable to fight or fly. 
 Fortunately, all were not in this sad condition : some six or 
 seven courageous souls, with chairs, clubs, and whatever 
 they could seize upon, furiously attacked the advancing foe. 
 The Indians who were as much surprise 1 as the soldiers, had 
 but little more courage than they, and immediately took to 
 their heels for safety ; thus yielding the house, defeated by 
 one quarter their number of unarmed men. The trumpeter, 
 who was in the upper part of the house at the commence- 
 ment of the attack, seized his trumpet and began sounding 
 an alarm, when he was shot dead by an Indian on the stair- 
 way. He was the only one of the party killed. The savages- 
 disappointed in this purt of their plan, immeditely proceeded 
 to Galusha's, two miU-s distant; took possession of, and burnt 
 it. One woman only escaped. She sought refuge in the 
 cellar, and concealed herself under a dry cask. After hastily 
 plundering the house, and murdering, as they supposed, ail 
 who were in it, the Indians set it on fire and immediate-!/ re- 
 tired. The woman in this critical situation, attempted to es- 
 cape by the window, but found it too small : she howevei 
 succeeded in losening the stones till she had opened a hole 
 sufficient to admit of her passage, and with the house ir, 
 flames over her hea 1, she forced herself out, and crawled in- 
 to the bushes, not daring to rise for fear she should be dis> 
 covered. In the bushes she lay concealed until the next day 
 when she reached one of the neighboring garrisons. 
 
 Joseph English, who was a friend Indian, was much dis- 
 tinguished for his atta hment to the white inhabitants. In 
 a preceding war with the Indians, he had been taken prison- 
 er' from the .vicinity of Dunstable and carried to Ca-sada, 
 from whence, by his shrewdness and sagacity, he effected his 
 escape, with one English captive, and returned to his friends 
 in Dunstable. The Indians had for a long time endeavored 
 to retake him, for he was peculiarly obnoxious to them. 
 While he was accompanying Capt. Butterfield and his wife on 
 a visit to their friends, they pursued him, and just as he was 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. (53 
 
 upon the point of gaining a thicket, they shot him through 
 the thigh, which brought him to tiie ground, and they ui'ter- 
 ward dispatched him with their tomahawks. 
 
 On the bth of July, live Indians, a iittle before night, fell 
 on an out house in Heading, where they surprised a woman 
 with eight children ; the former with the three youngest were 
 instantly dispatched, and the others they carried captive ;but 
 one of the children unable to travel, they knocked on the 
 head, and left in the swamp concluding it was dead, but a 
 while after it was found alive. The neighborhood being 
 alarmed, got ready by the morning and coming on their 
 track, pursued them so near that they recovered three of the 
 jhildren, and put the enemy in such a terror that they not 
 only quitted their plunder and. blankets, but the other cap- 
 tives also. Several strokes v ere afterward made on Chelms- 
 ford, Sudbury and Groton, where three soldiers as they were 
 going to public worship, were way laid by a small party, who 
 killed two and made the other a prisoner. 
 
 At Exeter, a company of French Mohawks, who some 
 time kept lurking about Capt. Hilton's garrison, took a view 
 of all that went in and out; and obsciving some to go with 
 their scythes to mow, laid in ambush till they laid by their 
 arms, and while at work, rushed on at once, and by intercept- 
 ing them from their arms, killed four, wounded one, and car- 
 ried three captive ; so that out of ten, two only escaped. 
 
 Rebecca Taylor was going to Canada, on the bank of Mon- 
 . . ' : nl river, when she was violently insulted by Sampson, her 
 y master, who without any provocation was resolved to 
 hang her ; and for want of rope, made use of his girdle, which 
 when he had fastened about her i.eek, attempted to hoist her 
 up on the limb of a tree (that hung in the rature of a gibbet,) 
 but in hoisting her, the weight of her body broke it asunder, 
 which so exasperated the cruel tyrant that he made n second 
 attempt, resolved that if he failed in that to knock her on 
 the head; but before he had power to effect it. I 
 came along, who seeing the tragedy on foot, prevented the 
 fatal stroke. 
 
 A child of Mrs. Hannah Parsons, of Wells, the Indians, for 
 want of food, determined to roast alive, but while the fire 
 was kindling, and the sacrifice preparing', a company of 
 French Mohawks came down the river in a canoe with three 
 
64 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 dogs, which somewhat revived these hungry monsters, es- 
 pecting to make a feast upo-i one of them. So soon as they 
 got ashore, the child was offered in exchange ; but despising 
 the offer, they tendered a gun, which was readily accepted, 
 a:.d by that means the child was preserved from a horrible 
 death. 
 
 Samuel Butterfield, who being sent to Groton as a soldier, 
 was with others attacked as they were gathering in the har- 
 vest ; his bravery was such, that he killed one arid woundod 
 another, but being overpowered by strength, was forced to 
 submit ; and it happened that the slain Indian was a Saga- 
 more, and of great dexterity in war, which caused matter of 
 lamentation, and enraged them to such a degree that they 
 vowed the utmost revenge ; some were for v. hipping him to 
 death, others for burning him alive ; but differing in their 
 sentiments, they submitted the issue to the squaw widow, 
 concluding she would determine something very dreadful, 
 but she answered : " If by killing him you can bring my hus- 
 band to life again, I beg you study what death you please , 
 but, if not, let him be my servant;" which he accordingly 
 was, duri 'g his captivity, and had favor shown him. 
 
 Of all the Indians ever known since King Philip, never any 
 appeared so cru 1 and inhumane as Assacambuit, that insult- 
 ing monster who, by the encouragement of the Trench, went 
 over to Paru, and being introduced to the king, lifted up his 
 hand*in the most arrogant manner imaginable, saying "this 
 hand of mine has slain one hundred and fifty of your Majes- 
 ty's enemies, within the territories of New England," etc. 
 His impudent speech was so pleasing to that bloody mon- 
 arch that he forthwith knighted him, and ordered eight 
 livres a day to be paid him during life ; which so exalted the 
 wretch as at his return, to exert a sovereignty over the rest 
 of his brethren, by murdering one, and stabbing another,- 
 which so exasperated those of their relations, that they 
 8nnght revenge, and would instantly have executed it, but 
 that he fled his country, and never returned after. 
 
 At Casco, Indians intercepted a fishing boat sailing be- 
 tween the islands, in which were five men, three of whom 
 they killed, and took the other two. August 10th, 1707, they 
 waylaid the road between York and Wells, a"d as four horse- 
 men were riding in company with Mrs. Littlefield, who had 
 
66 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 
 
 the value of sixty pounds with her, were all opt one, 
 
 who made his escape. 
 
 On the 18th of August, as two women in Northborougk, 
 Mass., were out a, short distance from the fort gathering 
 herbs, the Indians discovered and pursued them. One Mrs. 
 Mary Fay got safe into the fort; the other, Mary Goodenow, 
 a young and unmarried woman, was taken and carried over 
 the brook into the edge of Maiiborough, and there, a little 
 south of the great road, an 1 nigh to Sandy Hill, she was 
 killed and scalped. The enemy were pursued and overtaken 
 in what is now Sterling, where a<. obstinate engagement took 
 place, in which Joh.i Farrar and Richard Singletary, were 
 killed. The Indians at length lied, leaving som plunder and 
 some of their packs, in one of which the scalp of Mary Good- 
 enow was found. 
 
 A most aflicti.-g stroke was at Oyster river, where thirty 
 French Mohawks, who appeared like so many furies with 
 their naked bodies pai ted like blood, and observing some at 
 work hewing timber, and others driving a team, they fell 
 violently upon them with such hideous noise and yelling as 
 made the very woods to echo. At the first shot, they killed 
 seven, and mortally wounded another. 
 
 On April 12th, 1709, a soout fell on I.-eerfield, and took Me- 
 human Hinsdell, as i e was driving a cart, which was the sec- 
 ond time of his captivity. And on May 6th, another party 
 within three miles of Exeter, surprised several as they were 
 going to a saw-mill. A few days after, Capt. Wright oil 
 Northampton, with several English, and two Na ick Indians, 
 adventuring to the lake, within forty miles of fort La Motte, 
 killed and wounded two or three of the French Mohawks ; 
 and on their return up French river, met with another body 
 of the enemy in canoes, on whom they fired, and overset, 
 killed and wounded several of them. In this company, was 
 William Moody, who being now alone with but one Indian 
 in a canoe, was encouraged by the English to kill said In- 
 dian, and make his escape, which lie attempted, but 
 the canoe in the struggle, and taen "loody s>vam toward 
 English for relief, whereupon, Lieut. John Wells, with 
 or two more, ra.s do n t'i:> br, oiped him ashore. In 
 
 the meantime, a number of the enemy came fco the bank, 
 and wounded John Stro <g, and killed the lieutenant, who 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 67 
 
 had been a man of very good courage, find well spirited to 
 serve his country, and so the loss of him was much lamented. 
 Hereupon, Moody unhappily resigned himself again into the 
 enemy's hands, who most inhumanly tortured him, by fast- 
 ening him a stake, and roasting him alivt, vvhose flesh they 
 afterward devoured . 
 
 On the 20th of July, 1710, six men were making hay in the 
 meadows, when the Indians, who had been watching an op- 
 portunity to surprise them, sprang suddenly upon them, dis- 
 patched five, and took the other, John White, prisoner. 
 White, spying a small company of his people at a distance, 
 jumped from the Indian who held him, and ran to join his 
 friends ; but the Indian fired after him, and wounded him in 
 the thigh, by which lie fell; but soon recovered av.d running 
 again, he was again fired at, and received his death wound. 
 This was the last mischief done by Indian* at Brookfleld. 
 
 August 2i:d, between forty and fifty French and Indians fell 
 
 on Winter Harbor, where they killed a woman and took two 
 
 liien. The week after, tney came with a far superior number, 
 
 killed three, and carried away six, one of the slain they bar- 
 
 . ,:ade themselves girdles of his skin. 
 
 June 1st, 1712, Indians at Spruce Creek shot John Picker- 
 
 ,o was locking his door, and going to the garrison ; 
 
 also wounded his wife and knocked a child on the 
 
 head, which they scalped, yet after, aid ir iccovered. Two 
 
 r s after they were seen at Amesbury, then at Kingston. 
 
 where they woui.ded Ebenezer Stevens a uen Giiin 
 
 the latter of which they took alive a; d i "od. 
 
 is, they killed ono vichawanick, and on July 
 
 ivc, who afterward made his escape. 
 i to intercept the poop o 
 
 :as they came Irom worship ; upon which a scout 
 sentin pura.-iit, b;it made no discovery. Yet in the in- 
 termitting time, they took two children from Lieut. Heard s 
 garrison, and not ha v- to scalp them, cut oif bota 
 
 their heads ar ' them away. 
 
 In 1720, Capt. Thomas Baker of Northampton, in ;:he 
 county of Hampshire, in Massachusetts, set out with a scout- 
 ing party of thirty- four men, passed up Connecticut river, 
 aud crossed the height of land to Pemigewasset river. He 
 
68 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 there discovered a party of Indians, whose sachem was 
 called Walternummus, whom he attacked and destroyed. 
 Baker and the sachem levelled and discharged their guns at 
 each other at the same instant. The ball from the Indian's gun 
 grazed Baker's left e\ebrow,but/Iid him no injury. The ball 
 from Baker's gun went through the breast of the sachem. 
 Immediately upon being wounded, he leaped four or five feet 
 high, and then fell instantly dead. The Indians fled to the 
 river ; Baker and his party pursued, and destroyed every one 
 of them. They had a wigwam on the bank of the river, 
 which was nearly filled with beaver. Baker's party took us 
 much of it as they could carry away, and burned the rest. 
 Baker lost none of his men in this skirmish. It took place at 
 the confluence of a small river with the Pemigewasset, be- 
 tween Plymouth and Campton, which afterward had the 
 name of Baker's river. 
 
 As Deacon Jo.-eph Stevens and four of his sons were making 
 hay in a meadow, at Kutlancl, on the 14th of August, 1723, 
 they were surprised by five Indians. The father escaped in 
 the bushes ; two of the sons were slain, and two were made 
 prisoners. Two of the five Indians waylaid a Mr. Davis and 
 son, who that afternoon were making hay in the meadow 
 not far off, but weary of waiting, they were returning to the 
 others, and met Kev. Joseph Willard in their way, who was 
 armed. One of the Indian's guns missed fire, the others did 
 no execution. Mr. Willard returned the fire and wounded 
 one of them, mortally ; the other closed in with Mr. Willard ; 
 but he would have been more than a match for him, had not 
 the other three come to his assistance and killed Mr. Willard. 
 
 April 17th, 1724, William Mitchel,of Scarborough, was shot 
 as he was ploughing in the field. They then fell on a sloop 
 a Kennebuuk, which belonged to Lynn, and killed the whole 
 company. But the greatest stroke was on Capt. Winslow, 
 who with sixteen men in two whale-boats, went from St. 
 George's to the Green Islands, which the enemy frequented 
 on the account of fowling. But on their return, they were 
 ambuscaded by two or three companies of 'them that lay on 
 each side the river. The first that fell was Sergeant Harvey, 
 who commanded the other boat ; for by keeping too near the 
 shore, he gave the enemy the greater advantage : however, 
 h returned the shot with as much bravery as could b ex- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 6D 
 
 pected, till overpowered by a multitude. Capt. Winslow, who 
 was considerably ahead and out of danger, perceiving the 
 engagement, courageously returned back to their assistance. 
 But before he could give them any relief, he was surroir.cled 
 with about thirty canoes, who made a hideous yelling ; but lie 
 gave them no answer bi.it from the muzzles of his guns. A 
 smart engagement followed, which held till night: when find- 
 ing his thigh broken, and most his men slain, he was oblige*] 
 to hasten ashore ; but there also he found himself unhappily 
 waylaid. They fell on him with utmost fury, yet his cour- 
 age continued until the last; for he rested himself on his 
 other knee, and killed an Indian before they had power to 
 slay him. He was the grandson of Governor Winslo A of 
 Plymouth. 
 
 Sylvan us Nock, a worthy elder of the church at Oyster 
 river, soon after this, was slain as he was on horseback. 
 Myles Thompson, of Berwick, was the same day also killed by 
 another party, and his son was carried captive. A few days 
 after, they again beset Capt. Penhallow's garrison where they 
 took three as they were driving their cows to pasture, and at 
 their drawing off killed a great many cattle. Another party 
 fell on Kingston, where they took Peter Colcord, Epliraim 
 Severns, and t\vo of Mr. Stevens' children, whom they car- 
 ried to Canada; but by the unwearied pains and expense of 
 Mr. Stevens, he in a little time purchased his children. Col- 
 cord, about six months after, made his escape aod got unto 
 his friends, but did riot survive long. 
 
 May 24th, they shot George Chesley as he was returning 
 from public worship, with whom was Elizabeth Burnum, who 
 was mortally w r ounded. Three days after, they went to Per- 
 pooduck, where they killed one and wounded another, and 
 then marched to Saco, where they slew David Hill, a friend 
 Indian. On the same day, another 'party went to Chester, 
 where they took Thomas Smith, with another whom they 
 pinioned, but soon after, they made their escape' 
 
 The frontiers alarmed at these outrages, two companies of 
 volunteers went from New Hampshire on a bounty act, (one 
 hundred pounds a scalp,) and it happened that Moses Davis, 
 as he was weeding his corn, went unto a brook to drink, 
 where he saw three Indian packs, upon which he informed 
 tfre troops that were then coming out. He, with his son, 
 
70 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 went before as guides, but by an ambushrnent, were both 
 shot dead. The English then fired on them, who killed one, 
 and wounded two more, but could not iind either of the lat- 
 ter, although they tracked them by their blood some way. 
 The assernb y of New Hampshire then sitting, ordered th$ 
 aforesaid sum of one hundred pounds to be paid. 
 
 The next damage they did, was at Groton, but were so 
 closely pursued, that they left several of their packs behind. 
 About which time, news came to Deer field of a body of In- 
 dians discovered up Connecticut river. Cupt. Thomas Wells 
 rallied a company of men, and went in quest of them, but 
 made no further discovery, till, upon their return home, 
 about four miles from Deerfield, three of the company (sup- 
 posing themselves out of danger , rode at some distance be- 
 fore the rest, and unhappily fell into an ambushrnent of the 
 enemy near a swamp, and were all three killed by them. But 
 the company behind hearing the guns, rode up with all 
 speed, and came upon the enemy while they were scalping 
 the slain; and firing upon them, wounded several. Upon 
 which the enemy fled into the swamp, and the English dis- 
 mounting their horses, ran in after them, and tracked them 
 a considerable way by the blood of the wounded, but found 
 none. However, they recovered ten packs, and heard after- 
 ward that two died of their wounds, and a third lost the use 
 of his arm. Another company fell on Spurwink, where they 
 mortally wounded Solomon Jordan, as he was coining out of 
 the garrison. Next day, July 18th, Lieut. Bean went in quest 
 of them, and came up with a scout of thirty, whom he en- 
 gaged and put to flight, leaving twenty-tive packs, twelve 
 blankets, a gun, a hatchet, and sundry other things behind 
 them. 
 
 The enemy not finding so great encouragement in attack- 
 ing our frontiers as they expected, were now resolved to turn 
 pirates, and accordingly intercepted several of our fishery as 
 they went in and out the harbors for wood, water, or in case 
 of storms, and accordingly made up a fleet of fifty canoes, 
 who designed at first for Mohegen, but going through the 
 Fox Islands, and seeing several vessels at anchor, surprised 
 eight with little or no opposition ; in which were forty men, 
 twenty of whom they put to death, reserving the skippers 
 and best sailors to navigate for them, After this, they took 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 71 
 
 fourteen more ; and with the assistance of the Cape Sable In- 
 dians, became so powerful and desperate, that at first they 
 terrified all vessels that sailed along the eastern shore. They 
 then went to St. Georges with a design to burn that garrison ; 
 in order whereto, they filled a couple of shallops with com- 
 bustible matter, which they set on fire, but it was happily 
 extinguished. They then offered terms on surrendering, 
 which were rejected. And finding that neither force nor in- 
 sinuation would prevail, they withdrew, and sailed to An- 
 napolis, expecting to surprise the fort ; but firing at a soldier 
 in their march, gave an alarm, and a detachment issued 
 forth, who, after a smart dispute, gave them a perfect rout, 
 but not without loss to the whites. 
 
 At Kutland, they killed three men, wounded one, and took 
 another Aug. 23rd, 1724 ;and at Oxford, beset a house that lay 
 under a hill, but as one of the enemy attempted to break 
 through the roof, he was shot by a woman of the house. 
 At Oyster river, and Berwick, they killed one, wounded a sec- 
 ond, and carried away a third. 
 
 Capts. Harmon, Moulton, Brown and Bean were now pre- 
 paring for Norridgewock, with two hundred men in seven- 
 teen whale-boats. After they landed at Triconnick, they 
 met with Bomaseen at Brunswick, (who had slain an English- 
 man some days before) whom they shot in the river, as he 
 attempted to make an escape. They afterward killed his 
 daughter, and took his wife captive ; who gave an account 
 of the state of the enemy, which encouraged them to march 
 on briskly; and on August 12th, they got within two miles of 
 the place. Capt. Harmon drew off with about sixty men to 
 range their corn fields, in hopes of finding some there, imag- 
 ining they saw some smoke. Capt. Moulton, with about 
 a hundred men moved forward, and when he came 
 within view of the -town, artfully divided them into three 
 squadrons, of thirty in each, having ordered ten to guard 
 their baggage, and a squadron on each wing to lie in am- 
 bush, whilfe he with the like numtoer encountered them in the 
 front. He went on with such resolution, that he got within 
 pjstol shot before he was discovered. The Indians were un- 
 der amazing terror; yet in their surprise some of them 
 snatched up their guns and fired : but their hands shook and 
 they did no execution. They immediately betook them- 
 
72 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 selves to flight, and in running fell on the muzzles of their 
 pursuers' guns that lay in ambush. They were pursued so 
 warmly, that several were slain on the spot ; more got into 
 their canoes, and others ran into the river, which was so 
 rapid, and the falls in some places so great, that many of 
 them were drowned. By this time Capt. Harmon came up, 
 who was not so happy as to discover any of the enemy where 
 he expected. The number of the dead which were scalped, 
 'were twenty-six, beside Monsieur Ealle, the Jesuit, who was 
 a bloody incendiary, and instrumental to most of the mis- 
 chiefs done the white people by preaching the doctrine of 
 meriting salvation by the destruction of heretic -. Some say 
 that quarter was offered him, which he refused, and would 
 neither give nor take any. After this, they burnt and de- 
 stroyed the chapel, canoes, and all the cottages that lay 
 round ; they also took four Indians alive, and recovered three 
 captives. 
 
 The number in all that were killed and drowned was sup- 
 posed to be eighty, but some say more ; the greatest victory 
 we have obtained in the last three or four wars : and it may be 
 as noble an exploit (all things considered) as ever happened in 
 the time of King Philip. About seventy French Mohawks 
 were now making a descent on the frontiers, who divided 
 into several parties and killed a great number of cattle. Some 
 of them fell on the house of John Hanson of Dover, who be- 
 ing a stiff Quaker, full of enthusiasm, and ridiculing the mili- 
 tary power, would on no account be influenced to come into 
 garrison ; by which means bis whole family (then at home) 
 being eight in number, were all killed and taken. But some 
 time after, his wife and two or thre3 of his children were re- 
 deemed with considerable pains and expense. 
 
 September 4th, they fell on Dunstable, and took two in the 
 evening; next morning, Lieut. French, with fourteen men, 
 went in quest of them ; but being waylaid, both he and ono 
 half of his company were destroyed. After that, as many 
 more of a fresh company engaged them, but the enemy being 
 much superior in number overpowere .1 them, with the loss of 
 one man and four wounded. 
 
 On the Monday after, they killed Jabez Colemaa of Kings- 
 ton, with his son, as they were gathering corn stalks. About 
 the same time, Nathaniel Ed ward i of Northampton was killed ; 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 7ij 
 
 and the next day, the same company of Indians went to 
 Westfield, and fell on several people as they were coming out 
 of the meadows with their carts loaded, and wounding one 
 man had certainly taken him, but some of our men bravely 
 faced about, and attempted a shot upon them. But their 
 guns all missing fire except Mr. Noah Ashley's, his went off 
 and shot down one of the enemy, which put a stop to their 
 further pursuit of the English. Hereupon a company rallied, 
 and went_aftor the enemy, and quickly found the Indian 
 whom Ashley had slain. And taking the scalp, said Ashley 
 brought it to Boston, and received one hundred pounds re- 
 ward for it. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTEEX. 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN LOVEWELL'S MEMORABLE BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS 
 
 AT FIIYEBURG. 
 
 THE story of Love well's fight with the Indians was one of 
 the nursery tales of New Hampshire for many years. It took 
 place on the 18th of April, 1725, and was one of the fiercest 
 and most obstinate battles on record. John Lovewell was a 
 son of Zaccheus Lovewell, and au ensign in the army of 
 Oliver Cromwell, who came to this country and settled at 
 Dunstable, Mass., where he died at the great age of 120 
 years, the oldest white man it is said, who ever died in New 
 Hampshire. With 34 men he fought the famous Indian chief 
 Pangus, at the head of 70 savages, near the shores of a pond 
 in Pequacket. Love well's men were determined to conquer 
 or die, although outnumbered more than one-half. They 
 fought till Loveweli and Pangus were killed, and all the 
 Captain's men but nine were either killed or wounded dan- 
 gerously. The savages having lost, as was supposed, 60 of 
 their number, and being convinced of the fierce and deter- 
 mined resolution of their foes, at length retreated and left 
 them masters of the ground. The scene of this desperate 
 and bloody action was at the place where Fryeburg, Me., is 
 now located. 
 
 Capt. Lovewell, who was endowed with a generous spirit 
 and resolution of serving his country, and well acquainted 
 with hunting the woods, raised a company of volunteers, and 
 marched some miles beyond their common head-quarters. 
 On the easterly side of Winn.episeogee ponds he crossed au 
 Indian track, and soon after espied two of them, whose mo- 
 tions he watched all the day, and at night silently came upon 
 them as they lay asleep round their fire. At his first firing, 
 he killed seven, after that, two more, and wounded another, 
 which was their whole company. 
 
 April 13th, 172-1, there came two Indians to Maquoit, and 
 took one Cockrarn, a soldier of about eighteen years of age, 
 whom they carried thirty miles into the woods. The first 
 night they pinioned him, but lef c him loose the second. He 
 took an opportunity, as they were asleep, to knock them 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 75 
 
 bobh. on the head, scalp them, and take their guns. A vessel 
 from Causo arrived about this time bringing an account of 
 70 Indians falling on an outhouse in view of th garrison, 
 where they killed seven men, one woman and a child. This 
 news animated Capt. Lor swell to make another attempt on 
 Pigwackat. Before going they buUt a fort near Ossipee, to 
 have resource unto iu onse of danger, as also for the relief of 
 any that might be sick or wounded; and having one of his 
 me<a at this time sick, he left the doctor with eight men more 
 to gua-rd him : with the rest of his company, he proceeded in 
 qust of the enemy. On May the 8th, about ten in the morn- 
 ing, forty miles from said fort, near Saeo poud, he saw an In- 
 dian on a point of land, upon which they immediately put 
 off their blankets and knapsacks, and made toward him, 
 concluding that the enemy were ahead and not in the rear. 
 Yet they were not without some apprehensions of their being 
 diseove-red two days before, and that the appearing of o;ie 
 Indian in so bold a manner, was on purpose to ensnare them. 
 Wherefore, the Captain calling his men together, proposed 
 whether it was best to en gage them or not ; who boldly replied, 
 " that as they came out on purpos-o to meet the enemy, they 
 would rather trust Providence with their lives and die for 
 their country, than return without seeing them." Upon this, 
 they proceeded and mortally wounded the Indian, who not- 
 withstanding returned the fire, and wounded Capt. Love well 
 in the belly. Upon which Mr. Wyraan fired and killed him. 
 But their dismantling themselves at this juncture, proved an 
 unhappy snare ; for the enemy taking their baggage, 
 their strength by the number of their packs, wh^ra thay lay 
 in ambush till they returned, and made the first shot ; 
 was answered with ranch bravery, killing nine. The en- 
 counter was smart and desperate, and the victory seemed as- 
 sured till Capt. Loveweli with several moro wore slein and 
 wounded, to the number of twelve : upon \vhioh the men *ere 
 forced to retreat unto a pond, betwean which and the enemy 
 was a ridge of ground that proved a barrier. Tho engage- 
 ment continued ten hours, but although the shouta of the 
 enemy were at first loud and terrible, yet after some time 
 they became sensibly low and weak, and their appearance to 
 lessen. Now whether it was through want of ammunition, 
 or on the account of those that were slain and wounded, that 
 
76 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the enemy retreated, certain it is, they first drew off and left 
 the ground. And although many of our men were much en- 
 feebled by reason of their wounds, yet none of the enemy pur- 
 sued them in their return. Their number was uncertain, but 
 by the advice which we afterward received, they were sev- 
 enty in the whole, whereof forty were said to be killed upon 
 the spot, eighteen more died of their wounds, and that 
 twelve only returned. An unhappy instance at this time fell 
 out respecting one of the men, who when the fight began, 
 was so dreadfully terrified, that he ran away to the fort, tell- 
 ing those who were there, that Capt. Love well was killed with 
 most of his men ; which put them into such consternation 
 that they all drew off, leaving a bag of bread and pork be- 
 hind, in case any of their company might return and be in 
 distress. 
 
 The whole lost in the engagement were fifteen, beside 
 those that were wounded. Eleazar Davis of Coneord was the 
 last that got in, who first came to Berwick and then to Ports- 
 mouth, where he was carefully provided for, aad kad a skill- 
 ful surgeon to attend him. The report he gave was, that 
 after Capt. Lovewell was killed, and Lieut. Farwell and Mr. 
 Bobbins wounded, that ensign Wyman took upon him th 
 command of the shattered company, who behaved himself 
 with great prudence and courage, by animating the men and 
 telling them, " that the day would yet be their own, if their 
 spirits did not flag ; " which enlivened them aew, and caused 
 them to fire so briskly, that several diseifce^ged between 
 twenty and thirty times apieee. He further added, that 
 Lieut. Farwell, with Mr. Frye, their efoaplaln, Josiah Jones, 
 and himself, who were all wounded, mafoiied toward th fort ; 
 but Jones steered another way, and after a loag fatigue and 
 hardship, got safe into Saoo. Mr. Frye t&ree days after, 
 through the extremity of his woma.de, began t Mnt and 
 languish, and died. 
 
 Mr. Jacob Fullam, who was an officer and aa oly soa, dis- 
 tinguished himself with muoh brainery. One of the first that 
 was killed was by his right hand ; and when ready to encoun- 
 ter a second, it is said that he a&d his adversary fell at the 
 rery instant by each other's shot. 
 
 Lieut. Bobbins, being sensible of his dying state, desired 
 one of the company to charge his gun and leave it with him, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. ?7 
 
 being persuaded that the Indians, by morning, would come 
 and scalp him, being desirous of killing one more before he 
 died. Solomon Kies, wounded in three places, lost so much 
 blood that he was unable to stand anylouger; but in the 
 heat of the battle, calling to Mr. Wyman said, he was a dead 
 man ; however, he said that if it was possible, he would en- 
 deavour to creep into som obscure hole, rather than be in- 
 sulted by these bloody Indians : but by a strange providence, 
 as he was creeping away, he saw a oanoe in the pond, which 
 he rolled himself into, and by a favorable wind (without any 
 assistance of his own) was driven so many miles on, that he 
 got safe to the fort. 
 
 Mr. Wyman, who distinguished himself in such a signal 
 manner, was, on his return, presented with a silver-hilted 
 sword, and a captain ' s commission. Edward Lingfleld was 
 made an ensign, and the general assembly (to show a grate- 
 ful acknowledgment to the soldiers, and a compassionate 
 sympathy to the widows and orphans,) ordered the sum of 
 fifteen hundred pounds to be given them, and for further 
 encouragement of volunteers, ordered four shillings a day to 
 be paid every one that would enlist, beside a bounty of one 
 hundred pounds a scalp. Upon which a great many brave 
 men, under the command of Capt. White, Capt. Wyman, and 
 others, went out, but the extremity of the heat prevented 
 their marching far. Many of them sickened, and some died 
 after their return ; particularly, Capt. White and Capt. Wy- 
 man, whose deaths were very much lamented. 
 
 The following song was written at the time, to commemo- 
 rate Lovewell s great fight, which is reproduced here as 
 worthy of a place in this little volume. The tune is not des- 
 ignated : 
 
 Of worthy Captain LOVEWEIL, I purpose now to sing, 
 How vatiantly he served bis country and his King; 
 He and his valiant soldiers, did range the woods full wide, 
 And hardships they endured to quell the Indians' pride. 
 
 Twas nigh unto Pigwack-et, on the eighth day of May, 
 They spied a rebel Indian soon after break of day; 
 He on a bank was walking, upon a neck of land, 
 Which leads into a pond as we're made to understand. 
 
 Our men resolved to have him, and travel'd two miles round, 
 Until they met the Indian, who boldly stood his ground ; 
 Then speaks up Captain LOVEWELL, r< take you good heed," says he, 
 *' This rogue is to decoy us, I very plainly see. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 " The Indians lie in ambush, in somo place ni^h at hand, 
 In order to surround us upon this neck of land ; 
 Therefore we'll march in order, and each man leave his pack, 
 That wo may briskly fight them when they make their attack." 
 
 They cam unto tfaia Indian, who did them thus defy, 
 As econ as they came nigh him, two guns he did let fly, 
 Which wounded Captain LOTKWBLL, and likewise one man more, 
 But wheathia rogue was running, they laid him in his gore. 
 
 Theu having scalped the Indian, they went back to the spot, 
 Where they had laid their packs down, but there they found them not, 
 For tho Indians having spied them, when they them down did lay, 
 Did seize them for their plunder, and carry them away. 
 
 These rebels lay in ambush, this very place hard by. 
 
 So that an English soldier did one of them espy, 
 
 And cried out, " here's an Indian," with that they started out, 
 
 As fiercely as old lions, and hideously did shout. 
 
 With thai our valiant English, all gave a loud huaea, 
 To show the rebel Indians they feared them not a straw: 
 So now the fight began, and as fiercely as could be, 
 The Indians ran up to them, but soon were forced to flee. 
 
 Then spake up Captain LOVEWELL, when first the fight began 
 tl Fight on mj valiant heroes ! you see they fall like rain." 
 For as we are inf orin'd, the Indians were so thick, 
 A man could scarcely fire a gun and not Borne of them hit. 
 
 Then did the rebels try their best our soldiers to surround, 
 
 But they could not accomplish it, because there was a pond, 
 
 To which our men retreated and covered all the rear, 
 
 The rogues were forc'd to flee thorn, although they skulked for fear. 
 
 V 
 
 Two logs there were behind them that close together lay, 
 Without being discovered, they could not get away; 
 Therefore our valiant English^ they traveled in a row, 
 And at a handsome distance as they were wont to go. 
 
 'Twas ten o'clock in the morning, when first the fight began, 
 And fiercely did continue until the setting sun; 
 Excepting that the Indians gome hours before 'twas night, 
 Drew off into the bushes and ceas'd a while to figkt. 
 
 Bat soon again returned, in Hvjrce and furious naood, 
 Shouting as in the morning, but yet not half so loud; 
 For os we are informed, eo thick and fast they fell, 
 Scarce twenty of their number, at night did get home well, 
 
 And that our valiant English, till midnight there did stay, 
 To see whether the rebels would have another fray ; 
 But they no more returning, they made els toward their home, 
 And brought away their wounded as far as t&sy ooald eaa>e. 
 
 Of all our valiant English, there -were but fehirby-fo-ar, 
 
 And of the rebel Indians, there were about foursoore. 
 
 And sixteen of otir English did safely home r*fcura, 
 
 The rest were kili'd and" woaudsd, for whtoa we ail must Hwarn, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 79 
 
 Oar worthy Gaptak LOVEWELL, among febem tkere did die, 
 They killed Lieut. ROSBINS, and wounded good young FBTE, 
 Who was our English Chaplain ; he many Indians slew, 
 And some of them he scalo'd when bullets round him flew. 
 
 Yonng FTTLLAM too I'll mention, because he fought so well, 
 Endeavoring to save a man, a sacrifice he fell; 
 But vet our valiant Englishmen in fight were ne'er dismayed, 
 But still they kept their motion, and WYMAN Captain made, 
 
 "Who shot the old chief PANGUS, which did the foe defeat, 
 Then set his men in order, and brought off the retreat; 
 And braving many dangers and hardships in the way, 
 They safe arriv'd at Dunstable, the thirteenth day of May. 
 
80 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XT. 
 
 GENERAL HARRISON ANL THE INDIANS TECUMSEH -THE PROPHET 
 ELSKWATAWA INDIAN DEFEAT AT TIPPECANOE. 
 
 IN 1770, a woman of one of the southern tribes, domesti- 
 cated with the Shawanees, gave birth to triplets, Who re- 
 ceived the names of Teeuraseh, Elskwatawa and Kumsha- 
 ka. Their father was :i Shawauce warrior who was killed in 
 a battle at Point Pleasant. By the time Tecumseh had at- 
 tained the age of manhood he had already become noted as 
 a bold and sagacious warrior. Elskwatawa proclaimed him- 
 self a prophet, commissioned by th Great S.drifc to foretell, 
 and to hasten, by his own efforts, the destruction of in- 
 truders, and by various appeals to tli vanity, the supersti- 
 tion, and the spirit of revenge, of his auditors, lie acquired 
 a strong and enduring miluene-e. The chiefs who opposed 
 or ridiculed his pretensions were denounce 1 as wizards or 
 sorcerers, and proofs, satisfactory to the minds of the J - 
 dians, being abdueed in support of the accusation, numbers 
 perished afe th stake, leaving a cle-ar Held for the operations 
 of the impostor. Kumshaka, the other -brother, is unknown 
 to fame. 
 
 In September, 1809, while Tec-umseh was pushing his in. 
 trigue^ among various distant tribes, Governor Harrison ob- 
 tained a cession, for certain stipulated annuities, of a large 
 tract of land on the lower portioa of the Wabash, from the 
 tribes of tke Miamis, Delawares, Pottawstomies, and Kick- 
 apoos. Tecumseh aad his brother made vehement remon- 
 strances against this proceeding, and a some what stormy 
 interview took place between the great chief and Governor 
 Harrison, each party being attended by a powerful armed 
 force. Upon this occasion, Tecumseh first openly avowed 
 his design of forming an universal coalition of the Indian 
 nations, by which the progress of the whites westward should 
 be arrested, but he still insisted that it was not his intention 
 to make war. One great principle which he endeavored to 
 enforce was that no Indian lands should be sold, except 
 consent of all the confederate tribes. Two days after this 
 conference he started for the south, with a few attendant 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 81 
 
 warriors, 'o spread disaffection among the Greeks, C&erokees 
 and other tribes of the southern states. 
 
 Tn 1811, during the prolonged absence of Teeumseh, and 
 contrary, as is supposed, to his express instructions, bold 
 and audaeffrus depredations and murders were committed by 
 the horde of savages gathered at the Prophet's town. Bep- 
 resentations were forwarded to Washington of the necessity 
 for active measures in restraint of these outrages, and a regi- 
 ment, under Colonel Boyd, was promptly marehed from 
 Pittsburg to Vincennes, and placed under command of Har- 
 rison. With this force,and a body of militia and volunteers, 
 the whole amounting to about nine hundred men, the gover- 
 nor marched from Fort Harrisoa, on the Wabaeli, for the 
 Prophet's town, on the 28th of October. The troops en- 
 camped uear the town on the 5th of November. Before day- 
 break next morning the treaohercwis Indians had stealthily 
 crept up near the sentries, with the intention of rushing 
 upon them and killing them before they could give the 
 alarm. But fortunately one of the sentries discovered an 
 Indian creeping toward him through the grass, and fired at 
 him. This was immediately followed by the Indian yell, 
 and a furious charge upon the left flank. 
 
 The onset of the Indians, stimulated as they were by the 
 assurances of their prophet, that certain suxseees awaited 
 them, was unprecedented for fury and determination. They 
 numbered from live hundred to a thousand, and were led by 
 White Loon, Stone-Eater, and a treacherous Pottawatomie 
 chief named Win ne mac. The Prophet took, personally, no 
 share in the engagement. The struggle continued until day- 
 light, when the assailants were driven off and dispersed. The 
 Indians immediately abandoned their town, which the army 
 proceeded to destroy, tearing down the fortifications and 
 burning the buildings. The object of the expedition being 
 thus fully accomplished, the troops were marched back to 
 Vincennes. 
 
 In the battle at Tippecanoe, the loss of the victors was 
 probably greater than that of fee savages. Thirty-eight of 
 the latter were left dead upon the ileld : of the whites, fifty 
 were killed, and nearly one hundred wounded. It is not to 
 be supposed that the Prophet's influence maintained its 
 former hold upon his followers after this defeat. He takes 
 
82 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Indeed, from tkis time forward, a place in history entirely 
 subordinate to his warlike and powerful brother. An inter- 
 val of comparative quiet succeeded this over-throw of tho 
 Prophet's concentrated forces, a quiet destined t^be broken 
 by a far more extensive aad disastrous war. When open 
 hostilities commenced between Eaglaad and the United 
 States, in 1812, it was at once evident that tke former country 
 ha'- 1 pursued her old policy of rousing Tip tke savages to r 
 aH, our defenseless frontier, with unprecedented suo*i&. 
 Tecumseh proved a more valuable coadjutor, if possible, 
 than Brant had been during the revolution, in unifriag the 
 different natioas against the American imterest. 
 
 A strong British fortress at Malda, oa tke eastern 0-r Caa- 
 ada shore of Detroit river, proved a rendezvous for the kos- 
 tile Indians, of the utmost danger to the inhabitant's of the 
 north-western frontier. The place was under the command 
 of the British General Proctor ; the cffieer whose infamous 
 neglect or countenance led to the massacre of a body of 
 wounded prisoners at Fren-cktown, on the river Baisiia, in 
 January, 1S13. This post was abattde&ed by the British and 
 Indians, about the tiri^e &f the invasion of Camada, in Sep- 
 tember, of the above year, by tke American troops under 
 Harrison. 
 
 General Harrisoa hastened in pursuit of the enemy up the 
 Thames river, and, on tke 4tk of October, encamped a few 
 miles above the forks of tlie river, and erected a slight forti- 
 fication. On the 5th, the memorable battle of the Thames 
 was fought. General Proctor awaited the approach of the 
 American forces at a place cboee-n by himself, ne*r Moravian 
 town, as presenting a favorable position for a stand. His 
 forces, in regulars and Indians, ratker out-nurnbdred those 
 of his opponents, being set down at two thousand eight hun- 
 dred ; the Americans numbered twenty-five hundred, most- 
 ly militia and volunteers. The British araay was flaak@d, 
 on the left, by the river Thames, and supported by artillery, 
 end on the right by two extensive swamps, rtmniag meanly 
 parallel to the river, and occupied by a strong body of In- 
 dians, who were commanded by Tecumseh in person. 
 
 The British line was broken by the first charge of Cornel 
 Johnson's mounted regiment, and being thrown into irre- 
 trievable disorder, the troops were unable to rally, or oppose 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 83 
 
 any Hrfck@<r ffeetiv resistance. Nearly the whol army 
 stuTe.adrl at diseretioja. Proctor, with a few companions, 
 eiifec*d kis escape. The Indians, protected by the covert 
 where they were posted, were not so easily dislodged. They 
 maintained their position until after the defeat of their En- 
 gtith associate* and the death of their bray leader. By 
 whose hand Tecumsrh fell, does not appear to be decisively 
 settled ; but, a-eeorcling to the ordinarily received account, 
 he was rushing upon Colonel Johnson, with his tomahawk, 
 wlve-n the Latter &hot him de&d uith a pistol. 
 
 This batti was, in effect, the conclusion of the North- 
 Wc>.ate4-a IadiJi war. Deputations from various tribes ap- 
 peared sning for pea-.-e ; and during this and the ensuing 
 year, wh*n Geoerals Harrison and Cass, with Governor Shel- 
 by, were appointed commissioners to treat with the North- 
 vv^steru tribes, important treaties were effected. Tecum*h 
 wa-s buried near the field of battle. 
 
84 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ACQUISITION OF INDIAN LANDS BY THE GOVERNMENT GENERALS 
 ATKINSON AND DODGE'S CAMPAIGN BLACK- HAWK' S SURRENDER. / 
 
 IN July, 1830, a treaty was formed at Prairie du Chien, be- 
 tween United States commissioners and the tribes of the 
 lowas, Sioux, Omawhas, Sacs and Foxes, for the purpose of 
 finally arranging the terms upon which the lands east of the 
 Mississippi should be yielded up. The Sac chief, Keokuk, 
 was present, and assenting to the arrangement in behalf of 
 his people ; but a strong party, headed by the celebrated 
 Black-Hawk, utterly refused to abide by it. This chief was 
 then between sixty and seventy years of age, and had been, 
 from early youth, a noted warrior. 
 
 To enforce the removal of the Sacs from their villages, on 
 Rock river, General Gaines visited that locality in June, 
 1831. He proceeded up the river in a steamer, with several 
 pieces of artillery and two companies of infantry. Before 
 the close of the month the forces of the United States and the 
 state militia took possession of the settlement. The Indians 
 made no attempt at resistance, and betook themselves to the 
 western bank of the Mississippi. In the spring of the follow- 
 ing year, the Sacs began to straggle back to their old towns 
 in Illinois ; and Black-Hawk, with a considerable force of his 
 warriors, marched up Rock river, with the avowed intent of 
 spending the summer, and raising a supply of corn among 
 the Pottawatomies, in accordance with an invitation from 
 that tribe. He proceeded quietly and peaceably up the river 
 offering no violence to either the persons or property of the 
 white inhabitants. A body of mounted militia, under Major 
 Stillman, set out in pursuit of the Indians about the middle 
 of May. On their approach to his temporary quarters, 
 Black-Hawk sent a number of his followers to meet and con- 
 fer with the commanding officer; but it so happened, either 
 through mistake as to their intentions, or from a reckless de- 
 pravity on the part of certain of the whites, that several of 
 these emissaries were killed. 
 
 Roused by this injurious treatment, the Indian chief pre- 
 pared to fall upon his pursuers at a point where an ambuscade 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. S"5 
 
 could be rendered most effective. It is sui 1 that when the 
 militia came up, he had but about forty warriors with him, 
 (the rest of his men being off in pursuit of game, ) while the 
 
 s numbered no less than two hundred and seventy' As 
 these undisciplined troops were crossing Sycamore creek, in 
 entire disorder,and without any precaution against a surprise, 
 they were liercely attacked by the Indians. The route was 
 complete: unable to form, or to offer any effectual resist- 
 since, thewnites were driven off, leaving eleven of their num- 
 ber dead upon the field. Great excitement was produced by 
 tiiis skirmish, and a large army of militia was called into 
 service by Governor Reynolds. Agents were sent to confirm 
 the good -will of the Winnebagos, and other tribes, and the 
 services of several hundred of the Menomonics and Sioux 
 were ev. listed ;: gainst the dangerous intruders. 
 
 Black-Hawk and his party, feeling themselves now fully 
 committed, were not slow in following up the advantage 
 gained by the terror inspired by the engagement at Syca- 
 
 reek. Between the breaking out of the war and the 
 
 beginning of the month of August the Indians committed 
 
 . and various skirmishes took place between 
 
 and t! e troops sent in pursuit. A little settlement on 
 Indian Creek w;;s plundered. Fifteen of the inhabitants 
 
 killed, and two young girls, by the name of Hall, one 
 
 !i and the other eighteen years of age, were carried in- 
 
 .\ccordingtot it universal custom of 
 
 the North American Indians, these female prisoners were not 
 
 :-d to the -lightest insu t or outrage, but were as well 
 cared for as circumstances would allow. They were after- 
 ward ransomed, at a large price, and returned to their 
 friends. 
 
 Little mercy was shown to any of Black-Hawk s followers 
 -ion of success on the part of the whites. Five 
 persons were killed near Galena on the 14th of June, ami, 
 shortly after, twelve Indians, supposed to be c ! with 
 
 the attacking party, were pursued and driven into a neigh- 
 boring swamp. When overtaken, although they made nore- 
 f-istanoo, they were every one killed and scalped by the 
 
 bes. 
 
 llio condition of I lack-Hawk and his band grew daily more 
 miserable, from destitution, exposure, and starvation. An 
 
86 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 end would speedily have been put to their operations, but 
 for that terrible disease, the cholera, by which the Unite:! 
 States troops, on their route from the east to the soee 
 tion, where almost wholly disabled. Driven from his en- 
 campment at the !' our Lakes by the approach of G*uer.~:. 
 Atki .son, Black-Hawk retreated down the Wisconsin, ex- 
 pecting to find provisions aud assistance among the Indians 
 in that direction. General Dodge, with a strong force of 
 militia, followed close on his trail. He cam up with the 
 fugitives on the 2Ist of July. The Indians were about 
 ing the river when they were attacked, and, but for the com- 
 ing on of night, couid hardly have escaped entire destruc- 
 tion or capture. They lost in the encounter not far from fort/ 
 men. The discomfited savages continued their flight down 
 the river in their boats, beset on every side by enemies, and 
 with an overwhelming force Dodge's army having been 
 joined by Atkinson and his troops in hot pursuit. Some of 
 the boats, conveying these poor wretches, were upset, aud 
 many of those in them drowned ; the greater number, how- 
 ever, fell into the hands of their enemies in their passage. 
 Many of the children were found to be in such a famished 
 state that they could not be revived. 
 
 Having reached the mouth oi: the river, on the first of 
 August, Black-Hawk prepared to cross tha Mississippi, but 
 was prevented by a force on board the steamboat Warrior. 
 He did not wish to fight, but to escape ; and when the steam- 
 boat fell in with him, ke used every means to give the cap- 
 tain of her to unio rs tan d that he desired to surrender. He 
 displayed two white flags, and about one hundred and 
 fifty of his men approached the river without arms, and 
 made signs of submission. Th only reply was a discharge 
 of canister and musketry from the boat, which was returned 
 from the shore. After about am hour's firing, which resulted 
 in ike destruction of more than twenty of the Indiana, tiro 
 boat moved off to procure a supply of wood. 
 
 Next morning General Atkinson, with the who! force iu 
 pursuit, (sixteen hundred men) came up with the remnant of 
 the euemy. Retreat was cut off on every side, and the half- 
 starved and dispirited savages were shot and cut down at 
 the pleasure of the Irresistible numbers vrho surrounded 
 them. The f oils wing is extracted 
 
88 INDIAN MA&S ACRES. 
 
 shortly after this deeisiv and final engagement. " The feat- 
 tie lasted upwards of three hours. About fifty of the enemy's 
 women and children were taken prisoners, and many, by ac- 
 cident, in the battle, were killed. When the Indians were 
 driven to the bank of the Mississippi, some hundreds of men, 
 women, and children, plunged into the river, and hoped, by 
 diving, etc., to escape the bullets of our guns ; very few, how- 
 ever, escaped our sharp-shooters." 
 
 Historians generally speak of an action in which the In- 
 dians prove successful as a " massacre," but the above- 
 described proceeding is dignified by the name of a battle ! 
 Black-Hawk, who, with a few followers, managed to effect 
 his escape, afterward declared that, upon the approach of 
 the American army, he and his warriors made no attempt at 
 resistance, offering to surrender themselves unconditionally, 
 and that they only used their arms when it was apparent 
 that the successful pursuers had not intention of showing 
 quarter. It is hard t cleeide npon the true state of the 
 case. 
 
 His cause now being palpably hopeless, and most of his 
 remaining warriors having yielded themselves prisoners, or 
 been taken by the various bands of Indians friendly to the 
 whites, Black-Hawk surrendered himself at Prairie du Chien, 
 on the 27th of August. With several other chiefs he was tak- 
 en to Washington, and after holding conference with Presi- 
 dent Jackson, was confined, for a period, at Fort Monroe, on 
 an island dear Old Point Comfort, on the Chesapeake. Here 
 the captive warriors were well and kindly treated, and in 
 Tune, 1833, there being no longer any necessity for detaining 
 them as hostages, they were set at liberty. 
 
 Black-Hawk lived thenceforth in peace with the whites. 
 He settled upon the Des Moines river, where he died in 
 1838. The body of the old warrior, in accordance with his 
 own wishes, expressed shortly before his death, was disposed 
 in Indian style. No grave was made; but his body was 
 placed in a sitting position, with his cane between his knees 
 and grasped in his hands ; slabs or rails were then piled up 
 about him. Such v\ as the end of Black-Hawk. Here, how- 
 ever, his bones did not long rest in peace, but they were 
 stolen from their place of deposit some time in the following 
 winter ; but about a yaar after, it was discovered that thay 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES, 80 
 
 were in possession of a surgeon, of Quincy, Illinois, to 
 whom some person had sent them to be wired together. 
 When Governor Lucas, of Iowa, became acquainted with the 
 facts, they were, by his requisition, restored to his friends. 
 
INDIAN MASSACBES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 FRENCH WAK WITH THE NATCHEZ _AND CHICKASAW8 RAVAGES Off 
 SMALL-POX AND RUM AMONG OTHER TRIBES. 
 
 THE Catawbas, who dwelt between the Carolinas and the 
 country of the Cherokees, by intercourse with the whites, 
 they became very degraded and drunkenness, indolence, and 
 poverty were obviously prevalent among them. They were 
 a numerous and warlike people when South Carolina was 
 first settled, mustering about fifteen hundred warriors ; but 
 small-pox and the use of ardent spirits had, about 1775, re- 
 duced them to less then one-tenth of their former numbers. 
 
 The Upper Cherokees inhabited the high and mountain- 
 ous region of the Appalachian range, and that upon the up- 
 per portions of the Tennessee. The Lower tribe occupied 
 the country around the head waters of the Savannah and 
 Chatahoochee, to the northward of the Muscogees or Creeks 
 proper. About the year 1735 they were computed by old 
 traders to number six thousand fighting men. They had 
 sixty-four populous towns. In 1738, nearly half of them per- 
 ished by the small-pox. The strange remedies and enchant- 
 ments used to stay -its progress, were remarkable. One 
 course was to plunge the patients into cold running water. 
 The result of which operation was speedily fatal. A great 
 many killed themselves ; for, being naturally proud, they 
 despaired of regaining their former beauty some shot them- 
 selves, others cut their throats, some stabbed themselves 
 with knives, and others with sharp-pointed canes ; many 
 threw themselves with sullen madness into the fire, and there 
 slowly expired, as if they had been utterly divested of the 
 native power of feeling pain. One of them, when his friends 
 had restrained these frantic efforts, and deprived him of his 
 weapons, went out, and taking a thick and round hoe-helve, 
 fixed one end of it in the ground, and repeatedly threw him- 
 self on it till he forced it down his throat, when he immedi- 
 ately expired. 
 
 The Creeks were a nation formed by the union of a number 
 of minor tribes with the Muscogees, who constituted the nu- 
 cleus of the eombinatien. About the middle f the eight- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 91 
 
 eenth century, they were computed to number three thou- 
 !*and five hundred men capable of bearing arms. They had 
 learned the necessity of secluding those infected with the 
 small-pox, so as to avoid the spread of the contagion, and 
 their general habits and usages were such that they were 
 fast increasing, instead of diminishing, like all the surround- 
 ing tribes. 
 
 While the Floridas wei e in the possession of Spain, the 
 Creeks were surrounded by belligerent powers, both native 
 and European, and they appear to have a dopted a very shrewd 
 and artful policy in their intercourse with each. There was 
 a French garrison in their country ; the English settlements 
 lay to th north and east, and those of the Spaniards to the 
 south; and the old sages of tlio tribe " being long informed 
 by the opposite parties of the different views and intrigues 
 of those foreign p: > pui- 1 them annual tribute under 
 
 the vague appellation of presents, were become surprisingly 
 crafty in every turn of low politics." The French were very 
 successful in their efforts to conciliate the good-will of the 
 Muscogees, and in alienating them from the English. 
 
 The country of the Choctaws extended from that of the 
 Muscogees to the Mississippi, reaching northward to the 
 boundaries of tho Chickasaws : their lower towns on the river 
 were about two hundred miles north of New Orleans. 
 
 The strange custom of flattening the head, prevalent 
 among some other American tribes, obtained with the Choc- 
 taws. The operation was performed by the weight of a bag' 
 of sand kept upon the foreheads of the infants before the 
 skull had hardened. This process not improbably affected 
 the powers of the rnind. 
 
 The French had acquired great influence over the Choc- 
 ta\vs, and their masterly skill enabled them to do more with 
 those savages, with trifles, than all our experienced man- 
 agers <5f Indian affairs have been ab!o to effect by the great 
 quantities of valuable goods they gave them with a very pro- 
 fuse hand. The former bestowed their small favors with ex- 
 quisite wisdom; and their value was exceedingly enhanced 
 by the external kindly behavior and well-adapted smooth 
 address of the giver. 
 
 The nation of the Chickasaws was ^ettled near the sources 
 of the Tombigbee, a few miles eastward of the head waters 
 
92 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 of theTallahache. They numbered about four hundred and 
 fifty warriors, and were ever inimical to the French and 
 friendly to the English colonists. It was by their efforts that 
 the neighboring tribe of the Natchez was stirred up to at- 
 tack the French settlements, in 17*9. The French had, un- 
 advisedly, imposed a species of tax upon the Natchez, de- 
 manding a dressed buck- skin from each man of the tribe, 
 without rendering any return. The Chickasaws were not 
 slow to foment a disturbance upon intelligence of this pro- 
 ceeding, and sent messengers, with presents of pipes and to- 
 bacco, to counsel an attack upon the exercisers of such tyran- 
 ny. Nothing so strongly excites an Indian's indignation as 
 any attempt at taxation, and the Natchez were easily per- 
 suaded that the French had resolved to crush and enslave 
 them. It took about a year to ripen the plot, as the Indians 
 are slow in their councils on things of great importance, 
 though equally close and intent. 
 
 In November, 1729, the Indians fell upon the French set- 
 tlement. The commandant had received some intimation 
 of the intended attack from a woman of the tribe, but did 
 not place sufficient dependence upon it to take any efficient 
 steps for the protection of his charge. The whole colony 
 was massacred: men, women and children, to the number of 
 over seven hundred perished by the weapons of the savages. 
 The triumph of the Natchez was, however, but of short dura- 
 tion. The French came upon them the following summer 
 viith a large army, consisting of two thousand of their own 
 soldiers and a great array of Choctaw allies. The Natchez 
 were posted ut a strong fort near a lake communicating with 
 the r.ayou D'Argent, and received the assailants with great 
 resolution and courage. They made a vigorous sally, as the 
 e;-emy approached, but were driven within their defences, 
 and bombarded with three mortars, which forced them to fly. 
 The Choctaws took many prisoners, some of whom were tor- 
 tured to death, and the rest shipped to the West Indies as 
 slaves. 
 
 The remnant of the Natchez fled for safety to the Chicka- 
 saws. This brought about a war between the French and 
 the last mentioned tribe, in which,the Indians had decidedly 
 the advantage. In one engagement, in which the French 
 and their Indian allies Tiad surrounded the Ghickasaw settle- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 93 
 
 ments in the night, with the exception of one, \vhih stood at 
 some distance from the rest, the besio: ers beset every house, 
 and killed all who came out: tut at the dawn of day, when 
 they were capering and using those flourishes that are pe- 
 culiar to that volatile nation, the other town drew round 
 tkem, stark naked, and painted all over red and black ; thus 
 t'ey attacked them, killed numbers on the spot, released 
 their brethern, who joined them like enraged lions. The In- 
 dians belonging to the .French party tied, but the white* 
 were all killed except two, an officer, and a negro, who faith- 
 fully held his horse till he mounted, and then ran along sidn 
 of him. A couple of swift runners overtook them, and tui I 
 them to live and go home, and inform their people, that us 
 the Chickasaw hogs had now plenty of ugly French care, s es 
 to feed on till next year, they hoped then to have an 
 visit from them and. their red friends ; and that, as m< 
 gers, they wished them safe home. 
 
 On another occasion the French approached the Chickasaw 
 
 stockade, s rangley disguised, and protected from the balls 
 
 ot the enemy by paddings of wool. The Indians were aston- 
 
 ;it their invulnerability, and were about to desist fro. a 
 
 - resistance, and resort to the skill of their o\\n necro 
 
 era to oppose what they thought must be wizzards, or 
 
 old Frenchmen carrying the ark of war against them. As 
 
 the enemy approached, and began to throw baud-grenades 
 
 into the fort, they were quickly undeceived, and set in 
 
 t about the work of defence. They pulle-I the 
 
 malc'res out of the gre ,ades, or thre A- them back among the 
 
 i-'ioix li ; and, sallying forth, directed an effective fire at the 
 
 legs of the enemy, who were speedily driven off. 
 
94 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 CHEROKEE WAR INTRIGUES OF REV. THOMAS BOBOMWORTH 
 MURDER OJ 1 INDIAN HOSTAGES. 
 
 WHEN James Edward Oglethorpe commenced the settle- 
 ment of Georgia with his little colony of a 114 souls, in 1733, 
 the Creek Indians laid claim to the territory southwest of the 
 Savannah river. He secured the services of a half-breed 
 woman, named Mary Musgrove, who could speak English, 
 to bring about a conference with the chiefs of the tribe at 
 Savannah, the seat of the new settlement. 
 
 Mary had formerly married a white trader from Carolina. 
 Beside her usefulness as an interpreter, she had such influ- 
 ence over her tribe, that Oglethorpe thought it worth his 
 while to purchase her services at the rate of one hundred 
 pounds a year. She became afterward, a source of annoy- 
 ance to the English. 
 
 Fifty chiefs of the Creek nation were assembled at the 
 place of conference, and Tomochichi, the most noted among 
 those then known to the settlers, made an amicable speech, 
 proffering at the same time a present of a buffalo-skin, 
 adorned with eagles' feathers. A treaty was concluded, sub- 
 jecttothe ratification of the English "crown, by virtue of 
 which the Indians were to consider themselves the subjects 
 of the king, and to live in peace and friendship with his white 
 colonists. The lands lying between the Savannah and Alt- 
 maha, were made over to the English, with all the islands on 
 that coast, except fet. Catharine's and two others, which were 
 reserved for the Indians as bathing and fishing stations. 
 
 In April, 1734, Oglethorpe took Tomochichi, his queen, and 
 several other Indians with him to England. They were pre- 
 sented to the king, and every pains was taken to produce a 
 strong impression upon their minds of the English power 
 and magnificence. All the Indians with whom the first gov- 
 ernor of Georgia held intercourse seem to have formed a 
 great attachment for him, stylirg him their " beloved man." 
 If others in authority among the English colonies had pur- 
 sued as honest a course toward the natives, much bloodsked 
 would doubtless have been averted. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 95 
 
 When difficulties arose in 1738, connected with the con- 
 flicting- claims of England and Spain to jurisdiction over the 
 new country, Spanish agents were dispatched to win over the 
 Creeks. They decoyed a, body of them to Augustine, by pre- 
 tenses that Ogletnorpe was there, and that he was desirous 
 of seeing them. On their arrival, the Indians were told that 
 the English governor was sick on board one of the ships ; but 
 they had began to stiepeet deception, and, refusing td^o out 
 to the vessel, left the town in great disgust. Their suspic- 
 ions were confirmed when they reached home, and the 
 transaction only strengthened their dislike to the Spaniards. 
 In the following year, Tomoohichi died, being nearly ninety- 
 seyen years of age. 
 
 The year 1749 was memorable for a most audacious at- 
 tempt on the part of one Thomas Bosomworth to aggrandize 
 kimaelf by attaining a supremacy over the Creeks. He had 
 been formerly a chaplain in Oglethorpe's regiment, and had 
 marriedMary Musgrove, his half-breed interpreter. In De- 
 cember w 1747, this man fell in with a company of chiefs, be- 
 longing to the nation, then on a visit to iFrederica ; and per- 
 suaded them to sign certain articles, acknowledging one of 
 Lheir number, named MaJatche Opiya Meoo, as rightful king 
 over the whole Creek nation. Eosomworth then procured 
 from Malatche a conveyance, for certain considerations 
 among other things, a large quantity of ammunition and 
 clothing, of the islands formerly reserved by the Indians, to 
 himself and his wife Mary, their heirs and assigns. This 
 deed was regularly witnessed, and recorded in due form. 
 Bosomworth made some efforts to improve these islands, 
 but, his ambition becoming aroused by success" in his first 
 intrigue, 1 e entered upon one nmch more extensive. By his 
 persuasions, his wife now made the extraordinary claim that 
 she was Malatche's elder sister, and entitled to regal author- 
 ity over the whole Creek territory. 
 
 A great meeting of the tribe was procured, and, whatever 
 of truth Mary's claims might be founded upon, she suc- 
 ceeded in persuading large numbers of the Creeks to ac- 
 knowledge her as an independent queen. Accompanied by 
 a strong force of her adherents, she proceeded to Savannah, 
 sending emi&sarios before her to demand a surrender of all 
 lands south of the Savannah river, and to make known her 
 
9G INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 intention of enforcing her claim by the entire destrr.c 
 the colony, should her demands be resisted. 
 
 The militia were called out by the president an-- 
 and the Indians v^ere kept quiet, by a display of - 
 and firmness, that matters might be fully discussed by their 
 leaders and the colonial authorities. Bosomworth. in his 
 canoi^al robes, with his qusen by his side, followed by tho 
 kings and chiefs, according to rank, marched into the town 
 on the 20th of July, making a most formidable appearance. 
 
 Lengthy discussions ensued between Bosornworth and 
 Mary on the one hand, and the president and council on the 
 other. The savages leaned alternately to either opinion, ac- 
 cording as they were harangued by their new leaders, or lis- 
 tened to the explanations of the other party. They were told 
 that Mary's claims to royal descent were entirely false ; that 
 she was the daughter of a white man by a squaw of no note, 
 and that the mad ambition of her reprobate husband had led 
 to the whole movement. They expressed themselves con- 
 vinced, but no sooner had Mary obtained another opportu- 
 nity to communicate with them than she succeeded in inflam- 
 ing their minds. It was found necessary to confine her and 
 her husband before the savages could be quietly dispersed. 
 Before this was accomplished, the town was in imminent 
 danger, as the Indians vastly outnumbered the whites ; and 
 a very slight matter might have so roused their fury that the 
 whole colony would have been annihilated. Bosomworth 
 and his wife obtained a decision in their favor, in 1759, by 
 virtue of which they took possession of St. Catherine's island, 
 and resided upon it the remainder of their lives. 
 
 The breaking out of the Cherokee war, in the winter of 
 1750, was an (-vent of special interest. Upon the evacuation 
 of Fort Duquesne, numbers of Indian warriors, whose serv- 
 ices were no longer required, set out upon their return home. 
 Having been ill-supplied with provisions, and having lost 
 their horses, some of them caught such animals as they 
 found loose in the woods. In revenge for this theft, the 
 German settlers of Yirginia fell upon them, and murdered 
 and scalped a considerable number. They even imitated, in 
 several instances, the horrible cruelties of the savages in the 
 manner of butchery. The Cherokees did not, for a long time, 
 attempt any retaliation for this act, but made peaceable ap- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 97 
 
 plications to the authorities of Virginia and the Carolinas ; 
 but all was in vnia, and fresh insults and injuries, received 
 from certain officers at Port St. George, finally excited the 
 
 R to fury. 
 
 The Preach, and, at their instance, the Muscogees, were 
 not slow in availing themselves of the above circumstances 
 to stir up a war against the English. The Cherokees deter- 
 mined upon direct retaliation for the massacres by the Ger- 
 mans. A party, bound on this errand, first killed two sol- 
 diers near Port Loudon,on the south bank of Tennessee river, 
 and afterward spread themselves among the western settle- 
 ments of North Carolina, killing such of the whites as fell in 
 their pow er. 
 
 William H. Lyttleton, governor of South Carolina, then set 
 himself strenuously both to prepare for the defense of the 
 colonies, and to bring about an adjustment of difficulties. At 
 Port St. George, on the Savannah, he held a conference with 
 six Cherokee chiefs,on the 26th of December, 1759, and formed 
 a treaty of peace, secured by the delivery of thirty-two I n- 
 dian hostages. These were placed in close confinement in a 
 small and miserable hut, and the governor returned to 
 Charleston. According to the usual course of events, the 
 Cherokees denied the authority of the chiefs who had con- 
 cluded the above treaty, and hostilities broke out afresh. 
 Captain Coytinore, commandant at Fort George, was an ob- 
 ject of the bitterest hatred on the part of the Indians, and a 
 large party of them, besieged the fort in February, 17GO. 
 The place was too strong to fre taken by assault, but the In- 
 dian chief managed to entice Coy tm ore out of the defenses 
 into an ambush, where he was shot dead, and lieutenants 
 Bell and Poster, who accompanied him, were wounded. The 
 hostages who v. ere confined within the works, shouted to en- 
 courage their friends without, and when an, attempt was 
 made to put them in irons, resisted manfully, stabbing one 
 soldier, and wounding two others. Upon, this, a hole was 
 cut in the roof over their heads, and the cowardly garrison 
 butchered them by shooting do A n from above. 
 
 Colonel Montgomery reached Carolina in April, 1760, and 
 hastened, in command of regulars and provincials, to make 
 an effective inroad upon the Indians. His progress through 
 the lower Cherokee country was marked by the destruction 
 
98 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 of Indian towns. Estatoe, containing two hundred houses, 
 With great quantities of provisions, was entirely destroyed ; 
 but the inhabitants were saved by a timely flight. Every 
 other settlement east of the Blue Kidge afterward shared 
 the same fate. 
 
 The army made some stay at Fort Prince George, and use- 
 less endeavors were put forth to bring about a pacification with 
 the upper portion of the Cherokees. In June the troops were 
 again on their advance into the wilderness of the interior. 
 Near Etchoe, the native warriors prepared a most skillful 
 ambuscade to check the advancing forces. It was in a deep 
 valley, through which ran a muddy stream, with steep banks; 
 on either side of which the way was completely choked with 
 brushwood. Some hard fighting took place at this spot, in 
 which twenty of the whites were killed and seventy-six 
 wounded. The loss on the side of the Indians was much less, 
 and, although driven from the spot where the first stand was 
 made, they intrenched themselves a little farther on. Under 
 these circumstances, Montgomery determined to secure the 
 safety of his troops, and to provide for the requisite attention 
 to his wounded men, by a retreat. He soon after sailed for 
 New York, leaving four companies of regulars, under Major 
 Hamilton, for the protection of the frontier. 
 
 The garrison at Fort Loudon was now in peril. The pro- 
 visions of the place were nearly exhausted, and Chief Occono- 
 stota was laying close siege to it with his fierce and enraged 
 warriors. After suffering great extremes of privation, the 
 two hundred men at this place were obliged to capitulate, and 
 trust to the honor of their savage enemy. Captain Steuart, 
 an officer greatly in favor with all the friendly Indians, ar- 
 ranged the terms upon which the fort should be evacuated. 
 The troops were to be allowed a free and unmolested passage 
 to Virginia, or Fort Prince George, and a detachment of In- 
 dians was to accompany them for the purpose of supplying 
 provisions by hunting. 
 
 The garrison inarched out on the 7th of August, 1760. Oc- 
 conostota himself, with a number of other natives, kept com- 
 pany with the whites, during the first day's march of fifteen 
 miles ; but these all disappeared when they reached Taliquo. 
 On the next morning, just before day, (the time generally se- 
 lected by Indians for a surprise, as men sleep more soundly 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 99 
 
 than than at any other hour,) a large body of armed savages, 
 in war-paint, were seen by a sentinel, creeping through the 
 bushes, and gathering about the camp. Hardl> was the 
 alarm given when the attack was made : twenty-six of the- 
 half-starved soldiers were killed outright, and the rest were 
 pinioned and inarched back to the fort. 
 
 Captain Steuart was among the prisoners, but his evil for- 
 tune was alleviated by the staunch friendship of the benevo- 
 lent Atakullakulla. This chief, as soon as he heard of Steu- 
 art's situation, hastened to Fort London, and purchased him 
 of the Indian who took him, giving him his rifle, clothes, and 
 all that he could command by way of ransom : he then took 
 possession of Captain Demere's house, where he kept his 
 prisoner as one of his family, and humanely shared with him 
 the little provisions his table afforded, until an opportunity 
 should offer of rescuing him. 
 
 A quantity of ammunition was discovered by the Indians, 
 buried in the fort, and Occonostota determined to proceed at 
 once to lay siege to Fort Prince George. Captain Steuart 
 was informed that the assistance of himself and his men 
 would be required in the management of the great guns, and 
 that, furthermore, if the garrison should refuse to capitulate, 
 all the prisoners now in the hands of the Indians should, one 
 by one, be burned in sight of the fort. Perceiving the diffi- 
 culty of his situation, the captain begged his. kind old pro- 
 prietor to assist him in effecting an escape, and Attakulla- 
 kulla readily lent his aid. Upon pretence of t.iking his pris- 
 oner out for a hunt, he left Foi t London, with his wife and 
 brother, and two English soldiers, and took a direct course 
 for the Virginia frontier. After a most toilsome and danger- 
 ous inarch, they fell in with a party of three hundred men, 
 sent out for the relief of such of the garrison at Fort Loudon 
 as might have effected their escape. Being now in safety. 
 Captain Steuart dismissed his Indian friends with handsome 
 rewards, to return and attend to the welfare of his former fel- 
 low-prisoners. Such of them as had survived \vere afterward 
 r ansomed and delivered up at Fort Prince George. 
 
 In the following spring, Colonel James Grant, who had 
 succeeded to the command of the Highlanders employed in 
 British service in America, commenced active operations 
 against the belligerent nation. What with the aid of the 
 
100 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 provincials and friendly Indians, ho was at the head of about 
 twenty-six hundred men. The army reached Fort Princt 
 George on the 2 th of May, 1761, and Miere 'Id Attakullakulla 
 .made his appearance, deprecating the proposed vengeance 
 of the whites upon his people. He was told that the English 
 stiJl felt the strongest regard for him individually, but that 
 the ill-will and misconduct of the majority of the nation were 
 too palpable and gross to be suffered to go longer unpun- 
 ished. Colonel Grant marched from the fort in the month of 
 June, and advanced nearly to the spot where Montgomery's 
 progress had been arrested, before coming to an engage- 
 ment. Here the C herokees, on the 10th, made a desperate 
 but unavailing stand; they were routed and dispersed, leav- 
 ing their towns and villages of the interior to be destroyed 
 by the invaders, rtchoe was burned, and other towns, four- 
 teen in number, shared the same fate : the corn, cattle, and 
 other stores of the enemy, were likewise destroyed, and those 
 miserable savages, with their families, were driven to seek 
 shelter and subsistence among the barren mountains. 
 
 Upon the return of the army to Fort Prince George, after 
 this campaign, Attakullakulla again visited the camp, bring- 
 ing with him a number of other Cherokee chiefs. Broken 
 down by their disastrous losses, and disgusted with the de- 
 ceitful promises of the French, they gladly acceded to such 
 terms as Colonel Grant thought fit to impose, and a treaty 
 of peace was formally concluded. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 101 
 
 OHAPTEEXV. 
 
 WAR OF 1813-14 GENERAL JACKSON DEFEATS THE INDIANS AT 
 HORSE-SHOE BEND END OF THE CONFLICT. 
 
 AFTER the termination of the revolutionary war, and the 
 establishment of the independence of the United States, the 
 intrigues of foreign opposing parties no longer operated to 
 foment disturbance, or to tempt the unfortunate savages to 
 engage in quarrels where they had nothing to gain, and 
 which ever resulted in their final discomfiture. By a steady 
 increase of numbers, and the adventurous spirit of pioneers, 
 the white settlers every where made advances upon Indian 
 territory. Sometimes large acquisitions would be made by 
 a government purchase ; but, to no small extent, the opinion 
 that the occupation of a few roving savages could give no 
 natural title to lands, as opposed to the claims of those who 
 had reclaimed,inclosed,and improved the wilderness,satisfied 
 the consciences of the encroachers. The argument in favor 
 of this conclusion is by no means without force ; but who 
 can take upon himself to draw the line of demarkation which 
 shall decide, upon any principle of universal application, 
 the bounds of so artificial o right as the ownership of land ? 
 
 At the time of the declaration of war with England, (June 
 18th, 1812,) the whole western border of the United States 
 was in a position of the greatest danger and insecurity. 
 Many minor forays took place, but the destruction of Fort 
 Mimms in Mississippi, in 1813, and subsequent battles of 
 that year were the most important in the early part of the 
 century. A party of about 1,000 warriors, led by Chief Weath- 
 erford, fell upon this fort August 30. The post was garri- 
 soned by one hundred and sixty efficient soldiers ; the rest of 
 its occupants, to the number of ono hundred and fifteen, 
 consisted of old men, women and children. The forces were 
 under the command of Major Beasly. No regular prepara- 
 tions had been made for the reception of so powerful an 
 enemy, and although the soldiers did their duty manfully, 
 they were overpowered, and all slain except seventeen. 
 The women and children having ensconced themselves in 
 several block houses, met with a more terrible fate. The 
 
102 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 savages set fire to the buildings, and consumed them, to- 
 gether with their inmates. 
 
 The sefctlers inhabiting exposed districts were now obliged 
 to fly for safety to places of protection, and the hostile 
 hordes of Indians were collecting their warriors, for further 
 inroads upon the frontier. To resist them, a large force was 
 called into requisition in Tennessee, and the command be- 
 stowed upon General A u drew Jackson, who determined to 
 take the field in person, and pushed on the necessary prep- 
 arations with all that zeal and energy which marked his 
 character through life. 
 
 While encamped at Ten Islands the general ascertained 
 tne rendezvous of the enemy to be about 13 miles below. 
 Colonel Coffee, with nine hundred men, was promptly or- 
 dered to engage them. He approached the Indian camp, 
 and so disposed his forces as to partially surround it, while 
 several companies, were marched in to beat up the enemies' 
 quarters. The savages fought boldly and desperately, but 
 were overpowered and driven into their buildings, where one 
 hundred and eighty-six of their number perished, lighting 
 hand to hand. Eighty-four women and children were'taken 
 prisoners, and a number were killed. This battle was fought 
 on the 3rd of November, 
 
 A species of fortification was now prepared at the islands, 
 and named Fort Strother. On the 7th of the month, infor- 
 mation was received that the enemy was collecting in force 
 to attack Taltadega, a post about thirty miles below, occu- 
 pied by friendly Indians, and General Jackson, with nearly 
 his whole army, consisting of twelve hundred infantry and 
 eight hundred mounted men, hastened to its relief. It was 
 about midnight when the march commenced, and on the 
 evening of the ensuing day, a spot only six miles from Tal- 
 ladega was reached. By four o'clock, on the following morn- 
 ing, the troops were again in motion ; and, acting upon in- 
 telligence obtained by reconnoitering during the night, Gen- 
 eral Jackson was enabled so to dispose his troops as partial- 
 ly to surround the camp before the action commenced. The 
 Indians displayed both courage and firmness, and by the 
 impetuosity of their attack, broke through the line of the 
 advancing forces and made their escape to the mountains, 
 three miles distant. The force of the enemy was one thou- 
 
Kircbenuit lOJi 
 i 
 
 Warraeensitt 
 
 Bomaseen 
 
 Wadacanaquin 
 
 Iteansis 
 
 Jackoid 
 
 Joseph 
 
 Sauguaaram 
 
 Arexus 
 
 Francois Xavier 
 
 Megaminiba 
 
 INDIAN SIGNATURES. 
 
104 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 sand and eighty, of whom two hundred and ninety-nine were 
 left dead on the ground; and it is believe 1 that many \vere 
 killed in the flight, who were not found" when the estimate 
 was made. Their loss, on this occasion, was not less than 
 six hundred: that of the Americans was fifteen killed and 
 eighty wounded, several of whom afterward died. 
 
 After the battle at Talladegn, the Hallibee Indians, who 
 were largely concerned in that transaction, sued for peace. 
 They were told by the American general that this should be 
 accorded, upon condition of the restoration of plundered 
 property, and the delivering up of those who had taken part 
 in the massacre at Fort Mimms. Unfortunately, while these 
 negotiations were pending, General White, acting under 
 orders independent of General Jackson, attacked the towns 
 of these Indians, destroyed many of their warriors, and car- 
 ried off several hundred captives. Supposing that this was 
 by Jackson's orders, they expected no further favor, and 
 fought thereafter with the desperation of men to whom no 
 quarter was to be given. 
 
 The result of this Indian campaign was the entire reduc- 
 tion of the hostile nations. In various battles they were de- 
 feated and destioyed. The most noted of these were at Au- 
 tossee, where some two hundred were massacred, on the 29th 
 of November, and that of the great bend in the Tallapoosie,, 
 known as Horse Shoe Bend. At this latter point, the In- 
 dians fortified themselves for a last and desperate stand. 
 
 They were supposed to be about one thousand in number, 
 and had been, for some time, strengthening their position 
 by every means within their reach. This was in March, 1814. 
 On the 27th, General Jackson, with a force of whites and 
 friendly Indians, three times the number of the enemy, 
 commenced operations against the fort. General Coffee, 
 with most of the cavalry and Indian allies, was directed to 
 surround the bend, in order to cut off all retreat across the 
 river. The place was then carried by storm, under a heavy 
 fire from within. More than half the Indians were killed at 
 the fort, and an unknown number perished in their endeav- 
 rrs to escape by crossing the river, beset as it was by the as- 
 sailants. Not more than twenty ever reached a place of 
 safety. At a time when it was evident that the fortune of 
 the day was decided, General Jackson sent a messenger, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 105 
 
 with a flag of truce, to invite a surrender, but, from igno- 
 rance or desperation, the savages fired upon the bearer of 
 the flag. After this, no mercy was shown : until night put 
 an end to the work of destruction, they were shot or cut down 
 wherever they could be found, and even . on the following 
 morning a considerable number were ferreted out from the 
 "caves and reeds," where they had sought concealment, 
 and were remorselessly put to death. Several hundred 
 women and children were made captive-. The loss of the 
 attacking army, in this battle, was fifty-five killed, and one 
 hundred and forty-six wounded. 
 
 In April, General Jackson, having effected a junction with 
 the troops from Georgia, under Colonel Milton, received a 
 deputation from the principal hostile tribes, expressing a 
 wish fcr peace. The general demanded, as one condition 
 upon which he would treat, and as a test of the sincerity of 
 the proposal, that the great but notorious Weatherford 
 should be delivered up for punishment. This chief, hearing 
 of the requisition, and hopeless of further success in resist- 
 ance, came voluntarily to the American camp, and present- 
 ing himself before tin commander, with characteristic dig- 
 nity and composure, requested peace for his people, and an- 
 nounced his own submission to his fate, whatever it mi^ht 
 be. 
 
 This was the last important incident of the campaign. The 
 Indians submitted to the dictation of the whites, and retired 
 to the districts assigned them, eastward of the Coosa. 
 
106 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE MINNESOTA, FETTERMAN, PIEGAN, CUSTEE AND TJTE MASSACRES. 
 GENS. SHEKIDAN, CUSTEB AND MILES AMONG THE INDIANS. 
 
 IN July, 1862, while the War of the Rebellion was being 
 carried on, Sioux and other Indians belonging to the Upper 
 Agency in Minnesota came down to the Government build- 
 ings by the Yellow Medicine river and encamped there in 
 order to secure then annuities, as they were suffering from 
 hunger. On Aug. 4th they broke into the Government store- 
 house, in presence of soldiers, and took out provisions. 
 Four Indians shortly after this went to the houses of Robin- 
 son Jones and Howard Baker and shot those gentlemen, 
 their wives, Miss Ciara Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Webster 
 A general uprising of the Indians took place after this taste 
 of blood, and the inhabitants of the place were entirely help- 
 less, as many men had gone to enlist for the Southern war. 
 James Lynde, a clerk in a store, was shot and instantly 
 killed, as were two other persoas in the store. As the In- 
 dians entered another store a clerk rushed through their 
 midst and succeeded in getting 200 yards away, when he re 
 ceived two shots. He was stripped and had logs piled upon 
 him to prevent his escape. Wheii all were butchered at the 
 agency the savages scattered over the country. 
 
 At the river the heroic ferryman continued to carrry over 
 all who came, and was killed just as he had taken the last 
 man across. He was disemboweled and his hands, feet and 
 head cutoff and thrust into the cavity. 
 
 The atrocities committed in this massacre almost surpass 
 belief. Seven hundred people perished under the most 
 heartrending cruelty. Neither age nor sex was regarded. 
 Their great ambition seemed to be to outvie each other in 
 new forms of torture, iiirls of a tender age were violated 
 by ruffians until death from exhaustion ended their suffer- 
 ings. A father returned home to find his entire family 
 killed, except a little boy, who was left for dead. 
 
 The Indians, about 400 in number, attacked Nw Ulm. 
 The inhabitants were mostly German. They huddled to- 
 gether in the centre of the town and made a barricade of 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 107 
 
 barrels, etc. The Indians were repelled, but ten 
 whites were killed and fifty wounded. Four reds went to Mr. 
 Anderson's house and asked for milk ; after drinking it and 
 returning the pan, they shot him dead and also killed his 
 son who went to get them some potatoes. A boy, to escape 
 detection, had covered himself with pulled grass by the road- 
 side ; but he was discovered and had his head cut off. 
 
 It was feared the Chippewas and Winnebagoes might join 
 the Sioux. This would have meant annihilation to the peo- 
 ple of Minnesota. There were 4,000 warriors within two 
 days' march of St. Paul. The fact that tKere were several 
 thousand volunteers in the state e'llisted to fight the South- 
 ern Confederates probably was the salvation of the whites 
 from wholesale butchery. Gov. Ramsey requested Ool. Sib- 
 ley to take charge of these troops and move up the Minne- 
 sota river. They came across a white woman who had trav- 
 eled 70 miles without tasting food, carrying her babe on 
 her pack. The savages had shot her through the shoulder. 
 The same bullet cut off the baby's finger. 
 
 A company of 150 men under Major J. E. Brown came 
 near being cut to pieces when detailed to bury the dead. 
 Twenty-three men were killed and forty-five wounded. 
 Ninety horses were killed. The soldiers had fallen asleep 
 after a hard day's work, with no suspicion of danger. 
 They were 31 hours fighting without food or water, before 
 help arrived from the main body. 
 
 On the day after the battle, Little Crow and his braves 
 took flight. Col. Sibley took possession of their camp of 
 100 tepees, furnished with carpets and stolen furniture. Here 
 he found 250 captives. It was thought that if Col. Sibley 
 had marched immediately to the camp after the battle, all 
 the prisoners would have been killed. The Indian prisoners 
 taken in these combats were tried by a military commission 
 of five officers and a recorder, and on Feb. 26th, 1863, thirty- 
 eight of them were hung, by order of the president of the 
 
 United States. 
 
 * * * ***** 
 
 In 1866, the Government sent an invading expedition of 
 whites to open a new route from Fort Laramie to Montana. 
 Col. H. B. Carrington was in command of the force number- 
 ing 220 men. Fort Laramie was reached in June. There 
 
108 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 was a current of opposition noticeable among the Indians to 
 the entrance of the whites upon their territory. 
 
 From July 26th to Dec. 21st the hostiles had killed 91 en- 
 listed men, 5 officers, 58 citizens, and wounded 20 citizens 
 and driven away 700 head of stock. On Dec. 21st the wood 
 train was attacked about two miles from Fort Phil Kearney. 
 Col. Carrington sent Col. Fetterman with 50 infantry and 26 
 cavalry men to defend the train, with orders not to engage 
 or follow the Indians. Orders, for some reason that will 
 never be known, were disregarded. 'Not a soldier returned. 
 While the firing was progressing Cap t. Ten Eyck, with 76 
 men, (all there were i\ the fort), went to the rescue. They 
 found the dead naked bodies of Col. Fetterman, Captain 
 Brown and 65 soldiers. They were all in a space of about o5 
 feet in diameter. A mile further on the bodies of Lieut. Gru- 
 mond, three citizens and four or five soldiers wore found. 
 Only six men of the whole command lost their lives by balls, 
 and two of these, Lieutenant-Colonel Fetterman and Cap- 
 tain Brown, no doubt inflicted this death upon themselves or 
 each other, both being shot through the left temple, the pow- 
 der being burnt into the skin and flesh about the wound. 
 Both officers had been heard to assort that they would not be 
 taken alive by Indians. 
 
 The United States Senate committee, appointed to investi- 
 gate the Fetterman massacre, reported that they found no 
 living officer deserving of censure, but that the fault was 
 traced to the^Government itself i- not sending reinforcements 
 of men and ammunition to these new forts in Wyoming, 
 where all was Avar, instead of permitting them to remain at 
 
 such places as Forb Laramie, where all was peace. 
 
 * * * * * * * * 
 
 In 1868, Gen. Sheridan made a winter campaign against the 
 Camanches and other Indians \vlio did most of their lighting 
 in summer. Through lack of provender many ponies die. I of 
 starvation in winter. The expedition started from Fort 
 Dodge November 12th. The 7th Ciiva.lry consisted of 800 < r 
 900 men. "California Joe" and a few half-civilized Osage 
 Indians acted as scouts. Gen. Ouster was in command. 
 After arriving at the level of tho valley of the Washita, white 
 lodges were discovered among the trees. Soon a rifle shot 
 rang out on the other side of the vill-;^ 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 100 
 
 the other detachments had arrived at their post?, according 
 to agreement, A grand charge was made upon the surprised 
 warriors, but they seized their weapons and fought with des- 
 perate valor. Some of the savages ran in the direction of 
 Major Elliot's attacking party and met with a warm reception. 
 Many cavalry men dismounted and fought on foot. A 
 squaw wr.s see trying to escape with a little white boy cap- 
 tive. Upon finding escape impossible, she drew a knife 
 from her blanket and killed the child, and was immediately 
 shot by a soldier. The Indians were routed and all of the 
 lodges were burned. News of the victory was sent by cou- 
 rier to Gen. Sheridan, and in due 
 season the army reached Camp 
 Supply. Over 800 ponies were 
 captured ii this light and all 
 had to be shot. One hundred 
 Indians were killed and a large 
 number of prisoners captured. 
 Among the whites kiKel were 
 ]Uaior Elliot, Captnin Ha; 
 and 19 soldiers. AYhou the com- 
 mand got back to headquarters, 
 Gen. Sheridan was so well pleased 
 with the wortc done that he ho:;- GEN. SHERIDAN, 
 
 ored it with a review. The General continued operations 
 against the Indians also in 1300 and 1870. ' 
 
 Fabulous stories about mineral discoveries in "Montana at- 
 tracted a great number of whites to that territory, who 
 wholly disregarded the rights of Indians, and of course there 
 were conli: latlons-of all kinds. In 1869, the set- 
 
 tiers having been much injured by the murders and assaults 
 of a small band of Piega-i Indians, the authorities determined 
 
 I <.'rable discussion and con- 
 sultation as to the e ;d character of the chastisement, 
 General Sheridan sent word to Colonel Baker, who was then 
 moving against them, t > "strike them hard." 
 
 On the morning of the 23rd of January, 1870, Colonel Bak- 
 er came upon a vil; on the Marais riv- 
 er, who had not be in the atrocities of the rest 
 of their tribe. But tl. 1 deemed it advisable to re- 
 ga d the instructions of Sheridan, and Accordingly attacked 
 
110 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 them, killing one hundred and seventy-three (fifty-three of 
 Whom were women and children), and capturing one hun- 
 dred women and children, beside over three hundred horses. 
 
 * * * * * * * * 
 
 The rush to the Black Hills by miners and speculators when 
 gold was discovered there, and the presence of troops under 
 Gen. Custer, made the Sioux Indians, under Sitting Bull, 
 very angry. In 1876, it became necessary to take measures 
 to quiet the hostiles. On May 29th, Gen.Crook started north 
 from Fort Fetterman with 47 officers, 1,000 men, and the nec- 
 essary scouts and wagon train. On May 17th, General Terry 
 marched westward with 600 cavalry and 400 infantry from 
 Fort Lincoln. Col. Gibbon move 1 eastward from Fort Ellis 
 with 450 men, cavalry and infantry. At the mouth of the 
 Kosebud river the three columns met, and their three lead- 
 ers decided on a plan of action. Failure to carry out this 
 plan at the right time resulted in the sacrifice of Gen. Ouster 
 and his noble band. His command first discovered the In- 
 dian village in the valley of the Little Big Horn the largest 
 number of Indian huts ever seen in the "West, and it was es- 
 timated that there vrere about 4,000 Indians. 
 
 The only knowledge the Government coukl get of this ter- 
 rible massacre was through Curly, the Upsaroka scout, from 
 Kill Eagle (an Indian who was in Sitting Bull's camp, but 
 afterward surrendered), and from Eidgely, a white prisoner 
 in the Sioux camp, all of whom were eye witnesses of the 
 conflict. Curly's testimony was taken by Gen. Terry's staff 
 officers through an interpreter. Custer and every man of 
 his five companies were killed. The battle began at 2 o'clock 
 and continued till sundown. Curly stated that Guster lived 
 until nearly all his men were killed or wounded. When he 
 saw Custer hopelessly surrounded, he watched his opportuni- 
 ty, washed the 'paint from his face, let down his hair like a 
 Sioux, put on a Sioux blanket and worked his way up a ra- 
 vine. When the savages charged he mingled with them and 
 was not known from one of their own number. Seeing one 
 of the mounted warriors fall, Curly ran and got on his pony, 
 galloped down as if going toward the white men, but instead 
 passed up a ravine and made his escape. He said lie offered 
 to show Custer a way of escape, which his thoroughbred 
 horse could easily have aided him to accomplish, but he mo- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. Ill 
 
 ttoned him away with his hand and stayed to di with his 
 comrades. At la$t the General received a shot in his left side, 
 and sat down ; another shot struck him and he fell over. 
 This battie occurred on Sunday, June 25th, 1876. On Monday, 
 Col. Gibbon's column reached the bloody scene. They found 
 that Ouster's body was the only one not mutilated. Around 
 him were seven of his officers, among whom were his two 
 brothers, Boston and Thomas, and his brother-in-law, Lieut. 
 Oalhoun. Almost at his feet lay his nephew, Autie Reed, only 
 19 years old. The body of Mr. Kellogg, the correspondent 
 of the New York Herall, was also among the dead. 
 
 Ridgely said that after the mas- 
 sacre the Indians took six of the 
 prisoners and tied them to stakes 
 and burned them to death, while 
 the Indian boys were allowed to 
 fire red-hot arrows into the in 
 flesh. At night the squaws went to 
 the battle-field and robbed and 
 mutilated the bodies of the dead 
 soldiers. 
 
 As soon as poss.lble after the 
 Ouster massacre, Gen. Sheridan "''(W/''J 
 
 concentrated his forces. Generals 
 Cook and Terry were reinforced 
 
 under Lieut.-Col. Curr, Lieut. Otis and Col. Miles, so that by 
 Au;-'. 5th the united forces of the two generals numbered 
 4,000 men. All their hard marches were fruitless in en- 
 gagenifnts with the savages, until Oct. 21st, when Col. Miles 
 overtook Sitting Bull, and held a two days' consultation with 
 him, which was e:ided by a renewal of hostilities. He pur- 
 si i"; I the Indians t ^r 42 miles, but they soon sued for peace. 
 The campaign of 1877 was almost continuous with that of the 
 iing year, unt'l April, when the Sioux became anxious 
 to surrender. Spotte 1 Tail brought 1,100 to the agency, which 
 virtually ended the Kioux war. 
 
 On May 5th, Col. Miles (who afterward became General) en- 
 
 l Tame-Deer's forces on a branch of the Rosebud river, 
 
 and captured 450 ponies and destroyed much property, but 
 
 he cume near losing his Ufa while holding a conference with 
 
 Iron Star, who, after shaking hands with him, picked up his 
 
112 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 gun and fired, but the bullet struck and killed a soldier fee- 
 hind the Colonel. 
 
 On July 2Gth, Gen. Sherman wrote, in ona of his official 
 reports from Fort Ouster, that "there are no Indians here- 
 abouts." 
 
 * * * * * * * * 
 
 The Ute Indians up to 1879 were peaceable with the whites. 
 In 186^, a tract on Southern Colorado was set apart, for their 
 exclusive use ; but soo a immigrants began to encroach up- 
 on their lands. In 1873, they relinquished claim to their 
 mining property for a consideration from the United States 
 Government. They were the wards of Indian Agent Meeker, 
 who was atone time agricultural editor of the New York Tri- 
 bune. When he left its employ he formed a colony to settle 
 in Colorado, and he called the place selected Greeley, after 
 Horace Greeley, his former employer. 
 
 In the spring of 1879, Ute hunting parties went north be- 
 yond the limits of their reservation. Mr. Meeker wrote to 
 the commander at Fort ^teele to arrest the trespassers, and 
 either retain them or send them back to their own reserva- 
 tion. Sept. 8th, of 1879, serious difficulty arose at ?Jr. "Jeeker's 
 White River Agency. He was ploughing some of their land 
 on which were some tents and corrals, and some of the In- 
 dions objected to the work. Equally as good ground was 
 offered them in exchange, but they wouldn't listen to his 
 proposal, so he ploughed away until stopped by armed me:!. 
 Sept. 10th Mr. Meeker telegraphed to Washington for help, 
 saying he had been forced out of his own house and badly 
 injured. The War Department ordered Major Thornburgh, 
 commandant at Fort Steele, to go to White Eiver Agency to 
 arrest the insubordinate Indians and enforce obedience. 
 When the knowledge of the approaching troops was known, 
 there was an uprising in which Agent Meeker and all his 
 male assistants were killed, the agency building sacked and 
 fired, and the women and children carried off to the south. 
 
 On the morning of the si me day Major Thornburgh 's 
 command was attacked by a body of Utes when 15 miles dis- 
 tant, and the Major himself was killed. The captive wom- 
 en and children were rescued soon afterward by General 
 Adams, who had been a former guardian of the Utes on theu 
 reservation. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 113 
 
 In the Commercial Advertiser of F*b. 24th, 1895, Mr. Jokm 
 A. Cockerill gave his version of the Ouster niassacr*, He hold* 
 that injustice was done the noble General by som critic*, 
 who claimed that he aimed at self destruction. 
 
 For nearly 20 years, he says, the " affair" at the Little Big 
 Horn has been misunderstood, and a grave injustice has 
 been done, first to General Custer, and secondly to the offi- 
 cers and soldiers under his command, who died with him 
 that day. There are to day, probably, thousands of people 
 in the United States who believe that General Custer en- 
 gaged with the Indians on that occasion with a recklessness 
 and a purpose which in point of fact aimed at self-destruc- 
 tion. This most unjust and cruel belief grows out of the 
 fact that General Custer, having been but a few weeks before 
 summoned to Washington to testify concerning the manage- 
 ment in the West of army affairs, and especially with refer- 
 ence to the " sutler" or '* post-trader" system, as well as the 
 methods of awarding and fulfilling army contracts, had giv- 
 en testimony not only wholly unexpected and surprising, 
 but most embarrassing and doubtless incredible to certain 
 high government officials. He was, therefore, made very 
 uncomfortable. He was brought to feel that he was in dis- 
 grace. Never before had his cards been returned to him 
 when he called at the homes of distinguished men and influ- 
 ential officers of the government. His brilliant career dur- 
 ing the war, wherein he rose from the rank of a just gradu- 
 ated second lieutenant to that of a major-general of voluu- 
 teersf his proven courage and his wonderful success in all 
 his daring, dashing forages upon the enemy or charges in 
 battle all these had made him a favorite hero in Washing- 
 ton, and up to this time ho had been accustomed to be warm- 
 ly welcomed and made much of wherever he went. When 
 all this was changed he was cut to the heart, and refused to 
 be comforted. 
 
 He undoubtedly left Washington feeling most keenly the 
 injustice with which he had been treated ; but to assume that 
 he went determined to find death on the first occasion, is t6 
 cast a shadow of shame upon his name a thing intolerable ! 
 Doubtless he went inspired by the purpose to demonstrate 
 anew his value as a soldier ; but thoss who knew him knew 
 
11 -A INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 well that there was not a drop in his veins of the cowardly 
 blood which would lead a man to seek to escape by death un- 
 fairly accomplished those annoyances which had grown 
 grievous to him. 
 
 Aside from this there is the testimony of the battlefield it- 
 self to show that Custer did not make ji hencllong plunge 
 from a precipice from motives of pique, dragging down witb 
 him as brave a battalion of soldiers as the June sun evei 
 shone upon. The " Ouster massacre'' was not a " massacre" 
 in the sense in which it has been understood. It was a scene 
 of carnage that is true. It was an awful slaughter. But 
 the popular notion that Custer and his men were driven or 
 Jed into a trap and, huddled together like sheep, were slain 
 as a band of men ma-'e helpless and delivered over to their 
 fate by the folly .of their leader, is a baseless invention. 
 
 For some days Custer had been hastening to overtake a 
 band of Indians, which, from the trail they left, he knew did 
 not exceed 1,200 or 1,500, at the most, who were, in turn, has- 
 tening to join Sitting Bull, to assist in that satanio schemer's 
 uprising. He was deceived as to the numbers of those whom 
 he was destined to meet, even after he had " located" their 
 village and had made his attack accordingly. Was it poor 
 scouting or was he deceived by treachery, pure and simple ? 
 Nobody lives to tell. We only know that the chivalric soul 
 of General Custer would have never permitted him to sacri- 
 fice other lives than his own, even if ho were determined up- 
 on 'deliberate suicide. 
 
 Dividing his command, Custer sent Major Eeiio, with^our 
 companies, to the left of his route, while Captain Benteen, 
 with two companies, was to ass-ail the Indian right more di- 
 rectly and perhaps turn it, while he, himself, with five com- 
 panies, after giving Reno and Benteen time to reach their 
 positions, moved boldly and swiftly around the point of the 
 "hog-back," behind which he knew the enemy lay, forded 
 the creek and advanced upon the village. At ence, he was 
 antagonized and with such forco, determination and confi- 
 dence as must have greatly surprised him. Here was his 
 first opportunity to learn that he had more than 1,200 or 1,500 
 Pawnee Indians to engage with and it is fairly a question 
 whether he lived long enough to realize that he was sur- 
 rsunded by an army numbering not less than 5,000 of the 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 115 
 
 most savage and bloodthirsty of the Sioux, and Cheyenne 
 warriors. 
 
 Whatever he may have comprehended, he fought like the 
 accomplished soldier that he was. After the battle the poor, 
 defaced and mutilated bodies of his brave followers were 
 buried where they fell, and where they were found and 
 through this circumstance we are afforded ample proof that 
 neither he nor his followers suffered in the slightest from 
 panic or demoralization. A long and mathematically accu- 
 rate array of marble hea Istones dotting the front of the line 
 of his maia force shows where his skirmishers fell, each dead 
 on his post ; for the field has now become a national ceme- 
 tery, and the cheap and simple boards which once marked 
 the last resting place of these brave men have been succeed- 
 ed by more lasting monuments. 
 
 No white naaia, as has been said, lives to tell the details of 
 this battle ; but there is a direct and pathetie story in the bat- 
 tle field itself which s-peaks with a clearness which cannot be 
 misused rsto od . 
 
 As h nasked forward with the major part of his five com- 
 panies, the serried ranks of Sitting Bull's warriors rose up 
 abcmt and enclosed him in a wall of ferocious human devil- 
 ishnees right, left, front a '.id rear. He made his dispositions 
 with rapidity, but with skillful coolness. Two troops of sixty 
 men were thrown out upon the left to advance in parallel 
 lines with his own movement. 
 
 With every step the slaughter became more terrible, but 
 every landmark, every indication, shows that he fought his 
 men with a presence of mind he could not have exceeded on 
 parade. But the end was inevitable and in the length of 
 time, as on Indian witness estimates, that it would take " a 
 hungry Indian to eat his dinner," or as another said that 
 would allow a candle "to bum a quarter of an inch," ia, 
 say from 20 to 25 mi:,utes -all that was left of Ouster and his 
 men were their torn, mutilated and bleeding bodies lying on 
 the spot where they had fought. 
 
 Instinctively, but according to military drill and disci, 
 pline, as the mute but convincing testimony of the field it- 
 self demonstrates, the d< >rs gathered in groups 
 of twos and fours : arid here and thf>rfc one fell fighting sin- 
 gle-handed, without the "elbow t;>U'.-li' J which gives courage 
 
116 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 to vn the bravest. And there are sixty headstones which 
 mark the graves of th mon soat to tha lft none are unac- 
 counted for. 
 
 Around Ouster himself was, of course, the greatest number 
 of those under hi immediate command of the five compa- 
 niesand on them the fiercest, hottest anger of his assailants 
 was spent. Every white rmvi was slain without mercy, and 
 under the lead of the red demon, Rain-in-the-Face, who com- 
 manded a thousand Cheyennes, each and every body, save 
 that of Custer alone, was shamefully mutilated. That chief 
 him :elf tore the heart, hot and reeking, from the body of 
 Lieutenant Tom Custer, the general's brother, and ate it, 
 amid the diabolical applause of the fiends whom he led. This 
 \yasinpursuanceofa vow which he had made, and as re- 
 venge for a fancied wrong done him by the Lieutenant. Cus- 
 ter s body was saved from insult and mutilation. The won- 
 derful career of the fearless leader was known to the savages, 
 and secured this immunity. 
 
 Further tttan this it is not necessary to rehearse the story. 
 It is true that Keno failed to come to the relief of his com- 
 mander, and has been most severely criticised for that fail- 
 ure. Whether he ought to be or not, I cannot pretend to 
 say. The "hog-backs"' offered such resistance to the trans- 
 mission of sound that I can readily understand how it might 
 happen that Reno heard nothing and suspected nothing of 
 the terrible conflict in which his comrades were engaged. 
 But I do not understand v, Ly, under the circumstances,. h 
 did not at least try to keep in touch "with his commander. 
 
 Still, I do not undertake to decide. It is too grave a mat- 
 ter. 
 
 History may and does show instances where men have 
 bravely "died for men/' but history cannot show an instance 
 of greater devotion to duty than that of the men who fought 
 and died in the battle of the Little Big Horn. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 1 1 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 PHYSICAL ENDURANCE BY YOUNG WARRIORS INDIAN FIGHTING 
 COURAGE SUFFERINGS OF CAPTIVES, AND VARIOUS INDIAN MAT- 
 TERS OF INTEREST. " 
 
 THE college athletes of the present clay, who undergo many 
 hardships on the football field, would collapse if they were 
 called upon to undergo such ordeals as young Indian 
 "bucks 5 ' were subjected to in ">eing initiated into the order 
 of warriors. Mr. Catlin, in his book on Indians tells what 
 he saw enacted among the Maadan tribe. 
 
 The young warriors, preparatory to undergoing torture, 
 were obliged, until the fourth day from their entry into the 
 lodge, to abstain from food, drink, or sleep! On the fourth 
 day commenced the more horrible portion of the exercises. 
 Corning forward, in turn, the victims allowed the flesh of 
 their breas's or backs to be pierced with a rough two-edged 
 knife, and splinters of v e thrust through the holes. 
 
 Enough of the skin and flesh were taken up to be more than 
 sufficient for the support of the weight of the body. To thesD 
 splints cords let down from the roof were attached, and the 
 subject of these inflictions was hoisted from the ground. 
 Similar splints were then thrust through the arms and legs, 
 to which the warrior's arras, and, in some cases, <<s additional 
 weights, several heavy buffalo heads, were hung. 
 
 Thus far the fortitude of the Indian sufficed to restrain all 
 exhibition of pain ; while the flesh was torn with the rude 
 knife, and the wooden skewers were thrust in, a pi 
 smile was frequently observable on the young warrior's 
 countenance ; but when in the horrible position above de- 
 scribed, with his flesh stretched by the splints till it appeared 
 about to give way, a number of attendant ; turn- 
 
 ing him round and round with poles, he would burst out in 
 the most lamentable and heart-rending cries that the human 
 voice is capable of producing, crying forth to the Great Spirit 
 to support and protect him in the dreadful trial. 
 
 After hanging until total insensibility brought a temporary 
 relief to his sufferings, he was lowered to the floor, the main 
 supporting skewers were withdrawn, and he was left to crawl 
 
1 1 8 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 off, dragging the weights after him. The first movement, 
 with returning consciousness, was to sacrifice to tho Great 
 Spirit one or more of the fingers of the left hand, after which 
 the miserable wretch was taken out of the lodge. Within the 
 court a new trial awaited him ; the last, but most terrible of 
 all. An active man took his position on each side of the weak 
 and mutilated sufferer, and, passing a thong about his wrist, 
 urged him forward at the top of his speed in a circle rouud 
 the arena. When, faint and w r eary, he sank on the ground? 
 the tormentors dragged him furiously around the ring until 
 the splints were torn out by the weights attached, and he lay 
 motionless and apparently lifeless. If the splint should have 
 been so deeply inserted that no force even that of the weight 
 of individuals in the crowd, thrown upon the trailing skulls- 
 could break the integuments, nothing remained but to crawl 
 off to the prairie and wait until it should give way by sup- 
 puration. To draw the skewer out would be unpardonable 
 sacrilege. 
 
 It is told of one man that he suspended himself from the 
 precipitous river bank by two of these skewers, thrust through 
 his arms, until, at the end of several days, he dropped into 
 the water, and swam ashore. Throughout the whole ordeal, 
 the chiefs and sages of the tribe critically observed the com- 
 parative fortitude and endurance of the candidates, and 
 formed their conclusions thereupon as to which would b& 
 the worthiest to command in after time. 
 
 " It takes a special kind of courage to fight Indians," said 
 Major Kagsdale, in Topeka. " They're pretty sure to sur- 
 prise you and as hard to catch. Their yelling and whooping 
 alone are enough to stampede men not trained to their style 
 of fighting. Sometimes they fight under cover, and you 
 catch a fire from an enemy yon can't get a sight of, and 
 again, where there hasn't been one to be seen, they seem all 
 to spring out of the ground at once and charge yon as though. 
 nothing could stand their onset. Then there's the knowl- 
 edge that if they catch you alive you'll be skinned alive, or 
 burned, or your life tortured out of you by slow degrees in a 
 thousand other ways they can think of to make you suffer. 
 There's many a stout-hearted desperado, a terror in white 
 settlements and not afraid to have a pistol or shotgun scrap 
 any hour of the day or night with a mam of his own color, 
 
* *" 
 
 5 
 
,20 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 \vho doesn't count for a row of pins in an Indian fight. 
 
 " Take Sam Brown of Nevadafor a case in point. He wasn't 
 afraid of any man that wore boots, and he was the terror of 
 the mining camps everywhere he went. The Piute Indians 
 got bad one time and a party was organized in the camps to 
 go out against them. Sam joined the volunteers, and every- 
 body in the party and ail that stayed behind were talking 
 about the big deeds Sam Brown would do, and chuckling t' 
 think of the way those redskins would be wiped out wke* 
 they run up against him. 
 
 " Well, wheu they came upon the Indians, things didn v 
 turn out quite as they had expected. It was the whites tha ; 
 got licked out in short order, and those that weren't left on tht 
 ground stampeded for safety. Sarn Brown was one of the 
 first ones to run, and the pace he set his horse at to get awat 
 from those red-skins was something that beat quarter rac- 
 ir; gin the way of reckless riding. As they stampeded dowr 
 a canyon, every man trying to be the foremost to get away. 
 Sam hailed Joe MoMurtie, who was riding a better horse than 
 his: 
 
 "'Oh, Mao! Pull your horse v a little so I can come up, 
 We'll ride safer together.' 
 
 " Mc^Iurtle'sai swer to that friendly invitation was to bone 
 down to his horse's neck, set in the spurs, and get out of thai 
 canyon ahead of am and back to Bodie as fast as hoofs* 
 could carry him. He knew Sam Brown, and that if thai 
 worthy once got alongside of him he wouldn't hesitate if 
 shoot him off his horse so as to get a better mount for him- 
 self. After they all^got back to the settlement he didn't g<; 
 round to places where he was likely to meet Sam, lest it might 
 stir him up to unpleasant recollections of their Indian cam- 
 paign." 
 
 A few personal recitals of persons in captivity about their 
 sufferings while with the Indians will be read with interest. 
 
 John Gyles said that one winter, as he and his captives 
 were moving from place to place in the wilds of Maine, a 
 moose was killed, and he and a young Indian were ordered 
 to carry home the best parts of it. It being late in the even- 
 ing when they came to where the moose lay, they had not 
 time to collect materials for a lire. At the same time a heavy 
 snowstorm set in and continued ail night. They made what 
 
INDIAN -JES. 121 
 
 fire they could and sat by it until morning, when they set out 
 on the return march. Their clothes were soaked with the 
 melted snow, and they had not traveled far before the rnoose- 
 skin coat of Gyles (which was about his only apparel 
 frozen stiff around his knees like a hoop, while his snow- 
 shoes and snow-inoccasins were frozen fast to his feet. Dur- 
 ing the entire day he continued the weary inarch, without 
 food or fire, sick, drowsy and disheartened. The young In- 
 dian, who was better clad, soon left him behind. At length 
 he reached the wigwam. When the Indians removed his 
 pack they found that the place where it had lain on his back 
 was the only part of his body not frozen. His snow-shoes 
 were cut- off from his numbed feet, and after sitting by the 
 fire a short time the blood began to circulate, his feet and 
 ankles turned black and swelled with bloody blisters, painful 
 to the last degree. Soon ai'torw;ird the skin came off his feet 
 entire, like a shoe, as high as the ankles, leaving his naked 
 toes without nails and the ends of his great-toe bones bare, 
 which shortly turned black, so that he was forced to cut off 
 the first joint with his knife. The Indians furnished him 
 rags and fir balsam for a dressing, but told him at the same 
 time he would undoubtedly die. J5y careful nursing, how- 
 ever, he got so he could walk on his heels with the aid of a 
 cane. In fifteen days the Indians again moved. They made 
 two little hooplike shoes for Gyles, s > that' he. was able to fol- 
 low them, though often in the most excrutiating torture from 
 the snow and water. He was eventually sold to a French- 
 man in Canada. 
 
 Eobert Rogers was caught in a hollow tree where he had 
 hidden from the Indians. They pulled him out, stripped 
 him, and spurred him forward at the points of their knives 
 until they reached camp. He was tied to a tree, and after a 
 dance around him a fire was kindled and thrust upOn him 
 with much laughter and shouting. They then cut scollops 
 of flesh from his body and threw them in his face. After he 
 was dead, his body was set down upon the glowing coals, 
 and left tied to the stake. 
 
 Peter Williamson, who lived near the forks of the Dela \ are 
 river, with several others, were captured and had bitter ex- 
 periences. At their halting plac ( him 
 and painted his body in various colors. At other times they 
 
122 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 would pluck the white hairs from his head and mockingly 
 tell him he had lived too long ; again, tying him to a tree 
 they would whip him and scorch his cheeks with red-hot- 
 coals and burn ids legs with fire-brands. Williamson saw 
 the bellies of three other captives ripped open and their 
 bowels burned before their eyes. Another victim was 
 buried in the ground, with only his head left in view. After 
 scalping him, he was thus left in agony for several hours ; a 
 fire was then kindled near him and his brains were literally 
 roasted. Then they out off his head and buried it with the 
 other bodies. Williamson was compelled to dig the graves. 
 He finally escaped one night when the Indians were asleep 
 and reached his home in Pennsylvania. 
 
 On the 23rd of truly, 1836, John Thompson, the keeper of 
 the Cape Florida Lighthouse, discovered a large body of In- 
 dians behind the kitchen as he was passing from that place 
 to the lighthouse. Calling to an old negro, they ran for the 
 tower, reaching the door amid a shower of bullets, and just 
 in time to lock it before the savages reached them. Thomp- 
 son stationed the negro at the door, and, taking hi* three 
 muskets, which were loaded with ball and buckshot, went to 
 the second window, and by firing from this and other win- 
 dows succeeds;:! in keeping them at bay until dark. The 
 savages continued pouring in a heavy fire of balls, and at 
 length set fire to .the lighthouse. The balls of the enemy had 
 penetrated the tin tanks containing two hundred and twen- 
 ty-five gallons of oil, which, escaping, saturated everything 
 woodwork, clotiies and bedding. The flames, fed by this 
 unctuous fluid and by the yellow-pine lumber, spread fast 
 and fiercely. When driven away by the fire, the heroic 
 
 i 1 took a musket, balls and keg of gunpowder to the 
 top of the house ; then, going below again, began to cut 
 
 thc : stairs halfway from the bottom. The negro now 
 coming up, he with difficulty dre .v him up over the space al- 
 ready cut ; in a short time both were driven by the flames to 
 the top of the building. Covering the scuttle that led up to 
 the lantern, they succeeded in keeping the fire from them 
 for so: ;^o time. At length the dreadful moment came; the 
 flame:; burst through, and at the same time the savages be- 
 gan tl'^ le fiendish yells. The poor old negro looked at his 
 master with tears in his eyes, but could not speak. They 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. H>3 
 
 went out of the lantern, which was now full of flames, the 
 lamps and side glasses bursting and flying in all directions. 
 With their clothes on lire and th< ; they lay 
 
 down on the edge of the platform, is t.vo i 
 
 width ; to move now from this spot would be almost certain 
 death from the balls of us. To more qui:-kly end 
 
 his excruciating suffering-:, the keeper then threw the keg of 
 gunpowder down the scuttle, hoping to be instantly blown 
 into eternity ; but in this he was disappointed ; t!ie explosion 
 indeed shook the tower from top to bottom, and for a mo- 
 ment checked the progress of the fire by throwing down the 
 staircase and all the woodwork near tL ? top of the light- 
 house. But soon the fierce element again raged relentlessly. 
 At this point the old ne:yro die f l. Thompson had received six 
 balls, three in each foot, and, finding that he was roasting 
 alive, he resolved to jump oft'. Going outside of the iron 
 railing and recommending his soul to God, he was on the 
 point of precipitating himself on the rocks below, when some- 
 thing whispered to him to return and lie down. He did so, 
 and in two minutes the fire fell to the bottom of the house, 
 and in a very short time died out. 
 
 The Indians, thinking him dead, next set fire to the dwell- 
 ing-house, kitchen and other outbuildings ; and began to 
 carry their plunder down to the little sloop belonging to the 
 keeper. About ten o'clock the next morning they departed. 
 Thompson's position was now almost as desperate as before. 
 A burning fever was on him ; his feet were shot to pieces ; 
 his clothes burned from his body ; he had nothing to eat or 
 drink ; a hot sun wa.s overho . with 
 
 no friend near or likely to be ; and 
 
 eighty feet from the ground, with no prosp-octof getting 
 down. About twelve o'clock he thought , j red a ves- 
 
 sel not far off. His eyesight. c, but 
 
 served him well upon this occasion. Taking a piece of the 
 negro's trousers, that had escape! the flames from being 
 saturated with blood, he made a signal. In the after- 
 noon, seeing his sloop coming in tow of two boats, he 
 felt sure that the Indians had noticed his sign and were re- 
 turning to murder him. Bur, it pr >ve i' the 
 United .States schooner, blotto, Ci: .with 
 a detachment of seamen and marines. They had retaken 
 
1;M INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Thompson's sloop after it had been divested of everything. 
 They told him that they had heard his explosion twelve 
 miles away, and had at once sailed to his assistance, although 
 scarcely expecting to find him alive. Night coming on, they 
 were forced to return on board, but assured him of their 
 prompt assistance ia the morning; at which time they tried 
 to send a line to him by means of a kite which they had made 
 during the night. But this not succeeding, they next fired 
 twine from their muskets, tying it to the ramrods. This ef- 
 fort proved successful. Thompson hauled up a tail-block, 
 made it fast to an iron stanchion and dropped the twine 
 through the pulley, by which means those below hoisted a 
 strong rope. Two men were then raised, by this means, to 
 the wounded man, whom they soon had on the ground. He 
 stated that after being received aboard the Motto, every 
 man, from the captain to the cook, endeavored to alleviate 
 his sufferings. He was taken to the military hospital in 
 Charleston, S. C., where he eventually recovered, although 
 ho remained a cripple all his life. 
 
 INDIANS AS EQUESTRIANS. 
 
 As bold and skilful riders Indians have no superiors; some 
 of their feats of horsemanship appear almost supernatural to 
 a stranger. One of the most singular of these is that of 
 throwing the whole body upon one side of the horse, so as to 
 be entirely shielded from the missile of an enemy, with the 
 exception of the heel, by which they still maintain their hold, 
 and are enabled to regain their seat in an instant. The man- 
 ner in which this seemingly impossible position is retained 
 is as follows : A short hair ii alter is passed around under the 
 neck of the horse, and tfoth ends tightly braided into the 
 mane, on the withers, leaving a loop to hang under the neck, 
 and against the breast, which, being caught up in the hand, 
 makes a sling into which the elbow falls, taking the weight 
 of the body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop 
 the rider drops suddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to 
 hang over the back of the horse, to steady him, and also to 
 restore him when he wishes to regain his upright position oxj 
 the horse's back, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 125 
 
 The Indian rider, as he sweeps, at full ped, past iufi ene- 
 my, in this unnatural attitude, ii iaid to managt hi long 
 lance, and his bow and arrow, with nearly th same facility 
 as if fairly mounted. He will discharge his arrow over tha 
 back of the horse, or even his neck! Indians' are awkward 
 and ungainly in their movements when on foot, but when 
 mounted upon the animals that have become almost a part 
 of themselves, nothing can exceed the lightness and freedom 
 of their posture and movements. Their wild horses were 
 taken by the lasso, arid w^re at first disabled by being 
 " choked down," as it is termed. When the hunter had thus 
 conquered and enfeebled his prize, he proceeded to tie his 
 fore feet together, and, loosening the noose about his neck, 
 took a turn with it about the lower jaw, and completed the 
 subjection of the animal by closing his eyes with his hand 
 and breathing in his nostrils. After this, little difficulty was 
 experienced ; the horse submitted to be mounted, and was 
 soon entirely under the control of his tormentor. The In- 
 dians are severe and cruel riders, and the ease of supplying 
 th logs of a horse on the plains croated disregard for the ani- 
 mal'* safety or welfare. 
 
 BUFFALO HUNTING. 
 
 Tho bison, or North American buffalo, was the staple food 
 of the wild Indians in their palmy days. The extension of 
 civilization and the wanton destruction of these noble beasts 
 have nearly caused their extinction. During certain seasons 
 of the year, they congregated in immense herds, but wero 
 generally distributed over the country in search of the best 
 pastorage. They had no certain routine of migration, al- 
 though those whose occupation led to a study of their move- 
 ments could in some localities point out the general course 
 of their trail ; and this uncertainty rendered the mode of 
 subsistence depended upon by extensive western tribes of 
 Indians exceedingly precarious. Upon the open prairie the 
 bison was generally pursued upon horseback, with the lance 
 and bow and arrow. The short stiff bo w was little calculated for 
 accurate marksmanship, or for a distant shot; riding at full 
 speed, the Indian generally waited till he had overtaken his 
 
126 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 prey, and discharged his arro v from the distance of a few 
 feet. The admirable training of the horse, to whom the rider 
 was obliged to give loose rein as he approached his object and 
 prepared to inflict the deadly wound, was no less noticeable 
 than the spirit and energy of tlie rider. Such was the force 
 with which the arrow was thrown, that repeated instances 
 are related of its complete passage through the huge body 
 of the buffalo, and its exit upon the opposite side. This 
 near approach to the powerful and infuriated animal was by 
 no means without danger. Although the horse, from in- 
 stinctive fear of the buffalo's horns, sheered off immediately 
 upon passing him, it was not always done with sufficient 
 quickness to avoid his stroke. The hunter was so carried 
 away by the excitement and exhilaration of pursuit, as to be 
 apparently perfectly reckless of his own safety; trusting 
 entirely to the sagacity and quickness of his horse to 
 take him out of the danger into v/hich he was rushing. The 
 noose, or lasso, used in catching wild horses, was often left 
 trailing upon the ground during the chase, to afford the 
 hunter an easy means of securing and remounting his horse 
 in case he should be dismounted, by the attack of the buffalo 
 or otherwise. In the winter season it was common for the 
 Indians of the northern latitudes to drive the buffalo herds 
 from the bare ridges, where they coiiected to feed upon the ex- 
 posed herbage, into the snow-covered valleys. The unwieldy 
 beasts, as they floundered through the drifts, were easily 
 overtaken by the hunters, supported by their snow-shoes, and 
 were killed with the lance or bow. Another method, adopted 
 by the Indians, was to put on the disguise of a white wolf- 
 skin, and steal unsuspected among the herd, where they 
 could select their prey at leisure. Packs of wolves frequent- 
 ly followed the herds, to feed upon the carcasses of those 
 that perished, or the remains left by the hunters. They dare 
 not attack them in a body, and were consequently no ob- 
 jects of terror to the buffaloes ; but, should an old or wound- 
 ed animal be separated from the company, they collected 
 around him, and gradually wearied him out and devoured 
 him. When buffaloes were plenty, and the Indians had fair 
 opportunity, the most astonishing and wasteful slaughter 
 ensued. Beside the ordinary methods of destruction, the 
 custom of driving immense herds over some precipitous 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 137 
 
 ledge, where those behind trample down and thrust ov 
 foremost, until hundreds and thousands were destroyed, has 
 been often described. Even at seasons in which the fur was 
 valueless, and little beside a present supply of food could 
 be obtained by destroying the animal which constituted their 
 sole resource, no spirit of forethought or providence re- 
 strained the wild hunters of til.: prairie. A party of Sioux 
 returned from a hunt in 1832 bringing fourteen hundred Luf- 
 falo tongues, all that they had secured of their booty. One 
 hundred and fifty or (wo hundred thousand of their robes 
 were supplied annually, the greater part of which were taken 
 from animals killed expressly for the robe, at a season when 
 the meat was not cured and preserved, and for each of 
 which skins the Indian received but a pint of whisky ! 
 
 THE BUFFALO DANCE AND BAIN MAKING. 
 
 In times of scarcity of provisions, when the buffalo herds 
 had wandered away from the vicinity, so far that the hunters 
 dared not pursue them, for fear of enemies, the " buffalo 
 dance" was performed in the central court of the village. 
 Every man of the tribe possessed a mask made from the skin 
 of a buffalo's head, including the horns, and dried as nearly 
 as possible in the natural shape, to be worn on these, occa- 
 sions. When the wise men of the nation determined upon 
 their invocations to attract the buffalo herds, watchers were 
 stationed upon the eminences surrounding the village, and 
 the dance commenced. With extravagant action, and 
 strange ejaculations, the crowd performed the prescribed 
 manoeuvres : as fast as those engaged became weary, they 
 would sig'iify it by crouching down, when those without the 
 circle would go through the pantomine of severally shooting, 
 flaying and dressing them, while new performers took their 
 place. Night and day the mad scene was kept up, sometimes 
 for weeks together! until th signal was given of the ap- 
 proach of buffalo, wheti all prepared with joy and hilarity for 
 a grand hunt, fully convinced that their own exertions had 
 secured the prize. 
 
 No less singular was the ceremonial restored to when the 
 crops were suffering for want of rain. A knot of the wisest 
 
1'28 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 medicine-men would collect in a hut, whoro they held their 
 session with closed doors, burning aromatic herbs and going 
 through with an unknown series of incantations, '^ome tyro 
 was then sent up to take his stand on the roof, in sight of 
 the people, and spend the day in invocations for a shower. If 
 the sky continued clear, he retired in disgrace, as one who 
 need not hope ever to arrive at the dignity of a medicine- 
 man. Day after day the performance continued, until a 
 cloud overspread the skies, when the young Indian on the 
 lodge discharged an arrow toward it, to lt out the rain. 
 
 SATCfllNG BEAVERS AND BEAJRS. 
 
 The* Indian method of taking beavsr was as follows : Be- 
 fore the waters were frozen they caught them in wooden and 
 steel traps; after that, they hunted them on the ice. When 
 the animals were in their houses, and not in subterranean 
 lodgings in the banks, the Indians, taking mauls and hand- 
 spikes, broke all the hollow ice to prevent them from getting 
 their heads above the water under it. They then forced open 
 the houses, and the beavers, escaping, would run to the open 
 places to breathe, where the savages would either catch 
 them by the hind legs, throw them out on the ice and tom- 
 ahawk them, or else shoot them when their heads appeared 
 above the water. Tecaughretanego (adopted brother of Ton- 
 tileango) told Smith that the dams made by the beavers 
 served them in a variety of ways ; for example, in raising the 
 water over the mouths of their lodging-places in the bank, 
 and also by enabling them to cut down saplings without go- 
 ing out much upon the land ; for, as they live chielly upon 
 the bark of trees, and are extremely slow and awkward when 
 out of the water, they would be killed by their enemies if 
 i'ound far from the banks. 
 
 To kill bears in winter they searched about until they found 
 a tree that had been scratched by the bear in climbing, and 
 discovered if the hole were large enough to admit him. Then, 
 when it was pos sible, they would fell a sapling in such a way 
 that it would fall against or near the opening, when one of 
 thrn would climb up and drive Bruin from his retreat. If 
 tiaw aaplingi or trees near at hand leaned the wrong way,they 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 129 
 
 gathered some rotton wood and tied it in bunches with bark ; 
 then, making a wooden hook and taking a long pole, one of 
 them would ascend a neighboring tree, draw up the pole by 
 means of a hook which he reached from limb to limb as he 
 climbed, and igniting his spunk- wood, place it into the cavity. 
 Presently the bear would come forth and be shot by the one 
 below. 
 
 FUNERAL RITES OF SOME TRIBES. 
 
 Long years ago the body of the dead Indian was tightly 
 wrapped and bound up in fresh or soaked buffalo skins, to- 
 gether with the arms and accoutrements used in life, and the 
 usual provision of tobacco, Hint and steel, knife and food. 
 A slight scaffold was then prepared, of sufficient height to 
 serve as protection from the wolves and dogs, and there the 
 body was deposited to decay in the open air. Day after day 
 those who had lost friends would come out from the village 
 to this strange cemetery, to weep and bewail over their loss. 
 Such geiiuiae and long-continued grief as was exhibited by 
 the afflicted relatives puts to shame the cold heartedness of 
 too many among the cultivated and enlightened. When, after 
 the lapse of years, the scaffolds had fallen, and nothing was 
 left but bleached and mouldering bones, the remains were 
 buried, with the exception of the skulls. These were placed 
 in circles upon the plain, with the faces turned inward, each 
 resting upon a bunch of wild sage ; and in the centre, upon 
 two slight mounds, "medicine-poles" were erected, at the 
 foot of which were the heads and horns of a male and female 
 buffalo. To these new places of deposit, each of which con- 
 tained not far from one hundred skulls, would the mourners 
 again resort, to evince their further affection for the dead 
 not in groans and lamentations, however, for several years 
 had cured the anguish ; but fond affections and endearments 
 were renewed, and conversations were here held, * and cher- 
 ished, with the dead. The wife or mother would sit for hours 
 by the side of the white relic of the loved and lost, addressing 
 the skull with the most affectionate and loving tones, or, 
 perchance lying down and falling asleep with her arma 
 around it. Food would be nightly set before many of these 
 
130 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 skulls, and, with the most tender care, the aromatic bed upon 
 which they reposed would be renewed as it withered and de- 
 cayed. 
 
 MATERNAL AFFECTION AND CAKE OJf INFANTS. 
 
 One of the most remarkable and touching traits of char- 
 acter observable among the Sioux, is the strength of mater-, 
 nal affection.- Infant children, according to the common 
 custom of western Indians, are carried, for the first six or 
 seven months of their existence, strapped immoveabiy to a 
 board, the hands and arms being ge^e rally left at liberty. 
 A hoop protects the child's face froiu injury in case of a fall, 
 and the whole apparatus is often highly ornamented with 
 fringe and embroidery. This pack or cradle is provided with 
 a broad band, which is passed rouad the forehead of the 
 mother sustaining the weight of the child pendant at her 
 back. Those who have been most familiar with this mode 
 of treatment generally approve of it as best suited to the life 
 led by the Indian, and as in no way cruel to the child. After 
 the infant has in some degro-3 acquired the use of its limbs, 
 it is freed from these incumbrances, and borne in the fold of 
 the mother's blanket. If the infant dies during the time 
 that is allotted to it to be carried in this cradle, it is buried, 
 and the disconsolate mother fills tha cradle with black quills 
 and feathers, in the parts which the child's body had occu- 
 pied, and in this way carries, it around with her wherever she 
 goes for a year or more, with as much care as if her infant- 
 were alive and in it; and she often lays or stands it against 
 the side of the wigwam, where she is all day engaged with 
 her needle-work, and chatting and talking to it as familiarly 
 and affectionate as if it were her loved infant, i:: stead of its 
 shell, that she was talking to. So lasting and so strong is 
 the affection of these women for -:iild, that it mat- 
 
 ters not how heavy or cruel their load, or how rugged the 
 route they have to pass over, they will faithfully carry this, 
 and carefully, from day to day, an ; even more strict; 
 form their dutioa to it, than if tho ciJId wtve aiiv* And in it. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 131 
 
 PORTRAIT OF A MAN!) A 5 WAftRIOR. 
 
 The :ires of the Man dan * 
 
 fashion similar to that of the neighboring ai singu- 
 
 larly rich and elaborate. It was formed entirely oL' skins : a 
 
 
 
 ;?;u;ie m. eaiUilully fringed, and BB3 
 
 with porcupine quills; and an outer mantle of the fur of a 
 
 buffalo, formed tl it. The' 
 
 rate, and \\^-~ i 'tod, 
 
 by all who could obtain :*, of ermine skins and 
 
 o high a value was set upon 
 r having 
 
 ed t) give fcv . the value ot 1 
 
 ; ornament. ; ome 
 authority :u- 
 
 i' buf- 
 . 1 1 arra i p;ed as } hey 
 
 the pride and de- 
 .ious 
 
 rtraits, for whicl- bo sit 
 
 ;n the moment 
 
 s were, ai 
 
 re behei 
 . r. An id 
 
 - )ino portion - 
 iOtm ab.- 
 quently his term of existence 
 
 urcvs living after the do 111 of the original, the quiet rest *f 
 the grave ;-,in)uid be tro . -y a most ingenious and ju- 
 
 dicious policy in adopting a mode of explanation, suited to 
 
 parity of his hearers, arid by wisely ingratiating Jura- 
 self with the chiefs and medicine- men, ?.J r. Catlin succeeded 
 
133 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 in stilling the commotion excited by such suggestions and 
 suspicions. He was held in high estimation, and feasted by 
 the principal men of the tribe, whose portraits he obtained 
 for his invaluable collection. 
 
 TWO STAB SEES THE KINETOSCOPE AND HEARS THE PHONOGRAPH. 
 
 Probably no Indian who ever visited Washington to coun- 
 sel with the Great Father returned to his tribe better satis- 
 fied with the results of his trip than the Sisseton Sioux, Two 
 Star. He not only accomplished the object of his mission, 
 but he was entertained in a style that falls to the lot of few 
 of the nation's wards. Agent Keller was with him, as well as 
 the interpreter, Joe Brown. The latter, by the way, is a 
 somewhat notable figure himself. He is a son of that Major 
 Brown who commanded the troops at the battle of Birch 
 Cooley during the Sioux outbreak. He has lived all his life 
 among these Indians, and now keeps a large store on the 
 reservation. 
 
 Two Star was sent by his tribe to ask tbe immediate pay- 
 ment to them of $199,000 of. their principa! now in the custody 
 of the United States. This sum amounted to $1, 699,000. The 
 Indians were in destitute circumstances, owing to an almost 
 complete failure of '.heir crops in 1894, and the interest due 
 them was not sufficient to tide them over another year. The 
 impairment of the principal is a matter \vhich by law rests 
 entirely with the President. In this case he promised to fol- 
 low the recommendation of the Commissioner of Indian Af- 
 fairs, which was to the effect that the grant be made. 
 
 It is a somewhat singular fact that although T vo Star was 
 one of Gen. Silbey's scouts and had always associated with 
 the whites upon terms of the friendliest intimacy, he cannot 
 speak a word of English. His enjoyment of the white man's 
 amusement s is, however, noue the less keen. Senator Rvle's 
 clerk, Duncan McFarland, took him in to see the kinetoscope. 
 As he looked in upon the picture in motion a look of amaze- 
 ment, not unmixed with a degree ofconsternation, crept over 
 his face. He stepped back and looked around, above, and 
 below the case to fled out what caused the exhibition. It 
 was some time before he could be persuaded to again apply 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 133 
 
 the ye to the aperture, and when the machine stopped with 
 a click the noble red man jumped as if he had heard the war- 
 whoop of some of his tribal enemies. 
 
 He was equally amazed, but none the less pleased, with the 
 phonograph, and insisted upon having a selection by the 
 Marine Band repeated. He was taken to an amateur athletic 
 and gymnastic performance at the Columbia Athletic < lab. 
 and witnessed the exhibition of skill and prowess with a de- 
 light that was almost childlike. Just before his departure 
 for the West, Two Star said to a correspondent : 
 
 "I was here in 1867, but no one paid any attention to mo 
 then. I think Washington is a much ricer place now. It 
 will be no use for me to toll my people about the things i 
 have seen and heard (referring to the kinetoscope and pho- 
 nograph), for no one would believe me. They would say I 
 wa not speaking the truth." 
 
 SOLDIEBS' LETTERS ABOUT INDIANS. 
 
 The following letter was received by a member of the Phil- 
 adelphia police force from his son on the frontier: 
 
 "Dear Parents: -We have had some hard times since I 
 wrote you last. We left Pine Eidge on the 28th day of De- 
 cember and marched all night, and on the morning of the 
 29th we went to disarm Big Foot's band, and it caused a' hard 
 fight in which thirty soldiers were killed and about eighty- 
 five wounded. One officer was killed and one wounded. It 
 was a very poor plan, the way they laid out the fight. They 
 had four troops dismounted and formed a square around the 
 Indians, and they were so close together that they could 
 touch the Indians with their guns ; then the other four 1 
 were mounied in rear of the camp. They thought that trie- 
 Indians were going to lay down their arms without a w; !;;. 
 All the men were full of fun, but they soon changed their 
 tune. After they had the tents searched they went to take 
 the arms from the bucks. They were all in a bunch, 
 when they least expected it they made a break and starter! 
 to shor.t and cut at every one ; and the way the soldiers were 
 fixed they could not shoot for fear of killing one another, but 
 they soon got straightened out, and then we got in our flne 
 
134 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 work. At the first volley we fired there were about twenty 
 or thirty Indians dropped, and \ve t:ept it up until we cleaned 
 out the whole band ; all over the field you could see an In- 
 dian running and a soldier after him. There was a canon 
 close by, aud some of the Indians took refuge there, and it 
 took us about two hours to get them out. They killed two 
 men out of our troop and \vounded two or three before we 
 got them out. After it was all over it was an awful sight to 
 see. It made me sick to look at it. There were about one 
 hundred and fifteen bucks and about seventy-five women 
 and children killed. I did not like to see the squaws killed, 
 but they were as bad as the bucks after the fight started. 
 Some of the men went wild ; they would shoot men or women. 
 The officers tried to stop them, but it was of no use ; they 
 would shoot any one they saw with a gun ; and it was right, 
 I think, as the women could kill as well as the men. Even 
 after the Indians were wouoded and lying oa the ground, 
 they would wait until they got a chance, and then would 
 shoot a soldier in the back. There was one Indian who was 
 lying in a tent. He killed about four men before they found 
 out where he was, but after they found him they shot him, 
 and then they burned him up in the tent. Then some of the 
 men went around and shot every Indian that was able to do 
 any damage. I don't think there were any more than five 
 or six who got a\vay out of the whole band. If our com- 
 manding officer had done what was right, we would not have 
 lost one-fifth of the men that we did. After the fight was all 
 over we moved back to the agency, and were on the road all 
 that night, but we got a little sleep before morning ; and it 
 was a good thing that we did, for we had to pull out early in 
 the morning of the 3Uth to help the Ninth Cavalry wagon- 
 train, which the Indians had tried to take ; but when we ar- 
 rived they took to the hills. We then pulled back to the 
 camp, but we did not have long to stay, for the Indians set 
 tire to some buildings a few miles from the agency, and we 
 were ordered out again. We then got lots of real Indian 
 fighting. They led us up in the hills, and then they turned 
 on us and kept us busy all day : we only lost one man and 
 about six wounded. We do not know how many Indians 
 were killed, because we had to get back to camp before it got 
 dark. We had to stay up almost all night, so as to keep the 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 135 
 
 Indians away from the agency, but none came near." 
 
 The following letter was written by a private in the Sev- 
 enth Cavalry : 
 
 " Of course you read in the newspapers that we are in 
 trouble here. Beside my own regiment, the Seventh Caval- 
 ry, the Ninth Infantry came in two days ago. But there 
 seems to be no head anywhere. Some of our officers would 
 make better clerks than soldiers. The government employes 
 are merely a set of useless, mischief-making loafers. Thank 
 fortune, most of them are badly scared and are packing to 
 leave. The fact is, until the reservations are cleared of all 
 civilians and turned over to military authority there will be 
 no change for the better. Of course the Indians are robbed 
 we see it every day. All the fat cattle out of the govern - 
 ment herd go to the settlements, and the greyhounds go to 
 the Indians. Of course they are lazy and idle, but before we 
 get through it will be plain that it's cheaper to feed than to 
 fight them. One thing should be done: all preachers and 
 philanthropists should be warned off. They do more harm 
 than good. The competition between the half a dozen de- 
 nominations which have their headquarters here to make 
 converts leads to a regular system of purchase, and the 
 preacher who pays the best rounds up the most Icjuns. Sit- 
 ting-Bull worked the philanthropists for all there was in it, 
 and laughed at them when their backs were turned. As to 
 making these savages self-supporting, the idea is regarded 
 as absurd by those who know them best, and if the govern- 
 ment would close the reservations against the whites, drive 
 away the half-breeds and squaw-men, put the Indians under 
 the rule of army officers, and, above all, feed them, I believe 
 that henceforth there would be no trouble. Yesterday, the 
 29th of December, we had a stand-up fight at Porcupine 
 Creek', about fifteen miles north of the agency. Just after 
 midnight we were ordered to turn out, and at daybreak the 
 bugles sounded "Boots and saddles," and about eight- 
 o'clock we came to Little Wound's camp, near Porcupine 
 Creek. There were about fifty tepees set up. The squaws 
 were packing in wood from the ravines. But very few bucks 
 were to be seen. Everything seemed peaceful enough. After 
 sitting two hours in our saddles, half frozen, as the weather 
 wae mighty cold, we found out that our business was to dis- 
 
136 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 arm the ludians. Of course the whole thing was bungled. 
 About a dozen bucks came forward with two old blunder- 
 busse-,and then Colonel Forsyth ordered a detail of five men 
 from each company to search the tepees. I was cradling 
 into one when I got a kick from behind that fairly drove my 
 head through the cover on the opposite side, and landed me 
 on a pile of dogs and babies. I got outside, mad as a hattei, 
 and there stood a squaw grinning with delight. I made a 
 grab at her bangs, when down both of us went, and this 
 saved my life. Suddenly there was a crash and the air was 
 full of bullets. I heard them racing past. The poor squaw 
 . had got on her feet first, and went down, shot through the 
 head. Her blood flew over the cape of my coat. I scram-, 
 bled up. Every one was shouting and shooting, and there 
 was no more order than in a bar-room scrimmage. I ran for 
 my horse ; it was kicking on the ground, and my file-leader, 
 Murphy, was under the animai's heels, dead. Half a dozen 
 others lay around wounded and dead. In front a crowd of 
 blanketed forms was making for the coolies, when crash 
 weiit the rifle- volley, and they were gone. No orders were 
 given, either by voice or bugle, that I heard. I shot one 
 buck running, and when I examined him he had neither gun 
 nor cartridge-belt. The women lay thick. One girl about 
 eighteen was supporting herself on her hand, the blood 
 spurting from her mouth as from a pump. Near her lay two 
 others, and all around, like patches on the snow, were dead 
 squau s, each in a pool of blood. The howitzers were at work 
 firing grape into the brushwood that lilled the ravines, but 
 the Indians were gone, and I had lime to draw my breath. 
 From beginning to end I don't think I saw two dozen bucks, 
 and it is a mystery to all where the bullets came from that 
 killed and wounded one -third of my regiment. My left arm 
 felt sore, and I found that a bullet had cut my sleeve and 
 grazed the flesh. It was bleeding s freely, and I have no 
 doubt that I was shot by one of my comrades the rip in my 
 coat showed this. The bugles sounded "Cease firing," but 
 many of the men were up in the hills, and now and then a 
 shot was heard. Colonel Forsyth. looked very white as he 
 gave orders to see if any of the women who lay thick around 
 were alive. From the blanket of one we took a boy five years 
 old and a baby about as many months both unhurt, but 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 137 
 
 the mother was dead. She must have been shot with a re- 
 volver held not five feet away, as her hair was burned and 
 the skin blackened with powder. But we had got it " in the 
 neck." My captain, Wallace, was dead and eight of my com- 
 pany, and when we mustered in it looked as if half the regi- 
 ment was gone. 1 had my arm dressed, and we returned to 
 Pine Kidge next day. Of course the camp-liar was in his 
 glory, but who shot the squaws was not known, at least no 
 one boasted of it." 
 
 INDIAN TELEGRAPHY. 
 
 It Is wonderful to what a state of perfection Indians had 
 carried a simple mode of signaling by smoke. Scattered 
 over a great portion of the plains are isolated peaks that can 
 be seen 20 to 50 miles. These were selected for telegraphic 
 stations. By varying the number of columns of smoke dif- 
 ferent meanings were conveyed. A simple and easily varied 
 mode, resembling somewhat the ordinary alphabet of the 
 magnetic telegraph, was arranged by building a small fire 
 which was not allowed to bla^e ; then, by placing an armful 
 of partially green grass or weeds over the fire, as if to 
 smother it, a dense white smoke was created, ordinarily as- 
 cending in a vertical column hundreds of feet. This col- 
 umn of smoke is to the Indian mode of telegraphing what 
 the current of electricity is to the system employed by white 
 men ; the alphabet, as far as it goes, is almost identical, con- 
 sisting of long and short lines and dots. Having this cur- 
 rent of smoke established, the Indian operator simply took 
 his blanket, and by spreading it over the small pile of weeds 
 or grass from which the column of smoke took its source, 
 and properly controlling the edges and corners of the blank- 
 et, he confined the smoke, and in this way was able to retain 
 it several movements. By rapidly displacing the blanket, 
 the operator was enabled to cause a dense volume of smoke 
 to rise, the length or shortness of which, as well as the num- 
 ber and frequency of the column, he could regulate perfect- 
 ly, simply by the proper use of the blanket. For the trans- 
 mission of brief messages, previously determined upon, no 
 more simple method could easily be adopted. 
 
138 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 INDIANS THAT WORK. 
 
 For the benefit -f people who imagine Indians too lazy to 
 wor'c, Commissioner Morgan says that in one year $642,000 
 were paid them for services rendered. This money was paid 
 to agency and school employes, to farmers, interpreters, po- 
 lice, judges of Indian courts, for hauling supplies purchased 
 from them, for breaking land on government property and 
 for logs cut and banked by them. This is a very good show- 
 ing for Indian labor, and the sum paid would be ten times as 
 large as it is if there were work enough to give employment 
 to all who wish it. 
 
 Th :5 Umatilla Indians of Oregon have been under care of 
 the government for many years and are practically self- 
 supporting, and would long ago have been entirely independ- 
 ent had their lands been allotted to them in severalty. With 
 population of only one thousand, in one year they harvested 
 three hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat, cut two 
 thousand tons of hay, and other crops in proportion. In a 
 short time, this tribe, as well as others which have rich lands 
 and fair opportunities, sucli aa the white settlers select for 
 themselves, will be able to stand alone. The Utes, who a 
 few years ago were leading the life of nomad savages, have 
 six hundred acres under cultivation, and raise goodly quan- 
 tities of wheat, corn and oats. They have learned the art of 
 irrigation by means of ditches. The Jicarilla Apaches show 
 an inborn thrift, Though the white settlers have all the best 
 lands, and the Indians have no water for irrigation pur- 
 poses, they cultivated in one year three hundred and fifty 
 acres- with fair results, and cut four hundred tons oi! hay. 
 
 INDIAN SCHOOLS AND WHAT IS TAUGHT. 
 
 There are schools established to teach you og Indians " how 
 to shoot" with their brains instead of the old-time bow and 
 arrow. They are located at Carlisle In Pennsylvania, Salem 
 in Oregon, Genoa in Nebraska, Haskell in Kansas, Chilocco 
 in Oklahoma, Grand Junction in Colorado, and Albuquerque 
 in New Mexico. In round numbers they cost the govern- 
 ment $300,000 during the fiscal year of 1890, and on an enroll- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 189 
 
 mentof about '2,100 pupils had an average attendance of 
 about 1,800, with 288 employes. Four other such schools 
 those of Carson, Santa Fe, Pierre, and Fort Totten will in- 
 crease the capacity by over 600 pupils. The Lincoln, Hamp- 
 ton and St. Ignatius, conducted by private enterprise, al- 
 though with government appropriations, fall into this list. 
 In such schools the Indian lads may learn something of 
 blacksmithing, broom-making, carpentering, farming, fruit- 
 culture, harness-making, printing, tailoring, shoemaker; 
 and wheelwrighting, while the girls are instructed in the va- 
 rious duties oi housekeeping. The outing system at some 
 of these schools allows Indian boys and girls to lind homos, 
 at wages, during a part of each year with farmers an i 
 ers. They have the great advantage also of boiiu; 
 from the drawbacks of reservation life. These schools form 
 one of the most promising portions of our system of India:; 
 management. The chief trouble is that they can only ac- 
 commodate about half the children of school r.ge, so 
 their number should be increased. In many ways the j 
 learn the uew life in store for their race, The very ho ! 
 are instructive, as well the school-time. These holidays, be- 
 ginning with New Year's Day, then taking in Franchise Day 
 on February 8th, Washington's Birthday, Decoration Day, 
 Arbor Day, Fourth of July, Than- md Chiistmas, are 
 
 celebrated in a way that makes them a part of the general 
 education. 
 
 IMPROVIDENCE OF THE NASCAPEE INDIANS. 
 
 Distressing intelligence was sent out by missionaries early 
 this year (1895) of the misery and privation among the Nas- 
 capee Indians along the Labrador coast. Though industri- 
 ous, these aborigines are fearfully improvident, and it is 
 largely owing to their wilful destruction of game and fur- 
 bearing animals in the summer that they are reduced to dire 
 extremity in the winter. Hitherto these Indians have been 
 allowed to kill whatever they like, irrespective of game laws, 
 and the result is such a falling off in late years in the num- 
 ber of furs coming from their country that there is a general 
 outc:ry against the exemptions in favor of theae improvident 
 
140 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 people, and a demand that they be made amenable to law and 
 reason like everybody else. They might make a comfortable 
 living in summer without killing game and fur-bearing ani- 
 mals out of season, for the waters of the north shore swarm 
 with codfish and salmon, and sea trout are to be had in great 
 abundance in nearly ail the streams. But these Nascapees 
 have a great aversion to both fish and fishing, and would 
 rather want than take fish. When taken ill they generally 
 blame fish for causing the trouble and \vrap up their throats 
 in a piece of fish net, to propitiate the spirit of the fish. Only 
 when no game or fur-bearing animals can be killed in the 
 summer do they resort to fishing in order to sustain life, and 
 then only after their nets have been propitiated by having 
 been married to two young girls of the tribe, with a cere- 
 mony far more formal than that observed in the case of mere 
 human wedlock. The fish, too, are . propitiated, being ad- 
 dressed from the fishing camp by one of the party chosen 
 for the function, who exhorts them to take courage and be 
 caught, assuring them that the utmost respect will be shown 
 to their bones. These Indians decli-.e to believe themselves 
 responsible for the present dearth of game and fur bearing 
 animals, and affect to believe that either some evil-disposed 
 sorcerer has kept the game from them or that the spirits of 
 the animals themselves have taken affront, probably because 
 dogs have been allowed to feed upon some of their bones, or 
 because some wounded representative of their species lias 
 not been properly ad I ressed and propitiated by his slayer. 
 Since reason, therefore, is of no avail in inducing a more 
 prudential line of action among these people, it is pretty cer- 
 tain that a few more years will find the tribe extinct. Even 
 the older duck, which was formerly so plentiful in Labrador, 
 is fast disappearing before the steady killing of the birds and 
 robbery of the nests in hatching time by the Nascapees. 
 
 SATANTA'S FAMILY REUNION. 
 
 Satan ta and Lone Wolf, chiefs of the Kiowas, held as pris- 
 oners by Gen. Sheridan at Fort Cobb, to insure the peaceable 
 surrender of their people, who were encamped within a day's 
 journey from there, were given to understand that unless 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 141 
 
 they sent messages to have their villages come in by sun- 
 down of the next day they would be hung the day following. 
 This peremptory order had the desired effect and the tribe 
 came marching in on time. Next morning the family or 
 families of Satan ta appeared in front of headquarters and ex- 
 pressed a wisL to see the " head of the house." No objection 
 was made and the guards passed them through the lines. 
 Satanta's home circle was organized somewhat on the quad- 
 rilateral plan ; that is, he had four wives. They all came to- 
 gether, and apparently constituted a happy family. They 
 were all young and buxom, and so near alike that they might 
 have passed as sisters. It is customary among ludiansfor 
 one man to marry an entire family of daughters as rapidly as 
 they reach the proper age, thus avoiding the evil of a multi- 
 plicity of mothers-in-law. To add to the striking similarity 
 in appearance of these dusky spouses, each bore on her back, 
 encased in the folds of a scarlet blanket, a pledge of affection 
 in the shape of a papoose, the difference in the extreme ages 
 of the four miniature warriors, or warriors' sisters, being too 
 slight to be perceptible. In single file the four partners of 
 Satanta's joys approached his lodge, and in the same order 
 gained admittance. The chief was seated on a buffalo robe 
 when they entered He did not rise, but each of the squawfl 
 advanced to him, when instead of going through the orcL 
 nary form of embracing, with its usual accompaniments, on 
 such occasions considered proper, the papoose was unslung 
 and placed in the outstretched arms of the father, who kissed 
 it repeatedly, with every exhibition of paternal affection, 
 scarcely deigning to bestow a single glance on the mother^ 
 who stood by meekly, contenting herself with stroking Sa- 
 tanta's face and shoulders gently, at the same time mutter- 
 ing almost inaudible expressions of Indian endearment. 
 This touching little scene lasted for a few moments, when a 
 kiss was bestowed on the rosy lips of the child and it was 
 handed back to the mother, who quietly took a seat by the 
 side of the chief. The second wife then approached, when 
 precisely the same exhibition was gone through with, not be 
 ing varied from the first in the slightest particular. This be- 
 in cf ended, the third took the place of the second, the latter 
 1 assing along with her babe, and seating herself next to the 
 tirst, and so on until the fourth wife had presented her baby, 
 
142 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 received it back and taken her seat by the side of the third 
 Not a word was spoken by Satanta from beginning to end of 
 this strange meeting. 
 
 LITTLE BOOK'S CHARMING DAUGHTER. 
 
 Mo-nah-se-tah, the daughter of Little Bock, was an exceed- 
 ingly comely squaw, possessing a bright, cheery face and a 
 countenance beaming \vith intelligence, and a disposition 
 more inclined to be merry than one usually finds among In- 
 dians. She was probably und r 20 years of age. She had 
 laughing eyes, pearly teeth, a rich complexion and beautiful 
 silken tresses rivaling in color the blackness of the ravea, 
 and extending, when allowed to fall loosely over her shoul- 
 ders, below her waist. She had been traded in marriage. 
 An Indian maiden who should be so unfortunate as to be 
 '' given away" would not be looked upon as a very desirable 
 match. Being the daughter of a chief high in rank, Mo-nah- 
 se-tah was justly considered as belonging to the cream of 
 the aristocracy, if not to ro;*ilty itself ; consequently the 
 suitor who hoped to gain her hand must be prepared, ac- 
 cording to custom, to pay handsome ;y for an alliance so 
 noble. Among the young braves who aspired to her posses- 
 sion was one who, so far as worldly wealth was concerned, 
 was eligible. Unfortunately, however, he had placed too 
 much reliance upon this fact, and had not thought that while 
 obtaining the consent of paterfamilias it would be well also 
 to win the heart of the maiden. The consent of a maiden to 
 a proposed marriage, while desirable, was not deemed essen- 
 tial in a " swap." If the bridegroom was acceptable to the 
 father of the bride, and had the " wherewith" in ponies, that 
 settled it. From two to four ponies was the average market 
 price for a squaw; but ulo-nah-se tan came high, and Little 
 Kock held the price at eleven ponies. The young warrior 
 raised the stock and the transfer was made. It turned out 
 an unsatisfactory investment. The bride was taken to his 
 lodge, but refused to acknowledge him as her husband, or to 
 render him that obedience and menial service which the In- 
 dian exacts from his wife, and time failed to soften her heart. 
 The patience of the youn^ huooand became exhausted. Hav- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES H3 
 
 hg failed to win love by kindness, he determined to have 
 recourse to harah measures. He mistook tlie character of 
 her upo,n whose obdurate heart threats nor promises pro- 
 duced the desired effect. Mo-nah-se-tah, like most squaws, 
 was as ski'ful i i the use of weapons as warriors are, and re- 
 minded her husband that she would not submit to any digni- 
 ties, and that she \vould resist even to the taking of his life, 
 and suiting the action to the word, she leveled a small pistol 
 which she had carried concealed beneath her blanket and 
 fired, wounding him in the knee and disabling him for life. 
 Little Kock, learning of what occurred, and finding upon in- 
 vestigation that his daughter had not been to blame, con- 
 cluded to cancel the marriage, or grant a divorce, which was 
 accomplished simply by returning to the unfortunate hus- 
 band the eleven ponies which had been paid for his wife. 
 What an improvement upon the method prescribed in the 
 civilized world ! No lawyers fees, no publicity nor scandal, 
 and tedious delays avoided. 
 
 THE EDITOR OF " TEXAS SIFTINGS" ATTEMPTS TO BIDS A MUSTANG. 
 
 The majority of Texas ponies buck, or pitch, as it is some- 
 times termed, whenever circumstances seem to demand an 
 exhibition of this facetious freak, or the condition of things 
 seems to justify the sportive caprice. In fact, some ponies 
 will buck for hours, only stopping to get breath for a fresh 
 start. This kind is recommended for the use of dyspeptics 
 and invalids suffering from torpidity of liver. A pitching 
 mustang, when working on full time and strictly devoting 
 his attention to business, is the most moving sight I ever be- 
 held. His spine s"eerns to bo of whalebone, and he appears 
 to possess all the elements of a steamboat explosion, a high- 
 pressure pile-driver, an earthquake, in addition to the en- 
 thusiasm of a county convention. We were glad to ilnd that 
 ours were not bucking ponies, and we congratulated each 
 other on the fortundte circumstance. Of course, as we 
 argued, if there had been any buck in them it would have 
 developed itself at an early stage in the journey. Understand, 
 we were not afraid. I named my pony " Deliberation ;" the 
 name seemed so appropriate no pomp or circumstance 
 
144 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 about him and he was so gentle and tranquil ; nothing 
 seemed to flurry him. You could throw the reins on his neck 
 and strike a match on the pommel of the saddle. I say you 
 couli do this, but the after fate of that match would be of 110 
 moment to you ; you would be otherwise engaged, i regret 
 to say that I tried the experiment. I lighted a match at 
 least I think I did but there was a haziness about the sub- 
 sequent proceedings that prevents accuracy of statement. I 
 distinctly remember striking the match. At that moment, 
 however, I was fluently propelled upward ; a tornado caught 
 me whirled me around eleven times. As I came down a 
 pile-driver drove me in the stomach, and I came to earth 
 with that sensation (on !y intensified) that a man feels who 
 sits down in what he imagines to be a high chair, and which 
 he afterward thinks was about seven feet lower than his esti- 
 mate. I sa c v whole milky ways of constellations that never 
 before existed. I realized for the lirst time the dense solidity 
 of the earth, and made the astonishing iiscovery that under 
 certain circumstances our planet, instead of revolving on its 
 own axis once in every twenty-four hours* can rush around 
 at the rate of at least one hundred revolutions a minute. 
 There is not in the whole range of languages, ancient, mod- 
 ern, or profane, terms sufficiently expressive to describe the 
 state of my fellings, the amount of mud on my persjn, or the 
 chaotic condition of my brain. As soon as the eartn settled 
 down to the usual speed of her diurnal motion, I came to the 
 conclusion that it was not always best to judge by appear- 
 ances. I had been hasty in bestowing a distinctive 'cogno- 
 men on ray erratic steed. He had no more deliberation in 
 him than has a fugitive flea under the searching scrutiny of 
 a determined woman. I re-named him. This time I called 
 him " De ay," because delay is but it does not matter. 
 
 Come to think of it since, the reason was weak. If, how- 
 ever, the reader shou'd pierce the intricate labyrinth of men- 
 tal ingenuity that constitutes the conundrum, I trust he will 
 be charitable enough to consider the circumstances connected 
 with its perpetration. 
 
 There are times that try men's souls. There are seasons 
 in every good man's life when lie wishes he was not a church 
 member for j ust about five minutes, that he might have a 
 chance to do justice to the surroundings. Such to me was the 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 145 
 
 trying moment wlion I gathered my bruised remains together 
 nnd, looking around, saw the festive " Delay" quietly eating 
 grass, while a little distance off sat the doctor on his pony 
 complacently whistling, " Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven 
 can not heal." 
 
 COW-BOYS, AND SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF HERDING. 
 
 To overlook the mention of the closest neighbors of the 
 red-skins the cow-boys in this volume would appear like 
 a misdemeanor. No better description of the men and their 
 dangerous work can be given than that found in TFiMv.s' 
 Spirit, written by one of them, Mr. J. B. Omohundoo (Texas 
 Jack : 
 
 The cow-boy ! How often spoken of, how falsely imag- 
 ined, how greatly despised (where not known), how little un- 
 derstood! How sneeringly referred to, and how little ap- 
 preciated, although his title has been gained by the posses- 
 sion of many of the noblest qualities that form the romantic 
 hero of the poet, novelist, and historian ; the plainsman and 
 the scout. What a school it has been for the latter ! As 
 " tall oaks from little acorns grow," the cowboy serves'a 
 purpose, and often develops into the most celebrated ranch- 
 man, guide, cattle-king, Indian-fighter, and dashing ranger. 
 How old Sam Houston loved them, how the Mexicans hated 
 them, how Davy Crockett admired them, how the Ca- 
 manches feared them, and how much you 'beef-eaters' of the 
 rest of the country o\< e to them, i* a large-sized conundrum. 
 
 As the rebellious kid of olden times filled a handkerchief 
 (always a handkerchief, I- believe) with his all, and followed 
 the trail of his idol, Columbus, and became a sailor bold, the 
 more ambitious and adventurous youngster of later days 
 freezes on to a double barreled- pistol and steers for the bald 
 prairie to seek fortune and experience. .If he don't get his 
 system full it g only because the young man weakens, takes 
 a back seat, or fails to become a Texas cow-boy. As there 
 are generally openings, lively young fellows can enter, and 
 not fail to be put through. If he is a stayer, youth and size 
 will be no disadvantage for his start in, as certain lines of 
 the business are peculiarly adapted to the light young horse- 
 
146 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 ** 
 
 men, and such are highly esteemed when they become 
 oughbreds, and fully possessed of " cow sense." 
 
 Now " cow sense" in Texas implies a thorough knowledge 
 of the business, and a natural instinct to divine every 
 thought, trick, intention, waut, habit, or desire of his drove, 
 under any and all circumstances. A man might be brought 
 up in the states swinging to a cow's tail, yet, taken to Texas, 
 would be as useless as a last year's bird's nest with the bot- 
 tom punched out. The boys grow old soon, and the old cat- 
 tle men seem to grow young ; thus it is that the name is ap- 
 plied to all who follow the trade. The boys are divided into 
 range-workers and branders, road drivers and herders, trail- 
 guides and bosses. 
 
 As the railroads have now put an end to the old-time 
 trips, I will have to go back a few years to give a proper es- 
 timate of the duties and dangers, delights and joys, trials 
 and troubles, when off the ranch. The ranch itself &nd the 
 cattle trade in the state still flourish in their old-time glory, 
 but are being slowly encroached upon by the modern im- 
 provements that will, in course of time, wipe out the neces- 
 sity of his day, the typical subject of this sketch. Before be- 
 ing counted in and fully indorsed, the candidate has had to 
 become an expert horseman, und test the many eccentricities 
 of the stubborn mustang; enjoy tho beauties, learn to catch* 
 throw and ride the "docile" little Spanish American plug, 
 an amusing experience in itself, in, which you are taught all 
 the mysteries of rear and tear, stop and drop, lay and roll, 
 kick and bite, on and off, under and over, heads and taileJ, 
 hand springs, triple somersaults, standing on your head, 
 diving, flip-flaps, getting left (horse leaving you 15 miles 
 from camp Indians in the neighborhood, etc.), and all the 
 funny business included in the familiar term of " bucking," 
 then learn to handle a rope, catch a calf, stop a, crazy cow, 
 throw a beef steer, play with a wild bull, lasso an untamed 
 mustang, and daily endure the dangers of a Spanish matador, 
 with a little Indian scrape thrown in, and if there is anything 
 left of you the} 7 '!! christen it a first-class cow-boy. Now his 
 troubles begin, 
 
 I will simply give a few incidents of a trip over the plains 
 to the cattle markets of the North, through the wild and un- 
 settled portions of the Territories, varying in distance from 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 147 
 
 fifteen hun hed to two thousand in lies time, three to six 
 xteudiag through the Indian Territory and Kansas 
 raska, Colorado, Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada 
 and s . L* as ( 'alifornin-. Immense herds, as high 
 
 iv thousand or more in number, are moved by giugla 
 owners, but are driven in bands of from one to three thou- 
 s-ui. I, \vhi3h, whon under way,are designated ' herds." Each 
 cf these has from ten to fifteen men, with a wagon driver 
 and cock, and tho ;i kingpin of the outfit," the boss, with a 
 nupply of two or three ponies to a man, an ox-team, and blank- 
 J and corn meal the staple food They 
 with mavericks or "doubtless-owned" 
 ;e fresh-iiieat supply. After getting fully un- 
 brokcn in, from ten to fifteen miles a 
 'go, and everything is plain sailing in fair 
 : light comes on, the cattle are rounded up in a 
 );is3, and held until they lie down, when two men 
 .'r.ou watch, riding round and round them in opposite 
 directions, singing or whistling all the time, for two hours, 
 that being the length of each watch. The singing is abso- 
 necessary, as it seems to soothe the fears of the cattle, 
 scares away the wolves or other varmints that may be prowl- 
 ing around, and prevents them from hearing any other acci- 
 lental sound, or dreaming of their old homes, and if stopped, 
 would, in all probability, bo the signal for a stampede. So 
 ilia cow-boy bawls out lines of his own composition : 
 
 Lay nlc-A-ly uo\v. cattle, don't heed any rattle, 
 
 BIK quietly rest until moru; 
 For if you .skedaddle, we'll jump in the saddle, 
 
 And head you a$ i.iorn. 
 
 But on nights when "Old Prcb " goes on a spree, leaves the 
 tung out of his water- 1. >und with his 
 
 hash-box, raising a breeze, e,s of thunder, 
 
 and the cow-boy's voice rest of the outfit, is drowned 
 
 out steer clear, and prepare ir {i"ii<;u. If the quadru- 
 peds don't go insane, turn ta.il to the storm, and strike out 
 (or civil and religious ill 1 >n't know what " strike 
 
 uut" means. Ordinarily s> cl-rav an 1 stupid -looking, a 
 thousand beef steers can riso like a flock of quail on the roof 
 of an exploding po : scud away like a tum- 
 
 ble weed before a h! . \vith a noise like & receding 
 
 Then eo;>. ,lic for the boys! 
 
148 
 
 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 A RESCUE BY OUSTER 'S MEN BRETT A VAN NESS J NARROW ESCAPE 
 FROM DEATH. 
 
 THE summer of 1872 was a season of fearful peril to the 
 scattered settlers of Dakota and Montana. A large propor- 
 tion of them were immigrants, ignorant of the dangers that 
 surrounded them on the border, and knowing nothing of the 
 horrors of Indian warfare till awakened from their dreams 
 of peace and plenty by the blood-curdling war-whoops re- 
 sounding around their cabins. 
 
 The powerful and warlike Sioux, 
 jealous of the encroachments of 
 the whites, angered by the cheat- 
 ing of Government agents, and 
 urged on by their own fierce 
 tempers, donned their war-paint, 
 many of the young braves going 
 to join Sitting Bull's camp, while 
 others roamed the country in 
 bands, committing fearful depre- 
 dations on defenseless ranchmen 
 and outlying settlements. GEN. CUSTER. 
 
 General Custer,commanding the Seventh Regiment of Reg- 
 ular Cavalry, stationed at Fort Lincoln on the Missouri, tak- 
 ing six companies of cavalry supported by three of infantry, 
 made a rapid march into the Indian country, to punish the 
 marauders and drive them back to their reservations. 
 
 An unclouded June sun smiled down upon this fine array 
 of blue and-yellow, halted for their mid-day rest and refresh- 
 ment in the midst of a vast prairie that, on three sides, 
 stretched to the horizon. In the northwest, a range of low 
 hills broke its dull monotony. The summer's heat had not 
 yet curled and shriveled every green thing as it does later ; 
 but the broad plain was waving with grass and gay with 
 brilliant flowers. 
 
 General Ouster had ridden to the rear, to inspect, with his 
 usual care, the wagon and mule trains for nothing was too 
 insignificant for his notice that concerned the eomfort of his 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. H9 
 
 men. Close behind him, almost as well mounted as himself, 
 pressed the orderly who had just dashed down to him from 
 the head of the column. 
 
 Reining-in his fiery steed at the head of his command, the 
 general was quickly surrounded by a mingled mass of officers 
 and orderlies. 
 
 " Runners in our front," said Captain Custer, handing him 
 a powerful field-glass. 
 
 " Yes," replied the general, after a long and earnest sur- 
 vey, " they are scouts, and the running of the first is like the 
 running of Bloody Knife. He comes, no doubt, with im- 
 portant information." 
 
 " What horsemen are those just rising the crest of the 
 divide ? " eagerly inquired the captain. " A pursuit ? " 
 
 " I think not," replied the general, after a searching gaze. 
 " There are but two riders, and one looks more like a squaw 
 than a warrior." 
 
 " Possibly it's a decoy," suggested an officer, " and a larger 
 body of the enemy may be on the other side of the divide." 
 
 " They ride," replied Custer, " as though they themselves 
 were pursued. I do not think the enemy would dare attack 
 us on the open plain, even with greatly superior numbers ; 
 however, it will do no harm to be ready either to march or to 
 fight." And, in a clear ringing tone, he shouted : " Bugler, 
 sound ' boots and saddles' ! " 
 
 With the first notes of that stirring call, the men sprang to 
 their feet, thrusting half-eaten rations into their haversacks, 
 and, almost as quickly as one can tell it, were in their sad- 
 dles, presenting, to the quick eye of the general, long lines 
 of erect soldierly figures curbing their restive horses with 
 steady hands. Nearer and nearer came the Indian runners. 
 With characteristic impatience, he galloped forward to meet 
 them, followed by his orderly and a few officers. 
 
 " flow! " said the general, as his favorite scout reached 
 his side ; " what news, Bloody Knife ? " 
 
 In terse Indian language, the scout told him that he had 
 crossed the trails of numerous hostile bands of Sioux; and 
 that, after many successful attacks upon the whites, they 
 were concentrating on the Tongue river, loaded with plunder 
 and bringing scores of captives. 
 
 "Who are those that follosv you?" asked the general, 
 
150 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 pointing toward the mysterious travc the foot ot 
 
 the hills and ju-t entering upon the plain. 
 
 Waving the proffered glass aside, the Indian fixed his keen 
 ayes, shaded by one brown hand, on the advancing party. 
 
 " -Palefaces," said Ire, sententiously : "one squav;, ; ., . 
 papoose; white man, arm hurt; carries gun across h- 
 neck; looks back every step thinks ,/ioux on every side.'' 
 
 " That is true," said the captain, who had been studying 
 them closely. " They are escaped prisoners or refugees, in 
 momentary danger of being scalped." 
 
 " Go back,' 3 said the general, turning to an orderly, " and 
 order the troops forward. Send an ambui; i all spceu. 
 
 Take horses, and don't spare them. 5; 
 
 Away flew the orderly, and the party rode forward to most 
 the approaching strangers. 
 
 On dashed the cavalcade, 8 
 
 what the Indian had described at a. much greater distance 
 that the foremost rider was a woma ; mounted oa a large 
 gray horse. In her arms, she bore an infant; astride the 
 noise's neck rode a boy of five ; while, at . a girl oi 
 
 ten clung trembling to her mother. Belli 
 horse, came the father, one arm in a sling ;u.d. bis 
 his horse's neck, as the scout had said. 
 
 All were fair-haired and blue-eyed unmistakably Ge: 
 Tears of joy ran down their pale faces at the Big -it of their 
 deliverers, and thanksgivings, fell from tlieir lips.. 
 
 Tenderly the kind-hearted officers lifted the mother and 
 her tired children to the ground, while the general warmly 
 extended his hand to the father, who, as he approached, re- 
 spectfully gave the military salute. 
 
 At Ui-i side, the man wore an old cavalry sabre : 
 was soaked with blood from his wounded shoulder; . 
 his head was tied a handkerchief, also blood-stained ; cacl a 
 rivulet of blood coursing down his sunburned cheek showed 
 the wound was severe* Under his shaggy eyebrows shoi.o 
 wide-open fearless blue eyes while, i of his wounds 
 
 digue, he bore himself with a soldierly air that at once. 
 took the eye of the general. 
 
 " Youhave been attacked by Indians," said Ouster. " When, 
 did it happen -and where ? " 
 
 ' : Ye iiaf lifed,'' replieJ the man, ;- at 3uld Butte how var 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 11 
 
 from here, I cannot tell. Ve haf tree neighbors all Ger- 
 man. The night before last, mine leetle girl Bretta had. gone 
 to sp) end der eben,ing mit dem, ven, all at vonce, ve hear 
 dreadful yells uncl screams our neighbors' houses all one 
 blaze. We haf no light trees all around ; dey no see us at 
 first. Ve saddle our horses in der dark, und shtart to run 
 avay ; ve not go var vhen a big Indian rose up before us und 
 fire upon me. 
 
 " Kee," he said, pushing back his gray flannel shirt and 
 showing his shoulder, closely bound with bloody cloths evi- 
 dently torn from their clothing. " Uen he dhry pull me off 
 mine horse ; ve fight ; mine horse shy vone side. Pen I hit 
 him mit mine old sabre dot I carry in der vhars long ago; 
 he lay down in der road und not vant to fight any more." 
 
 " You have been a soldier, then ? " said Ouster, with inter- 
 est. 
 
 " Yaw; ich vas at Sadowa, und ich von dis," replied he, 
 showing, on his broad sunburnt breast, a small steel cross 
 suspended from his neck by a silver chain. " Our goot em- 
 peror gif it me mit his own hand. Ich tired of vhars ; I dake 
 mine leetle vamily und come here . I know netting about 
 Indians. A gent say: 'All right; soldiers all around dey 
 take care ob you.' But ah! Gott in Himmel! mine leetle 
 Bretta mine leetle girl! " and the father's grief burst forth 
 afresh. 
 
 " What is your name ? " asked a young orderly, riding 
 close to the German and gazing eagerly in his face. 
 
 " Van Ness, sir." 
 
 " And is Bretta Van Ness your daughter ? " 
 
 " She is, sir nrne own dear leetle girl." 
 
 " What of her ? Where is she?" asked the young man, 
 the blood receding from his cheek, and his eye growing dark 
 and stern. 
 
 " I haf every reason to believe she is a prisoner in der 
 hands of d^r savages," replied the striken father. 
 
 " How do you know that she is a prisoner? " again ques- 
 tioned the young soldier. 
 
 ' I vhas slatandin' in mine door, vhen I hear her cry 
 Fade,-! fader !' und scream. I hid mine schHdrea in der 
 tmsh, und, vhen der Indians gone, I creep back to vind her. 
 All mine neighbors dead every one Bretta aot dere." 
 
152 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Leaning his head on his hand, supported by his gun-barrel, 
 he sobbed as only a man overwhelmed by sorrow can, while 
 the lo v weeping of the mother mingled with the wails of her 
 infant, as she in vain tried to soothe it. 
 
 " General/' said the orderly, turning to that officer, " with 
 your permission, I will go in search of this man's daughter, 
 and sni ten her from her captors, or perish in so doing." 
 
 A look of wonder overspread the faces of that circle, as 
 they noted the deep intensity of his tones, the tight-drawn 
 lips, and the pallor of his face, that showed even through its 
 deep bronzing. 
 
 "Where had he seen Bretta Van Ness, and why did her 
 fate move him so deeply ? " was the wonderiog comment of 
 his fellow- soldiers. 
 
 " It would be madness," said Ouster, after a prolonged 
 pause, during which time he keenly eyed the young soldier ; 
 " sheer madness! Why, man, your life would not be worth 
 a straw, a mile from the column ; the creeping savages would 
 pick you off in no time. Better leave it to the movements of 
 the regiment to bring them to terms. Beside, this band 
 have probably retreated to their village or joined the main 
 body of the enemy, and pursuit would be worse than use- 
 less!" 
 
 " The greater need, then," replied the brave fellow, " that 
 Brefta's friends stir themselves in her behalf. If they can- 
 not save her a bullet through her heart will put her beyond 
 the reach of those incarnate fiends." 
 
 The brave and generous Ouster strongly felt the force of 
 these words. He shuddered at the horrors confronting this 
 fair young girl, but keenly alive to the perils incurred by her 
 would be deliverer. 
 
 " I will go with him, general, if I can be spared from the 
 service," said a young man who now stepped forward. " I 
 know this country very well was through here when looking 
 for the hostile camp. I think I know where those German 
 families lived, and believe I can strike the trail of this band 
 within twelve hours." 
 
 " But, Reynolds," said Ouster, " it is extremely perilous! *' 
 
 *' 1 know all the chances for and against," returned the 
 scout, " and am willing to take them." 
 
 "Thank you, and God bless you!" exclaimed Kurland. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 153 
 
 warmly clasping the hand of this bravest of brave men. 
 
 li Well," said the general, springing lightly to the ground, 
 *' since you are bound to go, I wish you to have every ad- 
 vantage that can be given you. I cannot spare a detachment 
 but here, Harland, you must take my horse. Vic '11 bring 
 you through if any horse can. She's a Kentucky thorough, 
 bred, and there's net her match on the plains for speed or 
 endurance." 
 
 " Unless it is mine," said Captain Ouster, " and Reynolds 
 can have him." 
 
 Both men protested against taking their officers' horses, 
 saying they would be needed in the coming campaign ; but 
 the general declared " they had good enough horses in 
 reserve, as they did not anticipate the necessity of running 
 away from the Indians, and, if Reynolds' theory was correct, 
 they would be back before a blow could be struck at the en- 
 emy." 
 
 Still urged by their commander to lose no more time in 
 vain protests, they sprang into their saddles, and, bidding 
 the German mother who, with her children and wounded 
 husband, had been tenderly placed in an ambulance a hasty 
 farewell, dashed off across the plain. 
 
 " Go back, Blucher! go back !" shouted Harland, as the 
 general's great stag-hound bounded along by his side. But 
 Blucher had no idea of returning to headquarters for his 
 conge, and kept steadily on, only falling far enough to the 
 rear to be out of reach of any missile that might be thrown 
 at him. 
 
 " Let him go, " at length said the scout. " There is a great 
 affection between him and the horse you ride ; he goes where 
 she goes, and sleeps by her side at night. He has a keen nose 
 for the trail, too, and never gives tongue following it." 
 
 " If we're lucky enough to find the redskins,he might help 
 us out in a ' hand to hand,' you know ; he has scars enough 
 to prove him a gaod fighter. Come on, old dog! " 
 
 In his delight at being permitted to .go, the dog fairly 
 bounded over the horse, and jumped barking at her nose, 
 while she whinnied and playfully struck at him with her 
 forefeet. 
 
 On the crest of the divide, the soldiers paused, waved a 
 last adieu to their comrades, took a last look at the old flag 
 
154 
 
 they might never see again, and then plunged down through- 
 chaparral and cactus to the plain below. 
 
 It was an easy matter to fallow the broad trail made by the 
 flying family, and, no signs of Indians appearing, they trav- 
 eled at a good rate of speed, and, late in the afternoon, drew 
 rein on the top of the next divide and looked down on an- 
 other^kst plain, through which .a sluggish stream crept to 
 mingle its waters with the far distant Missouri. 
 
 To the \voet lay the great butte country, which, the scout 
 said, " was filled with narrow and deep gulches, where the 
 Indians could ihul a him 'red secure hiding-places; and be- 
 yond, where the mountains were purpling in the setting sun, 
 Sitting Bull was thought to have his camp." 
 
 " Do you see that film of gray smoke rising against the 
 dark line of trees far in our front? That," said Reynolds, 
 " probably marks the scene of one of their last attacks ; now, 
 by diverging from thi's trail and striking diagonally "across 
 the prairie to where those cotton woods outline the river's 
 banks, we shall probably find their trail. I only hope there'll 
 be daylight enough left to see it before v e camp/' 
 
 An hour s hard riding, and they reached the first of the 
 sentinel-like cottonwood-trees, and, as they plunged deeper 
 and deeper into their shade, they began to look careful! y for 
 Indian signs. Both men had dismounted and .were closely 
 scrutinizing each leaf and blade of grass, wheiJa deep growl 
 from the dog caused them to look up. A snort distance 
 ahead of them stood an Indian, his gun reversed and his 
 hand raised in token of peace. 
 
 With a savage snarl, Blucher sprang at his throat. By a 
 dextrous movement, the } 'ndian caught him under the jaw, 
 and, the next moment, the dog crouched at his feet, licking 
 his moccasins and whining softly. 
 
 " Bloody Knife, by all that's good! " cried the scout. And, 
 springing forward, each grasped a hand of the friendly sav- 
 age. 
 
 " Ouches tell-a-me come,'' said Bloody Knife, and then, in 
 his own tongue, which "Keynolds understood, informed them 
 h had taken an Indian pony recently captured, and, follow- 
 ing a more direct route where h@ found good traveling, 
 he had reached the river before them. " And here," said he, 
 "is the trail." 
 
156 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 A few feet from where they were standing, the earth showed 
 unmistakable signs of a party of about twenty having passed, 
 but no trace of the captive girl. In one place, the trail dipped 
 down to the river, showing the Indians had stopped for 
 water ; and their own horses, being sadly in need of similar 
 refreshment, were led by the scout to the river's edge and 
 drank deeply of its yellow tide. Meanwhile, Harland and the 
 Indian followed along the trail, unwilling to lose a moment 
 of daylight. A few rods brought them to a large sycamore- 
 tree with wide-spreading branches. Here the short grass 
 was much trampled, and the remains of a fire showed food 
 had been prepared. 
 
 Bloody Knife next turned his keen eyes on the massive 
 trunk. 
 
 " See," whispered he ; " paleface stand here." 
 
 On one side, the grass was much trodden, and, following 
 the movement of the dusky finger, Harland saw the bark was 
 broken and worn, as by a rope or lariat bound tightly around 
 it. 
 
 " And see," he cried: " here are gashes made by hatchets! 
 My God ! the red devils have amused themselves by throw- 
 ing their tomahawks at her golden head ! What has she not 
 suffered?" 
 
 He turned away, to hide the emotion that almost overpow- 
 ered him at this proof of their barbarous treatment. 
 
 A guttural ejaculation from the Indian caused him to turn 
 back quickly, to see him deftly untangling from the rough 
 bark a thread of long yellow hair. 
 
 " Thank God for that! " said Reynolds, coming up at that 
 moment with the horses. " We will yet save her." 
 
 " God willing! " added Harland, with a deep-drawn 
 breath. 
 
 The last gleam of daylight had now faded from the western 
 sky, and the shadows of the great buttes, falling across their 
 path, deepened and intensified the gloom till the keen eyes 
 of the Indian could no longer see the trail. Still he pressed 
 on with stealthy steps, his attentive ear analyzing even the 
 cries of the night-birds and the far-off howls of some wild an- 
 imal, pausing till he made sure it was what it seemed to be. 
 
 For a mile or more, they pushed on in this manner, when 
 suddenly the Indian, rising from a listening posture his ear 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 1 57 
 
 to the giound drew his pony one side and directed the oth- 
 ers to do the same. 
 
 To a whispered "What is it ? " he simply answered : "Sioux 
 sh!" 
 
 They had barely quieted their horses, when their strained 
 ears caught the click of a pony's hoof striking against a 
 stone. Each scout, taking his horse firmly by the bits, pat- 
 ted and smoothed his nose to keep him from neighing at tl 
 presence of other horses. 
 
 Presently, a bulky shape showed in the darkness, then 
 another and another, till seven warriors had filed along past 
 them, so near that they could have touched them with their 
 rifles. Blucher's body trembled with rage, and the first note 
 of a deep growl rumbled in his capacious throat ; but a vig- 
 orous kick in the side from the scout's foot stopped his growl, 
 and breath too, for a time. After the file of warriors came 
 their ponies, bearing heavy loads that crashed through the 
 bushes on either hand game, it was afterward known to have 
 been. Silent as statues stood horses and men, till the last 
 footfall had died away then the Indian, dropping on the 
 ground, remained long in a listening attitude. Starting to 
 his feet, he pushed rapidly forward, followed by the others. 
 They had covered another mile in this way, when, turning 
 sharply to their left, he led them deep into the bushes and 
 halted at the foot of a huge rock. With the muttered word 
 " Reconnoitre,'' he was gone. 
 
 Long they waited, till dark thoughts of possible treachery 
 began to fill their minds waited till the tired horses noisily 
 champed their bits and stepped about on the uneven ground. 
 They had drawn close together, in order to consult in regard 
 to the advisability of going on without him, when, like a 
 shadow of the night, he rose at their side. 
 
 " Come," he whispered ; " leave horses and come." 
 
 The animals were tethered, and the dog ordered to stay 
 and watch them. After a sharp scramble up what seemed a 
 rough mountain side, they found themselves at the top of a 
 high bluff overlooking a long narrow valley. Carefully part- 
 ing the bushes that fringed its edge, a wild scene burst upon 
 their startle.! vision : At the farther end of the glade, a large 
 fire was burning, lighting up with fitful gleams and flashes 
 the rugged faces of the rocks that hemmed in the little val- 
 
158 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 ley on throe sides, an.l bringing into red relief the trunks of 
 forest- trew that, oa its farther edge, seemed crowding upou 
 the plain like th rank? of u advancing army. Around the 
 fire, several squaws \vere grouped, broiling venison for their 
 masters' suppers. A few rods away and nearer I T of 
 
 the opening, a tali post had been set in the ground, :.iud to 
 iJ'., bound hand and foot, was their prisoner, the girl they 
 v.ere seeking. 
 
 Around her circled in a wild dance twenty or more war- 
 riors, singing a monotonous chant, to which they stamped 
 and gestured, occasionally breaking into a whoop, and brand- 
 ishing their tomahawks and knives close to her head. So 
 still she stood or rather hung, for she drooped heavily on 
 the thongs that bound her arms -that the scouts thought her 
 already dead. :'ut suddenly a squaw, becoming excited by 
 their wild dancing, seized a burning fagot from the fire and, 
 rushin ; into the circle of warriors, applied it to her bare 
 shoulders. A piercing scream rose on the air, and the 
 :7hoops and yells of the fiendish crew were redoubled, while 
 *iie squaw circled round and round in the dance, touching 
 the shrinking flesh of the poor girl as long as the brand con- 
 linued burning. 
 
 When they ceased their gyrations, two warriors stepped 
 forward and began to untie the hard knotted thongs that 
 bound her to the stake. Again a scream of mortal terror 
 pierced the night. Instantly the scouts brought their rifles 
 to their shoulders, and two locks simultaneously clicked. 
 
 " Not yet," said Reynolds ; " when we do fire, you aim at 
 her head, and I at her heart." 
 
 A deep groan answered him. 
 
 Released from her bonds, sne dropped helplessly at their 
 feet, for she neither moved nor stirred. To their intense re- 
 lief, the squaws now left the fire, mingled with the men, and 
 proceeded to tie her hands and feet, while her body was 
 again securely bound to the stake. The men, gathering 
 around ^e fire, greedily devoured the food prepared for them, 
 washing it down with copious draughts of " fire-water," of 
 which they seemed to have a plentiful supply. Their meal 
 finished, they rolled themselves in their blankets and lay 
 down about the fire, their heads to the blaz and their feet 
 outward, <)r\<$ big warrior, striding to the edge of the woods, 
 
KES. Io9 
 
 s*t down, Mi* bi^k to a tree, his gun across his lap, as senti- 
 nel, whik>th& squ&ws, bringing two long poles, laid them 
 across th^ body ot their prisoner and lay down in a circle 
 around her, disposiog themselves in such a manner that a 
 squaw lay on each end of the poles. 
 
 "That is hopeful," whispered Reynolds ; " if they thought 
 there was the least danger of an attack, they would never 
 leave the squaws to guard the prisoner, or go to sleep in that 
 careless manner. It is evident they feel perfectly safe." 
 
 Long they waited for sioep to close every eye of the drunk- 
 en crew. At length, Bloody Knife rose and motioned the 
 others to follow. Silent as shadows, they descended the 
 western slope of the bluff, tjie Indian in advance. Fortu- 
 nately the wind was rising, and the swaying and creaking of 
 branches greatly favored theix" movements. Once the sen- 
 tinel rose, apparently listening jntently, his strong features 
 and figure making a huge silhouette against the light of the 
 camp-fire. At length he sat down, drawing his blanket 
 about him and holding his rifle iii the hollow of his arm. 
 Nearer and nearer to the watchM Sioux crept Bloody 
 Knife, a long bright blade in his hand. The hearts of the 
 scouts stood still when he was near enough to touch the robe 
 of this living statue. 
 
 Suddenly, without a cry or groan, hw fell forward on his 
 face and never moved. The knife of hij enemy had entered 
 his heart. 
 
 For some moments, Bloody Knife lay m the shadow of the 
 tree, then rising, motioned the scouts to approach. 
 
 "Go," he said, " kill squaw, take paleface ;, me stay here." 
 
 With cat-like tread, they crept around till they were exact- 
 ly opposite the circle of squaws. Then Harland went boldly 
 into the light and made an attempt to step wkbin the narrow 
 cordon, in order to cut the thongs that bound vhe prisoner. 
 Instantly a squaw sprang up, but, before she could utter a 
 warning cry, he struck her a tremendous blow between the 
 eyes, that effectually silenced her. The motion given to the 
 pole by this action awoke the squaw on the opposite side, 
 who, in the a^tof springing to her feet, received an arrow in 
 her throat from the bow of Bloody Knife, and fell back dead. 
 Drawing the dunned squaw one side, he knelt boside the 
 grtrl and placeu the palm of his hand firmly over her mouth. 
 
11)0 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Her large blue eyes flew open with a great horror in them. 
 brave,'' he whispered ; " we will save you." The eyes 
 closed again, while tears rolled from under her long brown 
 lashes. 
 
 With a sharp knife, he cut the thongs about her wrists and 
 the lariat t' : at bound her to the stake. To get her feet Tree 
 without waking the squaws who lay on the ends of the sec- 
 ond pole was the next task. Stepping softly between them, 
 he had almost cut the cord that bound her, when a squaw 
 sprang up, but was instantly brained by a blow from the butt 
 of Reynolds' rifle. Harland lifted the girl from the ground 
 and dashed with her into the forest shades. The remaining 
 squaw sprang up, with a yell that caused every Indian around 
 the fire to bound to his feet and rush for his weapons. 
 Reynolds aimed a blow at her head, and an arrow flew out of 
 the darkness ; but it only. pierced her shoulder, causing her to 
 utter terrible cries. 
 
 The scouts placed the helpless and almost unconcious girl 
 in the shelter of a tree-trunk, and, dropping on one knee, 
 lit their rifles to their shoulders, to meet the rush of 
 their infuriated enemies. 
 
 At that moment, the report of a rifle rang out from the oth- 
 er side of the valley, then another and another, and each 
 time an Indian rolle r l on the ground. Dazed by their late 
 potations and the suddenness of the attack, they appeared 
 for a moment bewildered, and then, with fearful yells, rushed 
 into the woods in search of their hidden foe and to gain the 
 cover of the trees. 
 
 The howling and firing receded until it came faint and far 
 from the depths of the forest, and the scouts, knowing -that 
 Bloody Knife, with his breech-loader, was making this diver- 
 sion in their favor, lost no time in skirting the open with 
 their precious charge, and were looking hurriedly for the 
 path by which the Indians descended to the plain, when 
 Bloody Knife Appeared, and, s winging Bretta to his shoulder, 
 sprang lightly up the rocks. 
 
 In a few moments, they ha;l reached their horses, and the 
 Indian resigned his burden to her lover. 
 
 Bloody Knife led the van of the little procession, while 
 Reynolds, calm and cool as at the beginning of the fight, 
 brought up the rear, pausing often to listen for sounds of 
 
INDIAN i'.ES. 161 
 
 pursuit. Soon the great tree was reached that was fraught 
 with such terrors for Bretta ; but they rode quickly past, and 
 she was not allowed to see it. 
 
 They halted v. here the trail led down to the river, and the 
 horses again drank their fill from the waters now sparkling 
 in the light of the rising moon. Pursuit was certain in the 
 morning, and, in order to confuse their foes, they determined 
 to follow as s: early as practicable the trail made the preced- 
 ing afternoon by Harland and the scout. 
 
 The keen eyes of the Indian soon found it, and in a single 
 file they traversed it as rapidly as the nature of the ground 
 and the conditio i of their horses would allow. They traveled 
 in this manner till the moon set, when, feeling quite secure 
 from pursuit until daybreak, they decided to camp and take 
 a fe.v hours of much needed rest. The horses were carefulty 
 picketed; two blankets, raised on sticks a little way front the 
 ground, made a shelter for them all, the n:en taking turns as 
 sentinel. Blusher v. > my for each in turn, Itad gave 
 
 them a wonderful sense of security and companionship. At 
 the first faint streak of daylight, the little camp was astir; a 
 hasty breakfast from their haversacks eaten, a draught of 
 river-water from their canteens drunk, and they were in 
 their saddles, following closely the trail of the day before. 
 
 They had reached the divide, and the men, dismounted, 
 were toiling up the steep ascent, when a cry from the Indian 
 caused them to turn, and, to their horror and dismay, they 
 beheld a large body of redskins, double the number they had 
 fought the evening before, coining after them at th. 
 
 , their ponies were capable of making, and not ;n;>ro 
 than a mile distant. 
 
 At the top of the ;: hey vaulted into their saddios 
 
 and dashed down to the plain. The war-cries and howls <>f 
 their enemies were plainly heard, and the horses, scenting 
 the danger, flew with the winds. Over the hill swept the In- 
 dians with triumphant, whoops, for tlV-'y .deemed th 3ir prey 
 almost v ithin their grasp. Under r.u-urable conditions, the 
 tv:o thoroughbreds could have easily distanced the Indian 
 ponies, fleet as they were ; but liarland s nobJe animal was 
 ning to show the effect of her double weight in labored 
 brt-athing and fore 
 
 On came their pursuers, wilder than ever, elated by the 
 
162 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 slight advantage gained. Reynolds and Bloody Knife turned, 
 and, without checking the speed of their steeds, emptied two 
 Indian saddles. The fire was instantly returned, and I'loody 
 Knife s pony fell to the ground, while Eeyuolds' horse got a 
 severe wound in the shoulder, but did not lessen his speed 
 the scout, placing his hand on his companion's saddle, easily 
 kept alongside. From the first, they had kept in the rear of 
 Harland and his terrified burden who, in pitiful accents, 
 begged him to kill her and save himself ; but, with a tight- 
 ened pressure of his arm, he told her he would live or die 
 with her. 
 
 The object of the Sioux seemed to be to take them all alive, 
 and, spreading out over the prairie, they were gradually 
 flanking them on both sides. Almost in their course, the fu- 
 gitives descried a rocky ridge rising above the L-vel of the 
 plain, with a few scattered bushes beyond. T (linking if they 
 could but gain its shelter they might check for a time the 
 advance ^pf their foes, they strained every nerve to reach it. 
 Their horses were reeking with foam, and bloody spume- 
 flakes flew from their nostrils. They were within a few rods 
 of this desired haven, the enemy close upon their heels, when 
 a line of smoke and flame burst from this natural earthwork, 
 and the report of a dozen carbines woke the echoes of the 
 hills, emptying as many Indian saddles. Instantly a troop 
 of cavalry poured out upon the plain, and, without stopping 
 to form a line of battle, charged the flying Sioux with their 
 war-cry of "Ouches! Ouches! " (Ouster's Indian name.) 
 
 The tired ponies were no match for the fresh horses of the 
 troopers, and their riders soon abandoned them and sought 
 safety in the tall grass and sage-brush. The old dog took 
 a lively interest in this fight, and, wherever the grass 
 waved in snaky undulations, there he flew with tremendous 
 leaps, his eyes glaring and foam dripping from his huge 
 jaws ; then a series of yells and fierce growls told the troop- 
 ers where he had found an enemy, and many times the car- 
 bine finished the work the dog's fangs had begun. The fight 
 was soon over ; many ponies were captured, with rifles, blank- 
 ets, and all sorts of Indian trappings. 
 
 The soldiers who had made so timely an appearance on 
 the scene wer > a part of a company that Ouster had sent out 
 for the double purpose of securing supplies for his command 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 163 
 
 and looking after the absent scouts, about whom he felt the 
 greatest anxiety. They had camped, the e7ening before, in 
 the dry bed of a stream, and were in the act of preparing 
 their breakfast when the rush of hoofs and the yells of the 
 Indians burst upon their ears. Snatching their arms, they 
 met them with the result already detailed. 
 
 What had appeared from a distance to be bushes proved to 
 be the tops of trees having their roots in the bottom, of the 
 canon, and under their shade the fugitives found grateful 
 rest, bringing splendid appetites to the ample breakfast of 
 the soldiers. 
 
 By making short halts and long marches, they soon over- 
 took the regiment. We will not dwell on Bretta's joyful re- 
 union with her afflicted family, the general's delight at the 
 safe retulrn of the party, nor Blucher's triumphal entrance 
 into the camp, his collar filled with eagle-feathers, and bark- 
 ing with all his might in response to the acclamations of the 
 men. Ouster received his old favorite with many caresses, 
 and laughingly assured him that he should be breveted for 
 his gallant conduct. 
 
 Two weeks later, and a merry party consisting of Will 
 Harland, his lovely bride, the Van Ness family, and several 
 Eastern-bound officers cro**^ Uae plains, and only gepa- 
 rated in New York. 
 
164 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 WILD BILL'9 TESHIBLE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT SSVEN MEN 
 SHOT AND FOUR STABBED TO DEATH. 
 
 WILD BILL, one noon, in his wandering expeditions,- found 
 himself in a village of about a hundred houses. The ona 
 tavern of the place was made conspicuous by a huge sign as 
 well as by a crowd congregated about its door. Bill rode di- 
 rectly up to it, leaping from his mare, and walked boldly into 
 the bar-room, w.-iioh was crowded with people. Of these he 
 knew some, and some knew him, and he knew that most 
 of them were Southerners. Among them was Dave 
 Tutt, on whom Bill had sworn vengeance at sight for 
 abducting his friend Buffalo Bill's sister. Tutt stood at the 
 bar, raising a glass of whisky to his lips, as he saw Hill enter. 
 The color left his face, and with trembling hand he set the 
 liquor down untasted. 
 
 " Drink it, Dave, for you'll need it now more than you ever 
 did in your life!" said Bill, sternly, as he strode up with in 
 two feet of him, the crowd parting to right and left as he ad- 
 vanced. " Drink it,I say,and then go to the opposite side of 
 the street with your revolver,and remember,it is you or me!" 
 
 David Tutt, reassured, when he found that work was not 
 to commence instantly, s\vallo wed' the fiery liquid, and the 
 color came back in his face. Seeing there was no chance of 
 evading a combat, he at once put his hand on the butt of his 
 revolver and slowly passed from the bar-room into the street, 
 and on across it to the front of the court-house. 
 
 "A fight!" screamed all the men, and all got out of the 
 way to arrange a free line of fire between the duelists. When 
 all was ready and the signal given both men fired at the 
 same time, and for an instant it seemed as if both had 
 missed, for both stood erect, cairn apparently, looking at 
 each other. Only a second, and with a death -yell on his 
 whitening lips, Dave Tutt essayed to fire again, but his pis- 
 tol exploded harmlessly as he fell forward on his face, dead. 
 Then Bill raised the hat from his head and looked at a hole 
 in it where the ball had passed through, actually cutting 
 away the hair on his head as it grazed the skull. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 165 
 
 " There's one debt paid!" said Bill, as he glared fiercely on 
 the crowd. " If any of you cared enough for him to stand in 
 his place, I'll wait just one minute to see it done!" 
 
 Bill calmly waited the minute. Not a man stirred or 
 spoke. He mounted his horse and rode away. The specta- 
 tors, after Bill's disappearance, were sorry they hadn't hung 
 him on the spot. 
 
 " I reckon the talking would have had to lead the swing- 
 ing!" said a rough-looking customer. 
 
 "Are you a friend of his?" asked half a dozen men. 
 
 " Not if I know myself. But I know him, and the man 
 that tackles Wild Bill single-handed has got his winter's 
 work paid for in advance. I thought I'd see if you all would 
 let him go before you'd speak or raise a hand so I kept still 
 and saw you do it. No ,v I'm going to fix him, or start them 
 that will. I want a gal that's smart as lightning who can 
 ride a race-horse and tell a smooth lie without blushing." 
 
 " Mister, I'm one tha,t can do all of that if it will pay," said 
 the landlord's daughter. 
 
 " It shall pay Bill's purse and gold watch, the one is full, I 
 reckon, and the other worth two hundred dollars, for 'twas a 
 gift fromQ-eneral Harney," said the man. 
 
 The girl was given the man's own horse to follow out his 
 directions. The man was Ben McCullough, the Texan ran- 
 ger. 
 
 Bill had gone four or five miles, perhaps, when he saw a 
 woman coming on behind him. She was soon alongside, 
 and turning carelessly in his saddle, he glanced, first curi- 
 ously, and then admiringly at her, for she sat that horse in 
 a way to captivate the fancy of any one like Bill. 
 
 " That's a stunnin' animal you're on, miss," said he. 
 
 "It ought to be. Aunt Sally gave two hundred for him 
 when he was a yearlin' colt," said the fair rider. " Uncle 
 Jake M'Kandlas wants to buy him, but I don't mean to let 
 Aunt Sally sell him, for he just suits we." 
 
 The girl spoke in a careless way, and did not appear to ob- 
 serve the sudden start which Wild Bill involuntarily gave as 
 that last name left her lips. 
 
 " Who is Uncle Jake M'Kandlas? Is he Aunt Sally's hus- 
 bnd?" asked Bill with assumed carelessness. 
 
 ( Oh, no tfe call him Uncle Jake because he's old. Ho 
 
166 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 isn't well ; he got hurt among the Indians not long ago, and 
 he's stayin' at our house to get well," said the girl, speaking 
 a^easily and natural as if she had not learned a lesson. 
 
 A house in the distance, half hidden in a little grove of lo- 
 custs, was pointed out as Aunt Sally's. They reached the 
 place side by side, but when Bill turned to lielp the girl dis- 
 mount, she laughed and cried out, "Jake M'Kandlas comes 
 yonder, I'll go to tell him Wild Bill is here!" She pointed 
 to eleven men who were coming that way, and she instantly 
 rode toward them. 
 
 An old woman came to the door, whom Bill knew, and 
 seeing the horsemen approaching, she cried : " Oh, merciful 
 Heaven, Mr. Hitchcock (Bill's real name) what will become 
 of you? Jake M'Kandlas and his gang will murder you under 
 my roof ! Oh, what brought you here?" 
 
 "Your precious niece there," said Bill. 
 
 "My niece? I have no niece I do not know that girl," 
 said the woman, looking in wonder to see the black ma-re 
 speed away as if she flew. 
 
 "Then I'm sold and the money paid in* 1 ' cried Bill. "She 
 has told Jake M'Kanrllas, and there he and his tigers come. 
 Old woman, if you ever do any prayin', get into your cellar, 
 out of the way, and pray your tallest, for there's going to be 
 the toughest right here that ever was fought. Go quick, I 
 want a clear range and no squalling to bother me." 
 
 There was a cellar and a trap-door leading to it, and 
 through this the weeping woman tied for safety, perhaps to 
 pray, as Bill asked her to do. The next moment, throwing 
 aside his hunting shirt and putting knife-hilt and revolver- 
 buit where his hand w r ould reach them, easiest, Bill stood 
 firm, fronting the door with his rifle cocked and ready. 
 
 A rush of horsemen, the sound of heavy feet leaping from 
 the saddle to the ground, and then the burly form of Jake 
 M'Kandlas loomed up before the door. 
 
 "Surrender, Yank ! " shouted the renegrade. 
 
 He never spoke again, for a ball from Bill's rifle tore away 
 the very tongue that spoke, and took half the head with it, 
 for he was on the threshold and the muzzle of the gun was 
 in his face. As he fell back dead the gang rushed in <on 
 Bill, and firing as he backed to a corner one, two, three, 
 four, five, six successive shots sent a man clown. Four more 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 167 
 
 were left, and now knives in hand they were on him. One 
 clutched him by the throat with a strangling grasp, 
 the others hewed and mangled him as he struggled to free 
 himself. One fearful blow with his clenched list sent one 
 combatant stunned out of the way, then he clutched the arm 
 which was extended to his throat, and and now his own 
 knife was out. Like tigers mad for blood, with flashing, 
 clashing knives, silent only that their breathing could be 
 heard for rods, they sprang and leaped at eacli other, parry- 
 ing and thrusting, until the last man of the crowd lay dead 
 before the hero.* He, a mass of blood from head to foot, 
 staggered out of the door, where the brunette yet sat on her 
 hof se to await the issue. She saw him, and with a wild 
 scream gave her horse the rein and fled away in the thicken- 
 ing twilight. Bill staggered to the well, and bending his 
 head down to a trough full of water, drank a few drops, and 
 fell senseless. The widow came up from the cellar and soon 
 got him in the house on a bed and dressed his wounds as 
 well as she could stanching them with cold water and lint 
 hastily scraped from-the bed linen. She had the joy present- 
 ly to see his eyes open and hear the question, " Have I 
 wiped them all out ? " 
 
 " Yes, all but the girl, and she fled away. I do believe 
 there's good in prayer ! " said the old woman, "God must 
 have heard me, for though you are hacked and slashed all 
 over, there isn't a wound that has reached your vitals. Heav- 
 en be praised, you'll live ! " 
 
 "Yes, it is to Him I owe it all!" said Bill, solemnly. 
 " Nothing else could have saved me,for every man of 'em was 
 a fighter ! I reckon my old mother must have been prayin\ 
 too, for 'twould take a heap of it to carry me through such a 
 scrape. Are you sure all them cusses are dead ? " 
 
 " Yes there is not a breath in any of 'em. I'll drag 'em 
 out of the house it's an awful job, but I can't bear to see 
 'em lie here after I light up." 
 
 All the long night the widow Watched poor Bill. He was 
 so weak that the fluttering breath, the low pulse, scarce told 
 that he lived ; but she prepared a mild stimulant and by noon 
 of the next day he was able to tako a little broth. 
 
 Friends soon discovered his predicament, .and an impro 
 
 * A historical fact. 
 
1 68 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 vised ambulance was made out of the widow's wagon and a 
 feather bed, and she accompanied him on his journey, tak- 
 ing a course which Bill believed would soonest bring him to 
 where Union forces were stationed. 
 
 It was a painful ride for the wounded man, but he was too 
 much of a hero to show by any complaint what he suffered. 
 In ten days, by slow and easy stages, carefully nursed by 
 the widow, Wild Bill reached St. Louis. A regular surgeon 
 attended to his wounds and soon he was <*^nvaleseent and a 
 happy man. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 169 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " BtTFFAIA ftfLL '' VND "WILD BILL "THEIR ADVENTURES ON THE 
 .: DERS TRIALS OF MR. CODY'S FAMILY. 
 
 No modern book about Indians would be complete without 
 a little of the history and experience of Hiufalo Bill (Mr. 
 Cody ) and Wild Bill ( Mr. Hitchcock ) was found in it. They 
 were bo^ti companions and side by side had many terrible 
 struggles with the Red Men in the settling of our frontiers 
 by the whites. Ned Buntline's true story of the tribulations 
 of the Cody family enables us to ascertain something of a 
 hero's early career. 
 
 On a little green spot on a Kan- 
 sas prairie, in a log house, a white- 
 haired man sits by a table, read- 
 ing the Bible. On stools at his 
 feet sit his beautiful twin daugh- 
 ters, \vhile back of the mother's 
 chair stands a noble boy. A 
 cavalcade of horsemen halt be- 
 fore the door. 
 
 " What is wanted, and who are 
 ye ? " asked the good man, as he 
 threw open the door. 
 
 " You are wanted, you nigger- 
 worshipper, and / C o 1 o n e 1 
 M'Kandlas have come to fetch you! 
 rant!" 
 
 As the ruffian leader of the band shouted theso words, a pis- 
 tol in his hands was fired, and the father, fell dead before his 
 horror-stricken family. 
 
 " You, Jake M'Kandlas, have murdered my father! ' said 
 the boy, "and you, base oo;vards, who saw him do this dark 
 deed, spoke no word to restraii him. lam only littls Bill, 
 his son, but as God in heaven hears m novr, I will kill every 
 father's son of you before the beard grows on my face '" 
 
 The party soon dashed away, with their kader, ad the 
 heart^stricken family were alone with their dea ?. 
 In 1861 the old log house had givea place to a white cot- 
 
 BUFFALO BILL. 
 
 And there's the war- 
 
170 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 tage, a lorely flower garden, fine grain fields, with barus, 
 sheep, cattle and horses. The war of the Rebellion had be- 
 gun. One day there came a letter from Fort Kearney to the 
 little cottage stating that*Wiiliam Cody would arrive on the 
 25th of the month, and two friends would be with him Wild 
 Bill and Dave Tutt. 
 
 The trio came on time, and the strangers were thus intro- 
 duced. 
 
 "This, mother," said William, is Bill Hitchcock, the best 
 friend I ever had, or ever will have, outside of our own fami- 
 ly. Three times has he saved me from being wiped out. Once 
 by the Ogallalas, once when I was taken with the cramps in 
 the ice-cold Platte, last winter, and once when old Jake 
 M'Kandlas and his gang had a sure set on me. He and I 
 will sink or swim in the same river, and that's a safe bet. 
 And this other, is Dave Tutt. He is good on a hunt, death 
 on the reds, and as smart as bordermen are made now-a-days. 
 Now, boys, you're all acquainted, make yourselves at home. 
 The darkey out there has got the horses, and he'll see them 
 all right. I know that mother will soon have a good old sup- 
 per for us." 
 
 Lillie, on whom Dave Tutt directed frequent glances, could 
 scarcely conceal her aversion for him. 
 
 The sisters sang after supper to please their brother and 
 his guests. The night was charming outside, and the moon 
 shone brightly. Mrs. Cody, who was looking out of the win- 
 dow, suddenly screamed and became deathly pale. 
 
 "What is it, mother ? " cried the son springing to her side. 
 Being told that slia had seen the face of his father's murderer 
 at the window, he opened the casement, and as he did so a 
 bullet whistled near his ear. 
 
 Wild Bill instantly blew out the lights, exclaiming : " Dark- 
 ness here and moon ii^ht out thar! We'll be all right in a 
 shake. Jump for your tools, boys. Gals, lay down out o ! 
 range ; we'll sooa let the reds know old hands are here.'' 
 
 The three young ircn, reinforced by three negroes and one 
 white man, the farm hands, were ready for work in less than 
 a minute, and as the Indians did not seem disposed to make 
 a rush for the inside of the house, civpt quickly to points 
 where from the doors and windows they could pick the 
 ut among the trtv 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 171 
 
 Buffalo Bill suggested getting out to the horses so as to 
 come in on the Indians like fresh hands in the fight, and he 
 told Dave Tutt and the men of their scheme, and to peg away 
 at the foe meantime. The horses were soon secured and 
 mounted without saddle or bridle, and both men dashed 
 among the fiends, who were also aftePvthe farm stock. 
 Wheeling and circling here and there in the rear of the 
 astonished redskins, never missing a shot, the attacking par- 
 ty soon fled from the two fighters, but not before half their 
 number had fallen. The search for a white man among the 
 bodies of the slain was unsuccessful, so Bill decided that if 
 M'Kandlas had been in the party he had escaped this time. 
 
 After breakfast the morning following the attack, while the 
 negroes were burying the dead Indians, Buffalo Bill and his 
 companions held a consultation in regard to what they had 
 best do. 
 
 " They may have got enough last night to sicken them of 
 coming again/' said Buffalo Bill. " I believe I'll get on my 
 insect, Powder Face, and follow their trail and see what 
 they're about. You boys stay here on the watch, and moth- 
 er and the girls can pack what they need for moving with, if 
 I find that it will be best to move." 
 
 He was off at a gallop in a moment. 
 
 Bill, on his return, ordered preparations to be made for 
 moving. What he discovered during his absence led him to 
 believe that a second attack would be made on his home 
 that night. The cottage home was soon deserted and the 
 cavalcade of horsemen, wagons, and stock moved over the 
 prairie. The first wagon, with the white laborer driving it, 
 contained Mrs. Cody and the three girls, and Dave Tutt, 
 without being specially told to take the post, rode near it. A 
 negro was driving each of the other wagons, and the horses 
 and cattle were driven up by Buffalo Bill and his mate. 
 When night came on, they were just passing a low range of 
 sandy hilis not more than ten or twelve miles from the farm. 
 Buffalo Bill looked back, and saw a bright light, which indi- 
 cated the fate of their recent home, 
 
 " One more debt for Jake M'Kandlas to pay before I am 
 done with him! " he muttered. 
 
 The wind now came sharp and spitefully in blasts, and the 
 clouds rapidly overspread t ! ; i til at last the moon and 
 
172 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 stars were so nearly obscured that the travelers could see but 
 little around them. The wagons were parked that is, drawn 
 into a square so as to leave a space in the quadrangle. Then 
 the cattle were put inside, the harnessed horses hitched around 
 outside and secured as well as they could be in the darkness. 
 The three bordermen agreed to remain mounted so as to 
 keep guard against any hostile approach. 
 
 Suddenly a fearful scream rose from one of the girls in the 
 wagon one wild cry for help, that fairly rent the air as well 
 as the hearts and ears of those who heard it. The guards by 
 the same lightning flash got a bare glimpse of a girl strug- 
 gling in the arms of a man on horseback, and then all was 
 darkness. Both dashed toward the spot where they had seen 
 the man another flash lit up their own forms and faces, 
 but nothing else could they see. 
 
 " Lillie ! Oh, Heaven, where is our Lillie ? " screamed Mrs 
 Cody. 
 
 " Dave Tutt whereas he?" shrieked Lottie. " He was here 
 and asked how we were, not a minute ago, and Lillie an- 
 swered him." 
 
 " Dave Tutt! " shouted Buffalo BilL " Dave Tutt, where 
 are you?'* 
 
 No answer came. 
 
 " The curse has carried Miss Lillie off!" cried Wild BUI. 
 " It was him we saw with her in his arms.'* 
 
 " Oh, my child my child! " moaned the unhappy mother. 
 " You had indeed reason to hate and fear that man ! " 
 
 "Do not try to move the wagons while we are gone," said 
 Buffalo Bill, in a hoarse tone, to his mother. " Wild Bill and 
 I must go after Lillie." 
 
 After a thunder shower the sky began to brighten, and the 
 two horssmen neared the old farm, so that they could see 
 men grouped close to timbers and rails that had been 
 heaped on the fire for fuel. 
 
 " Let us c-reep up and seo who is there," said Wild Bill. 
 
 " No no ! The murderer of my father is there ! My poor 
 sister, too. Bid on as I do, and let your revolver do your 
 talking! " 
 
 Wild Bill saw that argument would be lost. Setting his 
 teeth, Ms revolver in hand, and his eyes fixe d on the group 
 nt BW a kisadired yards off, he urged Black Nell up to the 
 
RES. i'l.j 
 
 side of Powder Face, and both horsemen at the same instant 
 dashed into the circle of light. 
 
 Jake M'Kandlas sprang to his feet as a hoarse voice shout- 
 ed his name, and fell the next instant with a bullet through 
 his body, while dashing on and over them, firing as they 
 came, the two riders swep.t, shooting down Indians and white 
 men side by side as they passed on. In an instant, wheeling 
 with fearful yells, back they came, but found few either of 
 the white or red men waiting for the onslaught, for all but 
 three or four had fled. 
 
 These fired only two or three random shots before the 
 surer aim of the bordermen sent them to death, and then 
 there were none to resist. 
 
 "Oh, Heaven, where is Lillie ? " shouted Bill. " She is 
 not here back to the prairie, mate the moon is coming out 
 and we'll find her yet. Waste no time on the dead, but fol- 
 low me!" 
 
 They returned to the wagons where the other dear ones 
 had been left. 
 
 " Have you found Lillie?" was the cry of the mother, as 
 her son rode up. 
 
 " Not yet, but I have slain the murderer of my father! 
 His dead body lies roasting by the embers of our ruined 
 home. Go on due east when day dawns Bill and I will be 
 scouting the prairie for the trail of Dave Tutt. Wo will not 
 rest till our Lillie is found and his body left to sicken the 
 howling wolves !" 
 
 When the two Bills had left the ruins of the cottage, Dave 
 Tutt rode up, and on his saddle before him, lifeless in ap- 
 pearance, he held Lillie. 
 
 " Hallo -where are you all! " shouted Dave. "Some dead 
 and the rest all run away from only two men. If I hadn't had 
 the gal to bother with, I'd have fought 'em alone. They 
 went by within twenty feet of me in the dark. Hallo here ! 
 Jake M'Kandlas, or Frank Stark, where are you? " 
 
 " Who calls Jake M'Kandlas? Here's what's left of him^ 
 and that's pretty much run out, I reckon!" said the ruffian 
 himself. 
 
 "It is me, Dave Tutt, colonel are you hurt bad?" 
 
 " Yes, I've got a heavy dose, Dave." 
 
 Dave laid his helpless burden down with her head on a sad- 
 
174 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 die, and hurried to place the wounded man in a mr com 
 f ortable position. 
 
 As this was done the eye of M'Kandlas fell on Llllio. 
 
 "Who have you got there, Dave!" he asked hastily. 
 " Isn't it one of the twins?" 
 
 " Yes, it is Lillie, and her destiny is to be a robber's bride. 
 She turned the cold shoulder on me, or I'd have been less 
 rough in my courting but the storm came up and I lifted 
 her, and here she is." 
 
 " Then it was her them two, Wild Bill and her brother, were 
 after when they charged on us here ? " 
 
 " Of course it was, and as they found she was'nt here, they 
 didn't wait to lift hair, but put out after me. They passed 
 me twice within pistol shot, and if she hadn't been still in 
 her faint, I would have had to still her. But where's all youi 
 men? There's not over half dozen, red and white, stretched 
 here." 
 
 " No, there's more, but they've scattered. Blow this whistle, 
 Dave, I'm too weak." 
 
 Tutt took a large whistle from the neck of the wounded 
 man and blew a shrill call. It was answered by another 
 whistle. 
 
 "That is Frank Stark," said the chief. "He will be 
 here soon, and he carries what I need now, for I'm as weak 
 as a sick chicken. There's a bad hole in my carcass. I've 
 stuffed a bit of my hunting shirt in to stop the bleeding, but 
 I'm afraid from the feeling, it bleeds inside." 
 
 Frank Stark came and stimulated the wounded man with 
 whisky, which was also proffered Lillie, when she gained 
 consciousness. 
 
 "Wretch! Take me back to my mother !" she said, as she 
 pushed the flask away. 
 
 " Not yet not before our honeymoon is over, my pretty 
 wife that is to be ! " said Dave. 
 
 " .-*/? wife? Fiend! I will die a thousand deaths first. 
 I hated you from the first moment I saw you ! And now, cow- 
 ard, dog, I loathe and despise you! " 
 
 A consultation was held as to the next movements of the 
 party. Frank Stark wanted to follow up the wagons . But 
 Jake M'Kandlas could not, and Dave Tutt would not go. 
 M'Kandlas could only be moved slowly and with care, so it 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 175 
 
 took a part of the force to attend to him. Therefore a pur- 
 suit which would be attended with the certainty of a hard 
 fight was given up, and as soon as day dawned the route for 
 the Black Hills was taken up. Lillie was placed in a light 
 wagon which had been saved from the flames, an i the 
 wounded colonel and his two injured men were laid ou a 
 heap of straw in the same vehicle. Before sunrise they were 
 miles away, Dave Tutt now taking the leadership of the party 
 and hurrying them on, for he dreaded pursuit from the two 
 men whom he knew but too well, once on his track, would 
 not leave it while he lived. 
 
 To and fro, rode the two bordermen, until day dawned, 
 and yet they found no sign of the lost one. 
 
 " He has most likely made for the Black Hills. I've heard 
 him tell how friendly him and the Ogallala Sioux were who 
 live in that section," said Wild Bill. 
 
 "Then we will follow him there. If a hundred tribes, in- 
 stead of one, were at his back, I'd have her from him and 
 my knife in his heart! It maddens me to think she is in his 
 power. If he wrongs her by an insulting word, much less a 
 rude touch, I'll kill him by inches! Bill, Jet's bear for the 
 Black Hills." 
 
 Wild Bill counseled going to the settlements first for help, 
 and before the sun reached its meridian they were once more 
 with the wagons. 
 
 " Have you given up the search for your sister ? " asked 
 Mrs. Cody, when she saw her son and his mate ride up. 
 
 ''No, mother, nor will we until she is found. But we can 
 strike no trail the rain has washed it away. We know this, 
 however, that Dave Tutt has friends among the fighting 
 Sioux in the Black Hills, and he's most likely making for 
 them. We must have more force than us two to go there 
 \vith any chance to get her away so our plan is to get you 
 all in safety to the nearest post, then collect a party and 
 start for the hills. Dead or alive we'll find her." 
 
 At sundown a settlement was reached and soon a volun- 
 teer company was organized for the expedition to rescue 1 il- 
 lie, who started next morning on their search. 
 
 Late on the afternoon of the same day on which Buffalo 
 Bill left with his party, two smart-looking strangers, well 
 mounted, but with no arms visible, arrived at the tavern 
 
176 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 where* Mrs. Cody and daughter were staying. The presiding 
 genius of the bar-room was Major Williams, the landlord 
 the presiding genius of the kitchen and boss of the whole 
 house was Molly Williams, his young wife that i., young 
 compared with him, for she was only five-and-thirty, while 
 he was eighty years old, if a day. 
 
 Most of the male population of the place found its way to 
 the bar-room in the evening. To make themselves popular 
 with these people, the strangers were liberal in treating, and 
 it was not long before nearly all were more or less under the 
 influence of the vile beverage vended at the bar. The stran- 
 gers pretended to drink quite as freely as those whom they 
 treated, but they poured out scarcely anything for them- 
 selves, and so diluted what they did take with water that 
 they felt none of the effects which they were producing on 
 others. 
 
 The old major hung out as long as he could, but at last 
 sank down helpless in his chair behind the bar, and then the 
 two strangers were alone. An eye was on them, however, 
 for Mrs. Molly Williams, though perfectly willing to see the 
 money come into the drawer,did not believe in its going out 
 again, so when she saw her old husband sink down into help- 
 lessness, as she did through a crack, she went in to secure 
 the money in the drawer, inform the strangers that it was 
 bed-time, and drag her drunken old husband to his nest, 
 when the tramp of horses' hoofs reached her ears. 
 
 " The boys are coming we're all right now !" said the eld- 
 er of the strangers, springing to his feet at this sound. " The 
 plunder and the girls first, and a big blaze afterward!" 
 
 ''Open the door, Hubert, and tell the boys that I, Alf Coye, 
 am here !" cried the elder. " There's nothing to fear. Every 
 ma-i in the place is drank or asleep. Surround the house 
 let no one leave or enter boside our own men, without my 
 permission." 
 
 This order u as given because, fully dressed and ready for' 
 departure, Mrs. Tody, har daughter 'iliotti, and Kittle Mui- 
 doon their servant, mads their appe&ranoe i^ the back room. 
 
 " What does this in-sau 9 " asked for, v;5otf. 
 
 Sh addressed tha question to Mr*. Williams, bttt was an- 
 swered by Captain A/,2 Coye. 
 
 "It means., mad'**, ta& ^art and parcel of the Southern 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 177 
 
 Confederacy has made a raidover the Kansas border, and 
 as one Buffalo Bill is arrayed on the Union side, wo shall 
 deem it good policy to hold his mother and sister in our 
 hands as hostages for his future good behavior. I am glad 
 to see you are dressed, ready for traveling, for my men will 
 only remain here long enough to collect what plunder they 
 want and to make a bonfire of the rest. We will then head 
 for Missouri, and you will accompany us." 
 
 "Hubert, find a good carriage or wagon to put these wom- 
 en in. I shall carry them over the border, and if Buffalo 
 Bill comes after them I'll have a rope for his neck !" said the 
 captain. 
 
 Buffalo Bill and his rescuers traced the kidnapper of Lil- 
 lie to a stockade built by his friends. Frank Stark was a 
 rival of Dave Tutt for the good graces of Lillie, and prom- 
 ised to aid her in escaping. 
 
 "Over the works, boys, and let your revolvers and knives 
 teJl the ta,le!' : Buffalo Bill shouted, and sprang up the lad- 
 der. Amid the yells of the garrison some decisive work went 
 on, by his followers. 
 
 " Mercy we surrender!" shouted a huge villain already 
 down with a bullet in his breast. 
 
 "Take the mercy your gang gave my father!" said Buffalo 
 Bill, driving his knife into his skull. 
 
 Except a few wounded wretches on the earth not one of 
 the Indians or robbers was left. 
 
 "Boys, it's a shame to butcher them that can't defend 
 themselves," said Wild Bill. 
 
 " Excepting old Jake tt'Kaudlas, the rest may live for all 
 me," cried Buffalo Bill. "As for him, he shall live until I 
 can hang him over the grave of my murdered father, or 
 roast him to ashes on the ground stained by his blood. But 
 my sister she is safe from here, but is Fraak Stark to be 
 trusted ?" 
 
 " Yes, just as you cu!d have trusted me, if I had got her 
 off," said Dare Tutt, wit-k a foebta v*i ; for, terribly hurt, 
 he lay yt living among tha woundtd. "H is off for the 
 Black Hills with her." 
 
 "That's a lie, for I saw him and k&r crossing the river by 
 the light of the same flash which revealed you to us, and us 
 to you, you mean sneak," cried Buffalo Bill. " If I wasn't 
 
178 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 sure you'd suffer more by being*let alone, I'd cut yourthroat 
 where your are, you infernal spy and deceiving cuss ! Look 
 out for him, men, and for old Jake M 'Kandlas I am going 
 across the river to find Lillie." 
 
 " You need not cross the river to find her, for she is here," 
 cried Frank Stark^omtng toward them followed by the girl. 
 
 Lillie was soon in the arms of her brother, while Frank Stark 
 was forgiven for the kindness shown his sister, who declared 
 that he would thereafter fight under the stars and stripes. 
 
 A new-comer drove up after the above scene, whom Bill 
 knew, and addressed thus : " You look as wh&e as a ghost, 
 man ! What is the matter in Corrinne ?" 
 
 " There's matter enough to drive us all mad. There's not 
 a house left standing in town all are in ashes. Worse yet, 
 every man but myself, I think, is killed, with some of the 
 women, too and the youngest and fairest carried oft. I 
 crept away, ran miles on foot, then caught a loose horse, got 
 on your trail, and am here." 
 
 " Who did this ? " asked Bill. 
 
 "One Alf Coye, at the head of a hundred bush-whackers 
 from Missouri." 
 
 " My mother and Lottie!" gasped Bill. 
 
 " I saw them in a wagon under guard as I crept away." 
 
 Said Buffalo Bill : " Now, men, we have work to do. Frank 
 Stark, for the good heart you have shown, I am going to 
 trust you as I'd trust no other man on such short acquaint- 
 ance. I shall take all but five of my men and the best horses, 
 and make after the party that have carriei off my mother 
 and sister, and we know not how many more. With those 
 five and this man here, guard my sister Lillie and get her to 
 St. Louis just as quickly as you can. I will meet you there 
 if I live. ' 
 
 One brief embrace between brother and sister and our hero 
 was off to rescue his mother and Lottie. 
 
 Lillie at once began to make preparations for her journey, 
 while Stark went into the place where M 'Kandlas and 1 'av-o 
 Tutt were lying, and said : " I came in to sei if you required 
 any fixing up before we started." 
 
 " Started V What do you mean ? " asked M Kandlas. 
 
 " That we start in a little while for the settlements. I am 
 having mule-lifters fixed for you and Dave, and you'll swing 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 1 . > 
 
 when Buffalo Bill gets back from punishing Alf Coye." 
 
 " He'll never get back from that bit of business," said Dave 
 Tutt. " Alf Coye is not the man to get away from, and Buf- 
 falo Bill will learn that if he crosses his path. Ah ! your new 
 sweetheart is in trouble, Mr. Frank Stark and so are you ! 
 Here is Haven Feather the Ogallala, and my friend." 
 
 Even as these last words passed the lips of Dave Tutt, 
 caused as they were by a wild scream from Lillie, the open- 
 ing in the brush house that served as a door was darkened 
 by the Dresence of several Indians. 
 
 Frank Stark and Lillie were soon bound, and waiting up- 
 on the motion of the chief, who turned out to be Haven 
 Feather who had his lodge in one of the fastnesses of the 
 Black Hills, and thither the band, with the wounded and cap- 
 tives, marched. 
 
 For four days after having struck it, across the Missouri 
 border, Buffalo Bill, with a force increased by volunteers to 
 about fifty men, had followed the trail of Alf Coye, and he 
 was again in Kansas, the route of pursued and pursuers 
 tending toward the same section of the Hills to where Eaven 
 Feather was making his way. The one narrow passage vvay 
 in and out of his chosen village could be defended by a few 
 against the approach of thousands. For this reason had 
 Eaven Feather, the great war chief of the Ogallala Sioux, 
 taken it for the home of his tribe. Their enemies would 
 never risk their warriors in an attack on such a defensive 
 spot as this. 
 
 One night, after sundown, Alf Coye rode into this valley at 
 the head of his weary column. It was a long cavalcade, for 
 beside his men, one hundred in number, he had nearly as 
 many poor, unhappy women, mostly young and beautiful, in- 
 cluding Mrs. Cody, Lottie and their servant, who had been 
 dragged from desolate homes by the wretches whom he 
 commanded. Eaven Feather had given the friendly ruf- 
 ilans permission to come up into the village, and the night 
 was passed in peace, until shouting and yelling announced 
 the return of Eaven Fe-ither. He did not come alone. 
 Clutched by the arm he led poor Lillie as if he feared that 
 escaping from his grasp she might rush to destruction in the 
 water of the river so near at hand. One wild, glad cry, and 
 tearing herself from his grasp, she was in the arms of her 
 
ISO IKDIAN MASSACKUS. 
 
 mother and sister. Weeping and sobbing the four women 
 clung together, while Haven Feather, who did not at first 
 understand it, began to comprehend that he had brought a 
 daughter to a mother and a sister to a sister in captivity, 
 that he had three of the nearest relatives of the dreaded 
 Buffalo Bill in his power. 
 
 Arrangements were made to burn Frank Stark at the stake 
 the following dayr~ 
 
 When the sun sank behind the peaks of the mountains that 
 same night, the hope of rescuing his mother and Lottie sank 
 nearly in Buffalo Bill's breast. Little did he dream that 
 Lillie was again in the hands of his enemies, much less than 
 even then one twin was almost as near to him as the other. 
 Though, by the exceeding freshness of the trail, he knew he 
 was very close to the party of Alt' Coye, for he saw that they 
 must have gained the mountain range. There, with rocks, 
 sheltering ravines, a thousand ramparts everywhere, the 
 wretches could make easy defense. Only stratagem could 
 dislodge them ; cmly cunning could release their unhappy 
 captives. 
 
 While he was musing, he heard the sound of a bugle, and 
 recognized the well-known notes of the " Tattoo," or the 
 turning-in call of the United States cavalry. And he knew 
 to a mile almost in the gentle breeze of that evening how far 
 away the bugler was who blew the notes that reached his 
 ear; also, the precise direction. In this he rode swiftly for 
 nearly half an hour, and came in sight of the encampnrent. 
 
 By a detour he passed the sentinels, and came close enough 
 to recognize the Fifth cavalry, several officers in which he 
 personally knew, especially Captain Brown. He at once made 
 his presence known. 
 
 " Buffalo Bill, by the chances of war! " cried the captain. 
 "I'm glad to see you." 
 
 " Not half so glad as I am to see you, cap, with all these 
 boys about you, if so be you'll help me in a little matter of 
 work that I've got close at hand." 
 
 Work what is it, Bill?" 
 
 " The whole story is too long to tell, cap, but the short of it 
 is this. We are within two or three hours' ride of a hundred 
 Missouri bush-whackers, -\ ho have got many helpless women 
 prisoners, among them my own dear mother and one of my 
 
INDIAN MAS 181 
 
 sisters. But if you'll help me, I know I can succeed. I have 
 fifty as good men, regular rangers, as ever drew trigger- 
 can rid the earth of every rascal of the lot. Will you help 
 me, sir ? " 
 
 Orders were instantly sent out, and the next moment Wild 
 ill dashed into camp. " Bill, what have you soen ? " asked 
 Buffalo Bill. 
 
 " I've not seen your mother, nor Lottie," said Bill. "Bat 
 they are in there, for Alf Coye has gone through the big 
 canyon to the village. But I did see poor Lillie, riding ; 
 hind old Haven Feather himself, and Jake M'Kandlas and 
 Dave Tutt are in the party. So is poor Frank Stark, pain tod 
 with black streaks, which means he is doomed to die at the 
 stake. ' ' 
 
 Sim Geary, a scout with the cavalry, had been in Raven 
 leather's village twice, and so was capable of suggesting a 
 plan of attack, one feature of wliicli was to roll down ro- 
 from the mountain into the village. Captain Brown *vas to 
 make an open attack in front, keeping his men back far enough 
 not to lose. A picked party of men was to get to the top of 
 the hill overhanging the canyon before daylight, and not be 
 seen when daylight came till it was time to roll rocks. 
 
 " While all this is goin' on, and it don't need any of na in 
 front," said Sim, " we three old bordenmen, with the party 
 that Buffalo Bill bosses, will get behind 'em, come down on 
 their rear after we've got their captives safe ; and, if we don't 
 linish 'em then, I'm williu' to eat dirt! " 
 
 When the sun next morning rose the preparations for tort- 
 uring the chief victim, Frank Stark, were almost complete;!, 
 in front of the lodge of Alf Coye a large post ha -ot, 
 
 and near it dry fuel lay in a huge heap ready to ignite when 
 all was arranged. 
 
 Jake M'Kandlas, Dave Tutt and all tho warriors wore 
 present when Frank Stark was bound to the stake, when sud- 
 denly a piercing scream broke on every ear, and Lillie rushed 
 through the yelling circle and with her own hands tore away 
 the fagots from about the prisoner's form. 
 
 What Raven Feather or the rest would have done to her or 
 those by her side for this interruption, may not be known, 
 for suddenly, with no warning, a sound came rolling up the 
 canyon which in a second ! everything. Not like the 
 
182 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 roll of pealing thunder, but sharp, quick and crashing, came 
 the report of a cannon. It was the field-piece belonging to 
 the cavalry train. For a few seconds every warrior was 
 dumb. Alf Coye was first to break the spell of silence. And 
 before he spoke the rattle of small arms and the yells of fight- 
 ing men far down the gorge were heard. 
 
 "To the mouth of the canyon,'' he shouted. " Every man, 
 red and white. There are regulars ia that attack, or 
 there wouldn't be cannon. If they get through the gorge 
 we're whipped. Follow, men follow! " And with his saber 
 drawn he rushed to his horse picketed close by, mounted 
 without waiting to saddle, and rode away. In less than a 
 minute every white man and every warrior, except alone 
 Dave Tutt and Jake M'Kandlas, was speeding off toward the 
 sound of battle. 
 
 As if dropped from the sky, Buffalo Bill, his mate and Sim 
 Geary, at the head of fifty riflemen, rushed into the lodge. 
 
 While Buffalo Bill was embracing his loved ones, Wild 
 Bill cut the thongs which bound Frank Stark to the post of 
 torture, and Sim Geary tied Jake M'Kandlas and Dave Tutt. 
 
 " We've no time to spend here ! " cried Sim Geary. ''There's 
 a heap of warriors out there, beside Alf Coye's gang. Brown 
 will have too much to do, if I don't close in on the enemy's 
 rear. Not a rock will roll till we've opened fire. And we'll 
 have time enough to attend to matters here when we've 
 wiped them out that's in front." 
 
 " That is so we must help our friends there. Mother, sis- 
 ters, you are safe now. I will leave a half-dozen men, how- 
 ever. But I must go and help to exterminate the wretches. 
 Boys, six of you release every prisoner here, and stay to keep 
 the she-fiends of squa-vs quiet. The rest follow me ! ' ; 
 
 Buffalo Bill waited not to hear an objection, but, followed 
 by his men, and Frank Stark also, who had armed himself 
 from a lodge close at hand, bounded away toward the gorge. 
 
 Suddenly huge rocks came bounding down, noise louder 
 than thunder, from the cliffs above. Down came ton after- 
 ton of rock, mangling men and horses in a dreadful mass. 
 Nothing now reigned but confusion, despair death. They 
 threw down weapons which were of no avail, and rode over 
 each other, trampled and even hewed each other down with 
 their knives and hatchets in their mad endeavors to get out 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 of the way of the terrible avalanche which rained down the 
 mountain steeps. 
 
 " I surrender ! In the name of mercy stop this butchery !" 
 shouted Alf Coye to Buffalo Bill. 
 
 " Mercy is a name not fit for your lips, you woman-killing 
 fiend !" shouted Bill. 
 
 " There is the mercy shown my gray-haired father in 
 Kansas! " as he raised his rifle and sent a ball through the 
 heart of the murderous man. 
 
 A dozen more shots and not one of Alf Coye's party was 
 left in sight alive. Wild Bill slew Raven Feather with his 
 knife. 
 
 When the battle was over the troops discovered the strat- 
 egy of Raven Feather's squaw. 
 
 On a great rock, inaccessible except by a narrow path, but 
 where one could ascend at a time, and this path overhung 
 with a rock which her women stood ready to hurl down if 
 the ascent was attempted, stood all the prisoners, also the 
 Indian women of the village, the widow of Raven Feather, 
 and the two wounded white renegades. The rock overhung 
 the torrent of the river where it was roughest, and where no 
 hope for life could exist if one were cast into its terrible foam. 
 Foremost of all was this terrible tableau. 
 
 Holding poor Lillie, who was bound and helpless, as were 
 all the captives, so before him that her form shielded his 
 body, stood Dave Tutt, with a keen knife pointing to her 
 heart, requiring but a motion to sink it there. And Jake 
 M'Kandlas stood in the same position, holding Mrs. Cody as 
 his shield and at his mercy. Lottie was in the hands of the 
 Indian queen, and each of the other captives was in a sim- 
 ilar position, at the mercy of the squaws who held them. 
 
 Dave Tutt was spokesman, and made the following terms 
 of surrender and gave five minutes for their acceptance : 
 
 "Swear on your oath that you will allow every one on this 
 rock, red and white, their free, unrestrained liberty to leave 
 this plain, with provisions and stock to carry them away ; 
 that you will not harm them in any\vay, or check their de- 
 parture, nor follow them when they depart. On this con- 
 dition, and this alone, we will surrender these captives un- 
 harmed into your hands. Speak quick, for if your answer is 
 not ys, so a*ip m# high Heaven, I strike the first blow 
 
184 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 % 
 
 here ! " And the broad blade of his knife quivered over tlia 
 heart of Lillie. 
 
 "Yes, in Heaven's name, yes ! " cried Captain Brown. 
 
 " Let Buffalo Hill, Wild Bill, Frank Stark let all say yes, 
 and s'vear it ! " cried Dave, his hand still upheld. 
 
 " YES ! " gasped all the men. 
 
 " Swear it, and we ask no more." 
 
 "We swear it! " came solemnly from every lip. 
 
 IB art instant every prisoner stood free-: their bonds were 
 cut at a signal with the knives that threatened their exist- 
 ence. And those who would have slain them, even the wid- 
 owed squaws, now helped them in the perilous descent to re- 
 join their friends. 
 
 The Cody women reached St. Louis in safety after their 
 terrible experience in captivity. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES, 185 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 sow "BUFFALO BILL'* OBTAINED HIS SOBRIQUET HIS DUEL WITH 
 
 CHIEF YELLOW HAND. 
 
 HON. WILLIAM F. CODY, while passing through New York 
 city for his ranch in the West, told a reporter of the Mall 
 and Ejcprets how he came to be called " Buffalo Bill," about 
 his duel with Yellow Hand, and other deadly combats with 
 Indians : 
 
 " I earned the title of Buffalo Bill by killing buffaloes on 
 the plains. The Kansas Pacific railroad was being built 
 through the heart of the buffalo country in 1867. Some 
 1,500 hands were employed at that end of the route. The In- 
 dians were constantly on the war path, an-1 fresh meat was 
 difficult to obtain. Hunters were engaged to kill buffaloes 
 foF the firm who had the contract for boarding the em- 
 ployes of the road. I had some little reputation as a good 
 shot, especially at live cattle, so I was engaged at a salary of 
 $500 per month to kill buffaloes. Twelve of these huge ani- 
 mals were required each day. Nothing but the hams and 
 humps was eaten. I knew the work would be very danger- 
 ous, because the Indians were riding all over the country, 
 indulging in their favorite sport of killing a white man v, lieu, 
 they caught one alone on the prairie. But I agreed to fur- 
 nish the meat, Indians or no Indians. 
 
 ^ " I knew I would often be five or ten miles from the road, 
 Ind was liable to attack by the redskins. My success as a 
 meat provider was so great that the road hands began to call 
 me Buffalo Bill, and the name has lemained with me. Many 
 stirring adventures occurred to m-3 during the seventeen 
 months I hunted buffaloes for the Kansas Pacific road. I 
 killed 4,280 buffaloes, beside some Indians. My favorite 
 hunting horse was Brigham, who was trained to dash into a 
 herd of wild buffaloes and chase them until. I had slain al- 
 most as many as I desired for the day. In the spring of 
 1868 I was riding Brigham in a gallop trying to reach Smoky 
 Hill river. I never shall forget that day. After twenty 
 miles of fast riding I reached the top of a hill, and gazed 
 down upon the smiling valley and the beautiful river in the 
 
186 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 distance. My attention was attracted toward some raoYing 
 objects in the distance. They were half a mile distant, and as 
 soon as they began to mount their horses I saw that they 
 were Indians, and intended to capture me if possible. 
 
 " My horse was somewhat fatigued from the rapid pace I 
 had been traveling and I doubted whether he would be able 
 to keep ahead of the fresh horses of my pursuers. I resolved 
 to run and fight. The horse seemed to know my life de- 
 pended upon his speed. We sprung away at a brisk rate. 
 The Indians fo'Jowed. After crossing a ravine I halted a 
 few seconds and sized up, as it were, the crowd after me. 
 They were Indian braves well mounted and armed with rifles, 
 If Brigham had been fresh I would have had no fears what- 
 ever about escaping, but how it woud result after my long 
 morning ride I had no idea. After five miles of fast riding, 
 I discovered that nine or ten Indians were only two hundred 
 yards behind, strung out for a distance of two miles. My 
 horse made a spurt and for two or three miles did the finest 
 running of that .kind on record. The Indians had good 
 horses, and one wiio rode # spotted horse gained on me far 
 ahead of the rest. He had a rifle and sent several bullets 
 around me that gave warning that my time had come to 
 make a stand, or get shot in the back. I think Brigham 
 knew the time had arrived to face about and fight. Sudden- 
 ly I wheeled my horse and quickiy raising my rifle to my 
 shoulder, I sent a bullet into the head of the spotted animal. 
 At the crack of my rifle, horse and Indian fell in a heap. I 
 suppose they were some eighty yards distant. I did not wait, 
 but dashed away with the speed of the wind. My short stop 
 to shoot gave the other Indians time to gain on me, and soon 
 they began popping away at me. I turned in my saddle and 
 fired back occasionally and succeeded in breaking a horse's 
 leg. This left only seven or eight ludiaus to continue the 
 chase. Brigham got his second wind, and I rode rapidly 
 ahead of them until I reached two companies of soldiers, 
 three miles from the railroad track. They were stationed 
 there to protect the workmen. They heard the firing, and 
 came forward to give my pursuers a warm reception. The 
 Indians had the tables turned and beat a hasty rotreat. I 
 jumped off my faithful horse awl to:dthe soldier^ of his won- 
 derful feat. We was ^nite a hero from that date. Th @av- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 187 
 
 airy gave chaae to the Indians, and I soon joined them with 
 a fresh horse. In a distance of five miles we overtook and 
 killed eight of them. The rest escaped. When we got back 
 to camp Brigham was quietly grazing, and looked at me as 
 if to ask if we had made any happy dead Indians. I thiak 
 really that horse read in my eyes the answer. 
 
 "During these same buffalo hunts, I got into a tighter 
 place than being chased on a tired horse. The road had been 
 pushed near the Saline river, I had a man, ' Scotty,' to go 
 along in a light wagon to cut up the buffalo meat and haul 
 it to camp. One day I had killed fifteen buffaloes, and we 
 s tarted for home with a w r agon load of niie meat. We were 
 eight miles from camp when \ve suddenly came upon a party 
 of thirty Indians, who rode out of the head of a ravine. It 
 happened this day that I was on an excellent horse that be- 
 longed to the railroad company, and could easily have made 
 my escape. But I had no idea of deserting Scotty, who was 
 driving a pair of mules to the wagon. Of course Scotty and 
 I had often planned how \ve would defend ourselves if sud- 
 denly attacked by Indians. In a few minutes \ve unhitched 
 the mules and tied them and my horse to the rear of the 
 wagon. We then threw the large buffalo hams on the 
 ground and built a breastwork around tl^e wheels. We had 
 an extra box of ammunition and four extra revolvers, the 
 emergency battery we were forced always to carry along. 
 Behind our hastily built breastwork we were prepared to 
 give a warm reception. We didn't have long to wait. They 
 rushed at us \v ith all the noise and yelling euthusiasam of 
 which the red man is capable. AVe opened such a lively fire 
 that they stopped a direct attack and began to circle around 
 us. Then of a sudden they made a concentrated attack. It was 
 no more successful than the first, but they killed both of the 
 mule i and the horse. They charged back and forth "several 
 times, and Scotty and I killed three within a few yards oJ 
 our breastworks. It was a scorching hot place for a time. 
 The three braves dead and others wounded dispirited the 
 Indians as to direct attacks, and they adopted other tactics. 
 
 " They got off at some distance, behind little knolls, and 
 t/ied long range warfare. We were besieged, and our only 
 chance for escape was a rescue from the railroad camp, where 
 Vroops were stationed. We had been expecting, sooner or 
 
188 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 later, to be caught up by Indians in such a manner while 
 buffalo hunting. I had an understanding with the officer 
 who commanded the troops, that whenever their pickets saw 
 a smoke in the direction of our hunting grounds, they were 
 to know we were attacked by Indians. Scotty and I kept 
 very close in our breastwork, subject to a rakiog fire from 
 the little army around us. We held a councilor war, aid 
 concluded we could not fight our way out, but must get re- 
 lief. Scotty kept up a diversion by concentrating his fire in 
 a certain locality. In a few minutes I struck a match, and 
 quicker than I can tell you reached over a-'td set the grass oa 
 lire to the leeward of our fort. The red warriors began a 
 war dance at what they co sidered a piece of folly. None of 
 them suspected that I had given a signal for aid. While the 
 thick volumes of smoke rolled upward and the flames spread 
 rapidly over the prairie,, the Indians made another attack, 
 but were repulsed. It began to look as if we were cut off, 
 and would have to fight there for hours. Scotty was plucky, 
 and we resolved to end our existence in making a gallant 
 fight, rescue or no res-cue. In an hour or so after the prairie 
 was fired, I heard the neighing of steeds, and soon saw a 
 company of soldiers riding rapidly toward us. The Indians 
 saw them too, andfbegan a hasty retreat down the canyons 
 of the creek. We shouted to the advancing troops that we 
 were alive, but our mules and horses were dead. Five dead 
 Indians were discovered on the battlefield around our little 
 breastwork. Scotty and I didn't do such bad work after all. 
 How many were wounded and carried off we had no mea;is 
 of ascertaining." 
 
 The circumstances of his duel with Yellow Hand, Mr. Cody 
 gave as follows : 
 
 The ioux war broke out in 1873. Gen. Custer was slain on 
 the 25th of June, when I was acting as scout for the Fifth 
 Cavalry, under Gen. Merritt. We were on our way to Fort 
 Laramie when the news reached us that Custer and his gal- 
 lant troops had been massacred on the Little Big Horn. We 
 started back to join Gen. Crook in the Big Horn country, 
 when we received word that 80 ) Cheyenne warriors had that 
 day left the Bed Cloud Agency t:> join -Sitting Bull's forces. 
 Gen. Merritt resolved to intercept the Cheyennes. He se- 
 lected 500 men and horses, and pushed rapidly to War Bon- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 189 
 
 net Creek. O.i July 17th, 1376, I discovered the Cheyen.nes. 
 They did not see oar troops. Gea Merritt, several aids and 
 I went ahead, and saw the Indians advancing directly toward 
 us. Suddenly twenty or thirty of them dashed off in a west- 
 ern direction. With our field glasses we discovered t 
 mounted soldiers, perhaps bringing dispatches to us, riding 
 rapidly forward on our trail. The Indians were endeavoring 
 to intercept them. The general did not deem it wise to send 
 soldiers to the aid of the couriers, because it would discover 
 to the Indians that troops were in the vicinity waiting to at- 
 tack them. 1 was commissioned to go back to the command, 
 pick out fifteen scouts, and rescue the couriers. Just as tii<> 
 Indians began to charge the two soldiers I dashed with my 
 scouts to intercept them. A sharp running light took place. 
 and we killed three of their number. The main body of In 
 dians appeared in sight, and the skirmishersthe Indians we 
 were chasing took courage and charged us. A lively little 
 fight occurred, and we checked their advance. We were 
 perhaps half a mile from 'Gen. Merritt, wno kept an eye on 
 our movements. A big chief, gorgeously attired with top 
 plumes and royal paraphernalia, rode out in front on a mag- 
 nificent horse, and, in his own language, challenged me to 
 mortal combat. He said : 
 
 '"I know you, Pa-he-haska; if you want to fight, come 
 ahead and fight me.' 
 
 " I accepted and galloped forward to meet him. I ad- 
 vanced fifty yards and he about the same distauce. We were 
 at full speed when we came within thirty yards of each other. 
 I raised my rifle and shot his horse dead in his tracks. At 
 the same instant my horse stepped into a hole and fell. I 
 was not injured by my horse's fall and sprang upon my 
 The Indian arose as quickly as I did and faced me not t.v. 
 ty steps distant. We both raised our rifles and fired at i 
 same time. He missed me and my bullet pierced his bre:;,s ' 
 In a second I v as on Mm and drove my knife to the hiiL 
 his heart. Then I pulled off his war bonnet and scalped 1: 
 in the most approved Indian style. The Indians^secm^tl. 
 chief slain, charged upon me. Col. Mason, with Compaiv, 
 came to my assistance and drove the enemy back. As t 
 soldiers galloped up I held up the scalp and the war bonnet 
 and shouted : ' The first scalp for Ouster !' The chief killed 
 
190 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 was Yellow Hand, son of old Cut-nose. The latter offered 
 me four mules to deliver up his son's scalp, war bonnet, and 
 arms. I haven't complied With old Cut-nose's desire yet, 
 and still keep the dead chieftain's war outfit " 
 
INDIAN .MASS A CUES. 191 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 EXPLOITS OF OUTLAWS IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY THE STARK AND 
 WADE GANGS BILL PIGEON. 
 
 A FEW reminiscences of the old time outlaws in the Indian 
 Territory will be interesting to everybody. They were nearly 
 all of mixed Indian and white blood, but so much more dar- 
 ing were their exploits, so much more desperate their char- 
 acter, that the exploits of the Cook gang appear as mere 
 boys' play when compared to their deeds of outlawry. The 
 most notorious of these old-time outlaws, says the St. Louis 
 ' ^-Democrat, was Henry Starr, long since dead. Much 
 of the story of his life is shrouded in obscurity, but it is 
 known positively that he alone killed over seventy men, 
 fully a dozen of his victims having been felled with a single 
 blow of his mighty fist. He was a Cherokee, with a tinge 
 of Seminole blood, nearly seven feet tall, massively built, and 
 with an arm and fist like a sledg-.-hainmer. He terrorized 
 the whole Cherokee Nation for years, and so great became 
 his power that the Cherokee Council fl'ially entered into a 
 regular treaty of peace with him, granting him amnesty from 
 all past deeds if he would cease his outlawry the only in- 
 stance on record of a nation entering into a treaty of peace 
 with a single individual. 
 
 At one time $10,000 reward was offered for Starr's head and 
 $5,000 for the head of one of his lieutenants. One day the 
 lieutenant was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun at 
 the outlaw camp, and Starr cut off his head, and putting it in 
 a sack, went to Tahlequah, the Cherokee capital, and walk- 
 ing boldly into the office of the national treasurer, cov- 
 ered the officer with a revolver, took the gory head from the 
 sack, and laying it on the table compelled the officer to pay 
 over the $5,000 offered for the head, then walked out, mount- 
 ed his horse and escaped. 
 
 After the treaty of peace the old man lived quietly for a 
 number of years and died a natural death. 
 
 In later years one of the most cunning of outlaws was Bill 
 Starr, a granduephew of Henry, and father of the notorious 
 Belle Starr. He did not turn outlaw until well along in 
 
192 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 years, but in a short time became the leader of one of the 
 most adroit gangs of thieves that has ever infested the In- 
 dian country. He was not a common thief, and in one sense 
 was not actively in the business, being rather a superintend- 
 ent or general manager. His gang was large in numbers, 
 and he had spies in every town, trading post and community 
 in the territory and adjoining states. He did. not make a 
 practice of stealing for fun or excitement, but was in it for 
 business, and would take only the best and when he was sure 
 of a large return for the work, but once making up his mind 
 to steal a thing, there was nothing at which he would hesi- 
 tate. There was not much ready cash in the territory to 
 steal in those days, and they confine i their work mostly to 
 stealing horses. A member of the gang in a neighborhood 
 would take a fine horse, ride it a few miles and turn it over 
 to a confederate, who would do the same, which procedure 
 would be repeated in turn by a dozen different men, and as 
 each one would be at home the next morning detection was 
 almost impossible. 
 
 The gang had a cipher language whereby they could con- 
 verse intelligently among themselves about their work, and 
 an outsider listening would think them conversing about 
 some ordinary topic. Occasionly, when there was some par- 
 ticularly valuable horse to be stolen, Starr himself would do 
 the work. He was an expert blacksmith, would carry shoei ng 
 tools along with him, and after riding the horse a half day 
 would take the shoes off and put them on backward. Thus 
 those in pursuit were fooled, and it was a long time before 
 they discovered his strategy. They would be on the trail all 
 risht following the horse's tracks, when, suddenly the foot- 
 prints would be reversed, indicating that the animal had 
 been traveling in the very opposite direction. Had they fol- 
 lowed the trail sufficiently long they would have come to a 
 place where the tracks again changed, but they seldom went 
 far enough, and gave up the chase in disgust. 
 
 Belle Starr was a lit successor to her father, and led a gang 
 equally as daring. The narration of a single one of their ex- 
 ploits will serve to show the character of the work they did. 
 While Major Neal was agent of the Sac and Fox Indians, 
 Belle Starr and her brother Frank and Bill and John Wade 
 drove up to the agency with a barrel of whisky, and in plain 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 198 
 
 view of the agent's quarters and the officers of the Indian 
 police, began selling the fiery liquid to the Indians, two of 
 the gang keeping up a constant firing into the agency build- 
 ings with Winchesters. They sold as long as any of the In- 
 dians had money to buy, and then drove leisurely away. The 
 Wades were captured soon after, and bought their freedom 
 by turning traitor and delivering Frank Starr to the officers, 
 who turned him over to the Texas authorities, where he was 
 given a life sentence for murder. 
 
 The last of the old school of outlaws was Ned Christy and 
 Bill Pigeon, both Cherokees. Christy led many a daring 
 raid years ago, in a stone fort in the mountains of the 
 Creek country, defying the deputies and repulsing attack 
 after attack, only to at last fall a victim of treachery. He 
 was shot down by a traitorous member of his gang, who 
 agreed to deliver him to the officers for a monetary consider- 
 ation. 
 
 In the mountain fastnesses forty miles northwest of Mul- 
 drow, in the Cherokee Nation, in 1894, lived Bill Pigeon, over 
 80 years of age, the only surviving member of the old-time 
 outlaw bands. For nearly half a century a fugitive from jus- 
 tice, a man after whom the officers sought vigilantly for 
 years and for whose arrest large rewards were offered a man 
 whose hands in the past were often steeped in crime he then 
 lived in quiet obscurity,asking to be let alone to die in peace. 
 
 It appears he did not at first become an outlaw from choice. 
 For a long time he was engaged in bringing whisky into the 
 territory fn large quantities, and was very successful in 
 eluding the officers. After a long chase the deputies cor- 
 nered him once, and he was in such close quarters that he 
 was compelled to kill a deputy to escape. A price was then 
 put on his head, and from that clay he plunged into the wild- 
 est of crime and became an outlaw whose acts terrorized the 
 whole Southwest. Alene he committed many deeds at which 
 the Cook or Dalton gangs would quail, and many a wild chase 
 he led the deputy marshals and the Indian police over the 
 territory. Finally, wearying of this carnival of crime, he re- 
 tired to the mountains and settled down to live a quiet lif 
 with a wife whose influence and promise to marry him were 
 undoubtedly the greatest motives leading him to give up his 
 wild life. 
 
194 ' INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Entrenched among the wild hills and passes, it is said that 
 several marshals and detectires who had gone to hie home in 
 disguise never returned to tell the tale of their adventures, 
 and other officers who scouted in the vicinity received such 
 effective warnings that nothing could ever induce them to 
 return. Peputy marshals and other officers gave him a 
 wide berth, and to the outside world the name of Bill Pigeon, 
 the Cherokee outlaw, is almost forgotten. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 195 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 DUELS FOUGHT BY INDIANS ONE WITH RIFLES ANB ANOTHER WITH 
 
 KNIVES. 
 
 AN old scout recently i'urnislra 1 the Cincinnati Enquirer 
 with an account of two Indian duels witnessed by him, which 
 is here reproduced. The first one occurred at Standing Rock 
 Agency, Dakota, in 187i;, between Scout Shave Head and 
 Chief Crooked Neck of the Hunkpapa Sioux. " It was a per- 
 formance that would have called for applause from the most 
 critical audience that ever witnessed a Spanish bull fight," 
 says the writ *r. " Shave Head was one of the Indian police 
 who ws killed while attempting the arrest of Sitting Bull in 
 the winter of 1893. In 1876, 1 was interpreter and chief of 
 scouts at Fort Yates, near Standing Rock Agency, where I 
 had thirty Sioux Indian scouts under my command, who 
 were selected from the friendly bands and quartered at the 
 military post with their families. The military authorities 
 ' rations only to the scouts, while their families drew 
 from the Indian agent. The beef was slaughtered on the 
 east bank of the river, the Indians crossing in boats. 
 
 " I usually accompanied the scouts when they went for 
 their beef. About 150 Texas steers were killed every two 
 weeks. These were parcelled out to the several bands, be- 
 ginning with the largest, who would receive twelve or fifteen 
 head as their share, the next ten or twelve, and so on to the 
 smaller bands, who '.voukl get two or three, according to 
 their number. Lastly, single families, not members of 
 bands, were given beef by themselves, one steer to four fam- 
 ilies, or a quarter to each. The scouts, half breeds and 
 squaw-men, were among this number. The trouble which 
 terminated in the duel between Shave Head and Crooked 
 Neck began over the issue of beef. 
 
 "Shave Head, Crooked Neck, Charley Pappan, a half 
 breed, and the Widow MoCarty, a squaw who had been mar- 
 ried to a white man, were given a quarter each in the last 
 beef issued. Shave Head, Pappan, and the widow immedi- 
 ately began skinning the beef, when Crooked Neck ap- 
 proached the scout, and, placing his hand on his shoulder, 
 
196 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 pushed him violently aside, saying : ' You belong to the sol- 
 diers ; you have no right here ; go to the fort for your beef.' 
 
 "I stood not more than fifty feet away. Shave Head cast 
 one look of defiance at his assailant and then came to me 
 and said, pointing at Crooked Neck : ' That man has drive a 
 me away from my beef. If I was not under your command 
 I would know what to do, but now I await your orders. If 
 you leave me free to act he is not man enough to keep me 
 away from my beef.' 
 
 " I answered that since the agent had given him a quarter 
 of that beef it was, therefore, his, and he had a perfect right 
 to take it. 
 
 " ' Then,' said he, ' tell that man to keep away from me.' 
 I answered that Crooked Neck did not belong -to my com- 
 pany and I had no authority over him. 
 
 " * Very well,' said the scout. ' I shall t-ike my beef,' and 
 rejoining the others he again offered to assist in dressing 
 the beef, only to be again thrust away by Crooked Neck. 
 This time he gave utterance to that savage growl, which, 
 ence heard, can never be forgotten, and climbing out of the 
 slaughter pen on the north side, and taking his rifle from his 
 wife, he turned to the left, coming out on that side of the 
 corral facing the river. Crooked Neck, seizing his rifle, 
 went out of the corral on the south side, and, turning to the 
 right, the two combatants met face to face on the west side 
 of the corral. Between them was the agency wagon, which 
 was backed up to the fence to receive the beef. The first 
 shot was fired by Chief Crooked Neck over the rear end of 
 the wagon. The driver, supposing that he was the object of 
 attack, frantically whipped up his mules, leaving a clear field 
 between the two enraged warriors, who were not more than ' 
 ten yards apart. Talk about an Indian war dance ! Here 
 was executed a dance that surpassed anything of the kind I 
 ever saw. Shave Head was the most agile of the two, jump- 
 ing from side to side, rearing high in the air, and again bend- 
 ing low down to the ground, all the time keeping his eye 
 fixed on his foe and his gun ready for use. The corral had 
 been surrounded by not less than 1,000 Indians, men, wom- 
 en and children, but when the firing began they had surged 
 to one side, leaving the space in the rear of each combatant 
 clear. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 107 
 
 second shot was again fired by Crooked Neck, but 
 Lissed his mark, and during the instant required 
 : hrow another cartridge into place, Shavo Head, 
 liil as a statue, took aim and fired. The ball struck 
 ','eck in the hip, which crippled him so that he had 
 but one leg to danco on. As soon as Shave Head fired he le- 
 
 his dancing, keeping it up until his antagonist fired 
 again, when he repeated his former tactics, pausing in bis 
 
 while he took aim and fired. This time he brought 
 Crooked Neck down with a bullet through his breast. He 
 
 .ward on his face, his gun uador him. His friends 
 pressed forward, holding up their hands and calling upon 
 the scout to desist -he had killed his man. 
 
 "But Shave Head was determined to make it a sure thing. 
 First pointing his gun toward tha crowd to warn them back, 
 he advanced to the prostrate Indian and, holding the muzzle 
 of his gun within two feet of his victim, fired three shots into 
 his head. He then resumed his dancing, and facing tha 
 crowd he moved backward to the river, and leaping into a 
 boat was rowed to the west side, where I found him later 
 away out on the prairie performing the Indian rite for purifi- 
 cation after shedding blood. 
 
 " The last due r of which I was a witness was fought with 
 knives. It was in 187 1. A party of tourists were visiting 
 the agency at Standing Eock, Dak., and wishing to see an 
 Indian camp by night they applied to me for an escort. 
 
 ave them three of my best scouts, and soon after 
 hey started for Wolf Mecklace's camp, four miles up 
 the river. They had been gone about two hours when a war- 
 rior came down from the camp and reported that the tour- 
 ists were giving the Indians whisky. I mounted a horse 
 and role swiftly to the camp. Tying my horse to a tree, ; 
 y among the tepees, in one of which I recognize i 
 of one of my scouts sent as an escort for the tour 
 ; s ts. ; the tepee, I found the scout Good-Tone.; 
 
 "ith his back to the door, his face to the firo. 
 j burning in the middle of the tepee. There was 
 lier occupant, Kill The Bear, who sat directly op- 
 posite the scout, the fire between them. A quart bottle half 
 filled with whisky stood on the ground near the fire at the 
 scout's right hand. Turning to the right as I entered, I 
 
108 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 took a seat facing the firs mid way bet ween the two Indians. 
 I had exacted a promise from all of my scouts not to drink 
 whisky, so I said to Good-Toned Metal, ' Is this th way, 
 you keep your promise ? ' 
 
 " 'The son of a great man in Washington,' h answered, 
 ' gave me this whisky, and I felt bound to honor him by 
 drinking it. It is good whisky. Take some yourself.' 
 
 "'No, 'I replied, 'I will not drink from this bottle, nor 
 will any one else ;' and reaching over I took the bottle in my 
 hand and tapped it sharply against a stone which lay near 
 the fire, breaking the bottle and spilling the contents. 
 
 " Not a word was spoken for fully a minute, when Kill The 
 Bear broke the silence by saying to Good-Toned Metal : ' I 
 thought this white man was your friend.' 
 
 " ' He is my friend,' responded the latter. 
 
 " 'Your friend destroyed your whiskey.' 
 
 <! ' He has a right to do as he pleases with my whisky.' 
 
 " ' Huh ! ' contemptuously, '1 thought you were a brave 
 man.' 
 
 " Kill The Bear no doubt said this with the intention of 
 turning the scout against me, but he made the greatest mis- 
 take of his life. Good-Toned Metal had imbibed just enough 
 whisky to make him a dangerous man, and the sneering 
 words of Kill The Bear aroused all the demoniacal savagery 
 of his nature. His face expressing all the ferocity of a wild 
 beast, his eyes flashing defiance upon Kill The Bear, lie an- 
 swered ; ' I am brave ! Are you ? ' 
 
 " 'Yes,' came the reply. 
 
 " 'Are you brave enough to die ? ' 
 
 "'Yes.' 
 
 " f Then draw your knife.' 
 
 "Two bright blades flashed in the firelight. Without ris- 
 ing to their feet they crane together, fighting over the fire 
 and scattering coals in every direction. Good-Toned Metal, 
 with his knees in the fj re, thrust his knife to the hilt into 
 Kill The Bear's neck, severing the great artery at the first 
 blow. At every beat of the heart great streams of blood, 
 spurted o^.t, covering everything in the tepee, myself includ- 
 ed. Kill The Bear sank back dead. But the scout was not 
 done. 
 
 " His savage instinct was aroused, and he continued to 
 
MASSACRES, i:9& 
 
 toury "u*^ i&ife 1& fih0 flesh of his victim, at each thr^o utter- 
 ing tha* blood-curdling growl. Indiana upon the cutside, 
 hearing the Disturbance, seized the tapee, and, turning it 
 over, liberated me and exposed the horrifying scene to hun- 
 dreds who hastily gathered about th~ ^lace. Yet unmindful 
 of the multitude, and heedless of the fact thai his feet were 
 :n thofire, tho^cCv.. ;-"+'> uc-' 1 ^ wreak his vengear 
 the body of the man who had dared to question his bravery. 
 Tiring at last, he rose to his feet, glared wildly about, and 
 seeing a horse near by, he mounted it and rode niadly into 
 the hills, where he remained t& days, ofeservl?!^ 'be Indian 
 rites for DUxiliOAHon ^' 
 
SITTING BULL. 
 
INDIAN MASSACKBS. 201 
 
 CHAPTER XXIT. 
 
 SITTING BULL'S LAST FIGHT THE MYSTERIOUS HOST DANCE PRF- 
 LIMJNARIES OF THE LAST ENCOUNTER BETWEEN INDIANS AN 
 GOVERNMENT TROOPS. 
 
 THE death of Sitting Bull, the famous Sioux chief, was pro 
 cipitated by a new craze among several tribes of Indians, 
 which it is necessary to briefly describe here, and which lvl 
 up to Sitting Bull's'capture and death. Ten or twelve years 
 ago an Indian by the name of Smohalla advanced the doc- 
 trine of the expected advent of a red Savior or Messiah, and 
 the new belief spread rapidly through all the Western tribes, 
 and Red Cloud prophesied that it would spread over all the 
 earth. Smohalla theorized that there would be an upheaval 
 of nature which would destroy the eighty millions of whites 
 in the United States and that the dust of countless dead In- 
 dians would spring to life to occupy their former posses- 
 sions. 
 
 The apostles of this new creed instituted a sacred or ghost 
 dance in honor of the dead braves who were to be resurrect- 
 ed, possibly at a moment's notice. The performance of this 
 religious ceremony was similar to the old May-polo dance of 
 our ancestors. Arranged in a circle, about 300 of them, al- 
 ternately a man and a woman, they went round and round 
 in the same direction, uttering a dirge or ghostly cha 
 Frequently a dancer would fall exhausted, when he would be 
 carried away. It was claimed that in this swoon the Indian 
 communed with his Messiah. Sitting Bull, the deadly foe 
 of white men, took advantage of this craze to inilame the In- 
 dians and prepare for war. He had about three thousand 
 warriors under him at the time the Interior Department 
 transferred the control of the Indians of North Dakota to \ 
 the War Department, by order of the President. Th> 
 ossion of all the rifles captured at the Ouster ni: 
 and an immense stock of ammunition procured from trades 
 men. About three thousand regulars were massed at the 
 Pine Ridge Agency to combat any violence on the part of 
 Sitting Bull's followsrs, and an order was .^ivon to the In- 
 dian police to arrest the dangerous old chief. The circum- 
 
lyDi.AN Miosv,. K-:^ 
 
 stances attending tne carrying out of thitf order are i-oid by a 
 correspondent of the L'tdies' Hom.e Companion ot Spring- 
 field, Ohio, fully aad graphically, as follows : 
 
 The order directed that the Indian, police make the arrest, 
 and that the troops should bo near enough to aid in case of a 
 resistance, which was not contemplated by the authorities. 
 
 There had been rumors flying around the post and agency 
 for days, that the authorities were going to cut short the so- 
 called " Messiah's coming," if stopping the " ghost dance" 
 would do it, and everyone had been on -the qvi vlve as to 
 how it would be effected. Now it was settled. The old med- 
 iclne-man had been making things lively for some time, 
 clown on Grand river, forty miles away, and had been or- 
 dered by the agent to cease his dancing, and come into the 
 post and have a talk. But he would have none of the agent's 
 talk or talk from any one els ' and danced longer and sang 
 louder than ever before. He claimed that he and the com- 
 ing Messiah would fix things, and when the latter would 
 come the white man would have to stand from under ; so he 
 not only absoi utely refused to go to the authorities to talk 
 matters over,but coolly proposed to them that as they were so 
 much interests I in his" prayer-meeting/' they would better 
 come to his place with lots to eat, and there have a council. 
 Pei h ips lie might intercede for them "With the Great Spirit, 
 and make things more pleasant for them than it would be if 
 he did not interfere to save them from the wrath to come 
 
 So it had gone, nothing definite being settled one way or 
 the other, the disaffected and the curious flocking to Sitting 
 Bull's camp all the time. As they all went with ponies, guns 
 and ammunition, it did look promising for an interesting 
 time ahead for somebody. Now the climax had arrived, and 
 the long interim between the time of the dancing and the 
 various little messages, pacific and otherwise, that had gone 
 between the agent and the rebellious Indians, was to be 
 brought to a sudden close. The powers that be had at last 
 recognized the fact that this so-called "ghost dance," with 
 its attendant evils of discontent and disobedience to all rec- 
 ognized authority, could not go on indefinitely ; and so it 
 came that the messenger bearing the momentous telegram 
 from headquarters to the commanding officer went with 
 quicker steps aud sober imsn to that officer's quarters, and 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 203 
 
 fc. 
 
 delivered the message. How thase tbimgs get abroad BO 
 on* knows ; but it was a fact that before the official notice of 
 the receipt of the telegram was promulgated, nearly every 
 man, woman and child in the post knew that some move- 
 ment of importance was going on, and the shrewd gu -ss- 
 ers were not long in doubt as to the nature and place of the 
 move. 
 
 The commanding officer, sitting in his warm and comfort- 
 able quarters, was looking over his evening's mail, and 
 blessing the fates that kept hi; n indoors on such a night as 
 this ; but thirty years' service prepares a man for anything, 
 and simply telling the messenger, "Very well, I will be at 
 the office immediately," he stopped to don his cape, and in a 
 moment the gray-haired chief was at headquarters. Calling 
 his orderly, he said : 
 
 ''Give my compliments to the post adjutant, and tell him 
 I want to see him immediately." 
 
 On the arrival of the adjutant the colonel said : 
 
 " Mr. B, I have received orders to arrest Sitting Bull. 
 Have the officers assemble here at once to receive their in- 
 structions.*' 
 
 With a "Certainly, colonel," the soldierly form disap- 
 peared, to be follov/od almost instantly by the clear, martial 
 strains of the bugle, ringing out across the parade-ground, 
 and "officers' call'' echoed and re-echoed throughout the 
 garrison, causing sudden silence in the quarters, and mak- 
 ing painfully distinct to straining senses, on the alert for the 
 least sign or sound, the shutting of the doors at the officers' 
 quarters, as these gentlemen issued hastily forth, till- 
 on capes and overcoats and buckling on sword belts. 
 
 By this time the officers were all at the colonel's office, 
 prepared for anything that might come. A keen glance at 
 the interested faces around him, and the colonel said : 
 
 " Gentlemen, orders from headquarters direct me to se- 
 cure the person of Sitting Bull. It is thought best to have 
 the Indian police make the arrest. They are in the vicinity 
 of Bull's camp now, and only await orders to bring the chief 
 here. The troops are to co-operate with the police, so if 
 there should be any lighting, you will go to their help, and 
 bring in the body of Bull, dead or alive. The two troops of 
 cavalry will be in readiness to start at midnight to-night. 
 
204 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 They will go in light marching order, with two days' cooktd 
 rations, and forty rounds of ammunition per man." 
 
 Short and to the point were the orders, and the officers dis- 
 persed at once to see that their men were ready. Captain 
 Forbes started at once for the barracks of his troop, and en- 
 tering the orderly-room, said : 
 
 " Sergeant, get the men ready for field service ; we puU 
 out at midnight to get old Sitting Ball." 
 
 The movement was to be conducted as secretly as possible, 
 for if the disaffected Indians at and around the agency got 
 an inkling of what was going on, they would get a courier 
 off at once to Bull, before the police or troops could inter- 
 fere. And once warned, the wily chief would in a very few 
 hours be safe from all pursuit, and join the hostiles at Pine 
 Ridge. So the column was to pull out at dead of night as 
 quietly as could be. At the stables the troop horses were 
 being carefully looked after. The stable sergeant of Troop 
 N was busy looking up saddle-gear, carbine-slings, girths, 
 and all that goes to make up the complement of the McClen- 
 nan saddle in the campaign. As the old sergeant walked 
 down between the long line of horses, he stopped at the side 
 of one bearing the euphonious name of "Gorilla." Tradi- 
 tion had it that he had eaten two stalwart troopers once on 
 a time. At least they had been seen in the stable one even- 
 ing, near " Gorilla's'' stall, an 1 as they were never seen by 
 man after that, and as " Gorilla" was known to have man- 
 eating tendencies, it was clear enough to N troops at least 
 that they had furnished aa equine lunch. The sergeant 
 meditatively regarded the horse for a moment, and then de- 
 livered himself thus : ^ 
 
 "Ah, ye ould divil, may Sittin' Bull git ye this time, 
 though small thanks would you be gittin' from him, if y 
 started in to ate the tribe." 
 
 And having vented his spleen, the sergeant turned away, 
 and went to look after the harness and gear of the Hotchkias 
 gun and three-inch rifle, which were to go with the troop. 
 
 At the commanding officer's office, men are coming and 
 going in hot hast. Now one of the Indian police has dashed 
 up with a note from tho agent, with the latest advices from 
 Sitting Bull's camp. Bull is rampant, but retribution is 
 gathering her forces, arid in a few short hours the so-called 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 205 
 
 bero of the Sioux-tribe, their big medicine-man, will be lying 
 stark and stiff, and Custer will be avenged. Itisneariugthe 
 hour of eleven, the first bustle and confusion of preparing to 
 move out are over, everything is settled, and all are awaiting 
 the hour to start. In the barracks, the men have thrown 
 themselves on their bunks for a few moments' rest, or others 
 are giving the final touches to carbines and revolvers. Along 
 officers' row the lights are twinkling here and there, and the 
 last moments of the ones to go are being given to wife and 
 home. The spirit of peace seems to have folded its wings 
 and taken the old post in its keeping. And some forty miles 
 away, the red demons, all unconscious of their danger, are 
 exulting in their fancied security. 
 
 Suddenly there is a commotion at the guard-house, a sound 
 of scuffling, and the door is thrown wide open, permitting a 
 broad, wide glare of light to stream out across the parade. 
 A figure is seen for a second, as it leaps from the door, and 
 vanishes in the darkness. At the same time the hoarse call 
 of the sentry on No. 1 shouts, " Halt! " accompanied almost 
 instantaneously by the loud report of his rifle, which rings 
 out on the wintry air with an electrical effect, bringing every- 
 one up standing. In a moment all is confusion. A crowd is 
 hurrying in the direction of the guard-house, where the 
 guards are quickly falling in. Now the officer of the day 
 comes running up, calling out: 
 
 " What is the trouble, sergeant ? " 
 
 " That man who was confined for selling whisky to the In- 
 dians has escaped, sir. He has been nearly wild ever since 
 he heard the news about Sitting Bull, and he wanted to see 
 the commanding officer to get permission to go out to-night 
 -uide. He says he knows that country well. I told him 
 he could not see the colonel, and he took on bad. Just now 
 he came to the door of his cell, saying he wanted to see the 
 officer of the day, and I opened the door for him, when he 
 threw himself against me, knocking me down, and then got 
 out the door. No, 1 missed him when he fired." 
 
 The officer of the day turned quickly to the sentry, sayjng : 
 
 " Which way did he go, Burke ? " 
 
 " Bight down toward the stables, lootenant." 
 
 " Take some of the men at once, sergeant, and we will go 
 to the stables to see that he takes no horses. Hurry up there." 
 
206 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 The squad double-timed toward the stables, being halted 
 on the way by seatry No. 2, who, on being asked if he had 
 seen any one, replied that just after the shot was fired, he 
 thought he had seen some one running past troop O's quar- 
 ters, but it was so dark he could not be sure. 
 
 Telling No. 2 to keep a siiarp lookout, the party kept on to 
 the stables, where No. 3 was stationed, to see and hear from 
 him if anything was wrong on his post. At the stables tlae 
 sergeant met them with his ianterns, having just come from 
 his quarters, about thirty yards from the corrals, and had 
 seen or heard nothing. They all went over to the entrance 
 of N troop stable, where, after a short inspection, everything 
 was found secure, and the doors locked. 
 
 " Where is No. 3," asked the lieutenant, " why don't he 
 challenge ? ' ' 
 
 Just then an exclamation from the sergeant brought his of- 
 ficer quickly around to one side of the stable, where he was 
 examining something on the ground. 
 
 " There is something wrong here, sir. 1 think it's No. 3. 
 The lantern went out just as I turned the corner." 
 
 Striking a match, the lantern was relighted, and as the 
 rays flashed over the little group, a cry of horror went up. 
 The sentry was lying, face downward, on the ground, his 
 r ifle beneath him, just as he had fallen, stabbed through the 
 heart. No. 3 would challenge no more. 
 
 " Quick, sergeant, look carefully through the stables ; we 
 may get the murderer before he can escape." 
 
 A search soon revealed the fact that the big doors at the 
 south end of troop O's stable were swinging wide, the chains 
 down, and " Pharaoh," the fastest horse in all the eleventh 
 cavalry, the hero of many a race, the joy and pride of O troop, 
 was gone. 
 
 There were ominous faces, and many hearts were filled 
 with foreboding in the little command that defiled out of the 
 post at midnight. As the column wound out by the last of 
 the buildings and debouched on the plain, a sigh of relief 
 seemed to go through all those forms enveloped in overcoats 
 and furs it was the last shaking off of the evil spirits pro- 
 duced by the tragedy of the night. There was no doubt that 
 the assassin was a traitor, as well as a murderer, since the 
 tracks made by the stolen horse led directly from the stable 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 207 
 
 out onto the flat, and thence straight across the country for 
 the Grand river, to tell the Indians the troops were coming. 
 
 The stalwart form of the cavalry leader straightened up 
 even more, as glancing ahead into the obscurity, he gave the 
 orders, " By fours, gallop, march," and on went the gallant 
 troopers, straight into they knew not what, only that there 
 was more than likely to be sharp work cut out for them, and 
 many thoughts were turned back to that fatal day in June, 
 ; 76,when Ouster and his brave and noble band went down be- 
 fore the hordes of the very old chief they were seeking now. 
 
 "Lieutenant B," called the major, "take ten men and 
 throw out an advance guard and flankers. Instruct them to 
 give the alarm at once, in case anything suspicious is seen or 
 heard." 
 
 And then under his breath he said . 
 
 " If the police don't stop that infernal spy, all our work 
 
 will be in vain, and Bull will get clean away, unpunished." 
 
 **** **** 
 
 In front of Sitting Bull's house, in a little valley inclosed 
 by the high bluffs overlooking the Grand river, stood the 
 pole that marked the centre of the circle made by the ghost 
 dance. Around this pole, which was gaily decorated with 
 many colored streamers and ribbons, the old guard of the 
 non-progressive Sioux nation danced and howled to the mo- 
 notonous turn, turn of the wooden, hide-covered drum, which 
 one of the elect was beating with might and main. As the 
 beating of the drum grew louder and faster, the frenzy of 
 the dance increased, until the jumping, revolving figures 
 more nearly resembled some of the scenes in Dante's purga- 
 atory, as they flew with frantic jestures around the ring, than 
 they did Indians holding a dance. The half-naked bodies 
 were streaming with moisture, although the afternoon was 
 waxing colder, as the sun disappeared in the west. So vio- 
 lent was the exercise that the paint, which had originally 
 been laid on the body in stripes and rings of different colors, 
 had run together, producing an effect that was bizarre in the 
 extreme. 
 
 Ha! The one in green, with the red stripes down his chest, 
 has succumbed to the vigor of the dance and has fallen sense- 
 less in the circle. At this the dance ceased, as if by magic, 
 and a loud chorus of howls announced a critical point in the 
 
208 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 proceeding. At this juncture the door of Sitting Bull's 
 house opened, and out came the renowned medicine-man of 
 the Sioux. The heavy, thick-set body of the old warrior was 
 clad in the full regalia oi' the high priesfc of the " prayer- 
 meeting." He wore a head-dress of buffalo horns, bristling 
 with eagle feathers, and falling over his shoulders and down 
 his back was a long string of hawk and e:igle pinions. His 
 ' ghost shirt'' covered his brawny chest, and was gaily decorat- 
 ed with sceues from his past life \vorkedin beads and painted 
 on the buck-skin front of the shirt. The bullets of the white 
 man would drop harmless to the ground on hitting this magic 
 shirt, and no harm could come to the wearer. 
 
 The " prayer- meeting," for so Hitting Bull insisted on call- 
 ing the ceremony that less enthusiastic Indians and whites 
 profanely christened " ghost dunce," had stopped suddenly, 
 and as Sitting Bull advanced to the circle, the dancers on 
 either side fell back before him, forming a lane down which 
 he went toward the figure of the prostrate dancer. His eyes 
 gleamed red as he glanced sharply at the tense features and 
 rigid form; then straightening up his body to his full height, 
 and raising his hands toward the sky said 
 
 " Our brother is now with the Messiah. He has gone on 
 ais long journey. When he re turns we will know what the 
 Great Spirit has told him. I have told you We \\ ill see our 
 buffalo once more covering the hills and the valleys, where 
 now stand the houses and villages of the whites. These, will 
 all disappear, as the mist before the sun, and the red man 
 will rule this land, as did our fathers before us. The Great 
 Spirit holds us in his Land. We are his people. lie has prom- 
 ised me that he will destroy all others. Why, then, do ye 
 stand here idle ? Your brothers in the South are shedding 
 their blood. Already have they commenced thei& war of 
 extermination against the whites. Even now I can see the 
 ruddy glow of their fires against the sky. Ye are men. List- 
 en, then, to my words. Our own people have turned against 
 us. Have they not been armed by the Great Father in Wash- 
 ington to fight aud kill their own brothers ? Even now, as I 
 talk, the police are coming down upon us. Have they not 
 been here and told us to stop our mee-iag, like the dogs that 
 they are, and made our hearts bad with their talk ? Why 
 should we cease our religious dance ? This is our religion. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 209 
 
 We do not interfere in their meetings. They have oppressed 
 and trod upon us long. Wil. ye stand it ? I have told you 
 this many times. I will now tell you no more. Those of you 
 who are men get your horses and guns, and in the gray of 
 the morning we will start to the aid of our brave brothers in 
 the South, who have begun the fight for you. Kill all the 
 whites. This is our country." 
 
 And drawing his blanket around his shoulders, the old 
 chief started to leave the circle, amidst the wild applause of 
 all his followers. 
 
 "To the horses! To the horses!" was the cry; but the 
 chief with a gesture restrained them. 
 
 "It is now too late in the afternoon to start. See, it is 
 growing dusk, and you are tired with the dance. Wait un- 
 til morning, and we will then take our wives and children 
 and begin our southward march. Then, too, we have time 
 enough. Our friend, who is trusted by the whites, is even 
 now in their very fort itself, and will let us know when dan- 
 ger threatens. He has helped us many times, and will not 
 desert us now. But eee, my brothers, our brother who has 
 died and gone to meet the Great Spiiit is with us once more. 
 HearKen to his words.'' 
 
 A second later and all were gathered around the form of 
 the dancer who had fainted, and who, having come to, was 
 sitting upright and glaring wildly around him. Gradually 
 his eyes lost their will stare, his limbs became less strained, 
 his whole form relaxed, and he seemed himself once more. 
 His voice at first was like the sighing of the zephyr in the 
 tree-top, but became stronger as he continued : 
 
 " My brothers, I have seen the Great Spirit. He called me 
 his son, and his heart was glad toward me. He has put into 
 my mouth the words I now speak to you. lie says, ' Kill the 
 white man ; kill his wife and his children ; kill all whoso skin i 
 is not red, and who speak with a forked tongue, and the i 
 heart of the Great Spirit will be glad toward hi < people. He 
 will then come to rule us, and we will come into our own 
 again.' I have done." 
 
 The head cf the speaker dropped forward n his breast, 
 and :,-itting Bull proceeded to speak : 
 
 " You have heard our orother. He has spoken with the 
 tongue of the Great Spirit, and it is good. What do my 
 
210 IITOIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 brothers, Little Assinaboine and Spotted Horn Bull say ? " 
 
 The two warriors thus addressed advanced to the outskirts 
 of the crowd, then turned, and facing to the setting sun, 
 Spotted Horn Bull, one of the bravest and smartest of all the 
 sub chiefs, said : 
 
 " Our big medicine-man, Sitting Bull, has spoken. He 
 said wMl. Our brother who died went to the Great Spirit 
 and returned to us again, has told us what our medicine-man 
 said. Those of you here who are men will do as he says. 
 Those women amongst you who are wearing men's clothes, 
 and who look like men, will stay behind to cut wood and 
 bring water for the white man." With this sarcastic speech 
 he closed. 
 
 Little Assinaboine suddenly, and with a terrific yell, then 
 sprang on a wagon that stood just without the boundary of 
 the yard marked by the houses and corral of Sitting Bull, and 
 brandished his gun in the air. It needed no words to tell that 
 he was for war. Then came a yell, as if a thousand demons 
 had escaped from hell, arxd let off the pent-up energy of years 
 in one grand effort. Sitting Bull's warriors, evidently, had 
 by unanimous voice declared a war of extermination. 
 
 All this time everyone was so intent on watching, and tak- 
 ing part in these immediate events, that no one thought of 
 being interested in anything of minor importance until after 
 the edict had gone forth, and Sitting Bull was giving a few 
 final directions to a little group around him. Crowfoot, Sit- 
 ting Bull's son, a lusty, vigorous fellow of sixteen, who hact 
 been apparently looking for some one among the crowd, ran 
 up to Catch th^ Bear and asked him what had become of the 
 man who was standing at his side a moment before. 
 
 "Why, I don't know," was the response, "why do you 
 ask?" 
 
 " I believe it was a spy," said Crowfoot. " He was here all 
 the time, but when I spoke, he paid no attention to me, and 
 kept his blanket so close around him I couldn't see his face. 
 I am sure h@ was a spy, and I can't find any one else who 
 knew him, but several others noticed him. You don't sup- 
 pose any of those cursed police would come down here, do 
 you, alone like that ? " 
 
 A laugh was the response, as though the idea was too ab- 
 surd to even think of. The police knew perfectly well that 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 2 
 
 all of Bull's people had sworn to kill any policeman on sight 
 that they caught alone, and so the idea of any one policeman 
 venturing into that hornet's nest seemed absurd in the ex- 
 treme. Nevertheless Sitting Bull looked troubled, and said : 
 
 " Crowfoot, my son, mount your horse, and scout through 
 that brush, and look well over toward the hills, for my heart 
 is troubled. I would know who it is that has heard all the se- 
 crets of our council." 
 
 Crowfoot leaped lightly on his horse, but turned to his fa- 
 ther, saying : 
 
 " My father, I will find this spy, tie him to my horse's tail, 
 arid drag him into your house." 
 
 So saying, he spurred up his horse, and dashing into the 
 brush, was quickly out of sight of the others, several of 
 whom had gone down the river on foot, looking for the un- 
 known, while Crowfoot had gone up. The young boaster 
 rode rapidly along the bank of the stream, looking for tracks 
 in the snow. Ah, here it is! A moment and Crowfoot is fol- 
 lowing the plainly-marked track of a moccasin, through the 
 snow, directly away from the river toward a clump of trees 
 that stood by themselves. He dashed up to this timber, 
 only to be confronted by Bullhead, the captain of the police, 
 who ordered him to give up his gun, revolver and horse. He 
 delivered up his arms to Bullhead, and stood there like the 
 great awkward boy that he was, trembling with shame and 
 fear. Bullhead, coolly buckling Crowfoot's belt of cartridges 
 around his waist over his own, and putting the boy's revol- 
 ver in his holster, sprang OD the horse. Leaning over, he 
 said: 
 
 "Boy, go home to your mother. Next time we meet you 
 will not get off so easily. " 
 
 And off he went at a hard gallop toward the hills. 
 
 Filled with humiliation, Crowfoot watched the retreating 
 figure out of sight, and slowly turning away, slunk back 
 down to the river, where he waited until dark, and got back 
 to camp unnoticed. All the others were too busily engaged 
 in their final preparations to steal away in the morning to 
 pay any attention to a boy ; so none knew of his adventure 
 with Bullhead. 
 
 Bullhead rode rapidly back some miles to where his police 
 were encamped. They had temporary quarters in a log 
 
212 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 house and were keeping a watchful eye on the hostile*. As 
 Bullhead dismounted, he said : 
 
 " My brothers, if you will listen you will hear the war-drum 
 and the shout of death, and the crack of the rifle that be- 
 tokens for many of us certain death. The Great Spirit has 
 foretold my death ; but it will be with a glad heart that I die 
 at the head of these men I see around me now. But enough ; 
 we must to work. Shave Head, you and Red Tomahawk will 
 stay with me at present. Eed Bear and One Feather, get 
 your hordes and ride out to guard the path to the south. 
 Keep your eyes open, while Eaglenian and Wakute Mani 
 watch the road from the north, and tell the courier, when he 
 comes from the big chief at the post, that I am here. Let 
 the others rest." 
 
 Drawing his lieutenants apart, Bullhead mad his dispo- 
 sitions for the night. 
 
 The night came on dark and drizzly, and to the single 
 horseman from th post who was urging his steed along the 
 road from the north, all was one impenetrable veil of dark* 
 ness. He laughed to himself as he thought of his escape, and 
 said aloud : 
 
 " They didn't keep m@ long this time. What a lucky thing 
 it was having that stupid sergeant on guard. Thanks to the 
 darkness, the sentry missed me. I am a little sorry for that 
 poor wretch at the stable, though. What a fool he was to 
 try to stop me. Hey, old horse ! " And he slapped the neck 
 of his horse as he sp ok ; but " Pharaoh," with instinctive 
 aversion, tossed his head and unwillingly proceeded with 
 the murderer and renegade on his back. 
 
 The man resumed his musing : 
 
 " Those fool officers at the post, how they were taken to I 
 Didn't know I was Sitting Bull's right-hand man all the time, 
 and that I have kept the chief informed of all that was go- 
 ing on," he chuckled to himself. " I would have been there 
 by this time, and Bull would be pulling out now, I reckon, 
 if it hadn't been for the scrape I got into with that dirty cor- 
 poral, and got caught. That nearly settled the whole busi- 
 ness. Bat I am still in plenty of time, and with the warriors 
 Ball has, together with those of Big Foot and Two Strikes, I 
 can pay @ff soaa M seeres. Biat this road don't s^JH nat- 
 ural. Wkoa!" 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 213 
 
 And pulling up short, he looked around him, but could see 
 aothing that could give him a clue. The fact dawned upon 
 him that he was hopelessly lost. 
 
 Taking a sudden resolution, he rode quickly over the prai- 
 rie, he knew not where. His horse suddenly stopped, nearly 
 unseating the rider. Recovering quickly, he leaned over the 
 saddle to see what had frightened the horse, when lie was 
 greeted with a shout to dismount. Instantly the fact was 
 apparent that he had run directly into the arms of the police ; 
 and just then one dark form stepped out of the gloom, and 
 grasping the bridle, agpin ordered the man to dismount. 
 There was only one chance for him, and he knew it, and 
 cursing himself for running into such a trap, he suddenly 
 raised his arm and brought his revolver down with all force, 
 full at the upturned face in front of him. But the motion 
 had been seen, and quick as it was, the other was quicker still, 
 and evading the blow, sprang full on the rider, who had lost 
 Ids balance from the force of the blow and was completely 
 unseated, and fell heavily to the ground, with the policeman 
 on top. The struggle was brief. The renegade endeavored 
 to possess himself of Wakute Mani's knife, which he wore in 
 his belt ; but the policeman had his knees on the other's arms, 
 and he could do nothing save articulate hoarse cries of rage. 
 Wakute Mani drew the knife, and with terrific force brought 
 it down on the unprotected chest of his adversary. One 
 convulsive shudder and all was over. The spy was dead. 
 Sitting Bull would await his coming in vain. 
 
 Shortly after, the courier dashed past from the post, and 
 being joined by Wakute Mani and Eagle Man, rode on down 
 into camp, where Bullhead was shortly giving his orders, 
 and not long after the brave band of police had swung into 
 line, and folio wing their leader, were dashing in the direction 
 
 of Sitting Bull's camp. 
 
 ******** 
 
 On Grand river, the morning of December 15th, 1890, 
 
 dawned rainy and cheerless. No sign of life was visible at 
 
 the Indian Camp. The flag-pole standing in the circle made 
 
 by the ghost dance looked very forlorn in its loneliness. Its 
 
 gay streamers hung limp and bedraggled to the staff, and 
 
 und of the drum and the dancing figures had disap- 
 
 I from the scene"." 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Looking down the valley from the old chief's house, the 
 houses scattered here and there, some clustered close te- 
 gether and others standing alone, keeping company with the 
 lifeless-looking timter and brush, it formed a very striking 
 contrast to the scene in Sitting Bull's camp that bright June 
 morning in 1376, when his tepees covered the hills far and 
 near, and when the hornets swarmed out on Ouster and his 
 brave little band, and left not one alive to {ell the tale. 
 
 But look ! What means those creeping figures that, keep- 
 ing in the shelter of the brush and lurking down through the 
 ravines, looking dim and ghostly in the uncertain light? 
 They are drawing stealthily nearer and nearer to Sitting 
 Bull's house. Not a sound breaks the stillness, and sudden- 
 ly, as if by magic, a dozen dusky forms spring out of the 
 ground in front of the single door to Bull's long, low house, 
 and a moment later, all unchallenged and unnoticed, it and 
 its sleeping occupants are in the hands of Captain Bullhead 
 and his men. A smile of satisfaction crossed Bullhead's face, 
 and he said as he glanced at the sleeping forms around him : 
 "We have done well." 
 
 Posting some of his men near the corral and others at the 
 door to guard against surprise, he advanced to the side of 
 Sitting Bull's bed and looked down at the sleeping form of 
 the old man. He laid his hand heavily on the shoulders of 
 the prostrate form, which rose like a flash at his touch, and 
 seeing Bullhead with his police around him, said : 
 
 " Why are you here, Bullhead ? And all these men, what 
 do they want?" 
 
 "Sitting Bull," said the policeman, " I am come to arrest 
 you, by order of the big chief. Lose no time, but come 
 quickly with me." 
 
 For once the old chief was caught napping. If he could 
 only temporize until his followers could come up ! He knew 
 the force of the pol&e and that they were far outnumbered 
 by his own warriors, all armed and ready for a fight. Why 
 could he not gain a little time ? 
 
 At this point, One Feather, who was posted nearer the 
 main village, called out that the men were> rousing and the 
 alarm would soon be general. At this, Red Tomahawk and 
 Shavehead advanced to Bull, who was sitting n his bed 
 slowly getting into his clothes. 
 
TND :^ ACRES. 2lf> 
 
 "Come at once/' bid, and half carried him t tU 
 
 door. 
 
 "Don't go, :ny father," sudde: out Crowfoot, who 
 
 had slipped unseen around i . and wii.li riile and re- 
 
 volver menaced tho police. <; Your men will soo be here, 
 and we will kill these police do 
 
 " My son, I will go quietly. Caus< ;rb;mce." 
 
 At this the police, who had gallieie-d around, turned away, 
 and all started for a wagon which had pulled up a little dis- 
 tance away, and in which the old medicine-i- 
 taken to the agency. A chorus of wild yells suddenly broke 
 in on l he quiet, and a moment later, a horde of howling, 
 painted Indians was pouring down on the police force from 
 all sides. Little Assinaboine was leading on his men, and 
 crying death to the police. The main body of the police 
 scattered at once to the shelter of the buildings and corrals, 
 where their guns could command the situation, leaving '-it- 
 ting Bull standing between Shave Head and Bullhead, Bed 
 Tomahawk directly in the rear of them, and One Feather 
 immediately in fron', distant about twenty yards. This lit- 
 tle group st'Mxlcalm and unmoved, find a moment later Bull- 
 head saw that his position was a good one for a time, as his 
 men v i:id him, and the way to the wagon was clear. 
 
 Catch thr- .ut: 
 
 " Wl :oing v. ith our chief ?" 
 
 " Bullhead answered. 
 
 At this Hull Ghost called out: 
 
 " Let us kill the police ! We ai han they. We will 
 
 take their own guns and shoot them !" 
 
 {.hers, hold '.''cried out Bullhead. "We are not 
 here to kill an;. I, either, bi;t to take our old 
 
 friend into th< ;g chief, I '.ill h<>id a 
 
 council, and we will then learn what is right and just." 
 
 As he sp- ''If up and looked with a bright, 
 
 kee i gla; I him, and motioning quickly to Bed 
 
 Tom;. prisoner. 
 
 " Y> ; old war ailed out Spot- 
 
 ted Horn Bull. ; chief of tne Sioux nation is led 
 
 away Ling captive." 
 
 "Not so!" at Crowfoot. " My father, give the 
 
 word." 
 
216 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 As though by a preconceived plan, Sitting Bull gave hia 
 war-whoop and threw himself violently backward, oiu of his 
 captors' hands. 
 
 Catch the Bear raised and fired his rifle, and the fatal shot 
 rang out clear and loud. The gallant captain of police stag- 
 gered and fell. Struggling to a sitting posture he said, " You 
 will go, too, Sitting Bull !" and put a bullet through the 
 chief's body. As the latter fell, Eed Tomahawk put a bullet 
 through his brain, quelling that restless spirit forever. At 
 the same moment, Shave Head was shot through the heart, 
 and died instantly. 
 
 " Come on, my braves !" shouted Catch the Bear. " Kil? 
 them all !*' 
 
 But as he spoke, a sheet of flame rushed out from behind 
 the corral, the houses and other points of vantage, and Catch 
 the Bear and half a dozen of his men fell dead or mortally 
 wounded. The police had awakened at last. It was to be a 
 tight of extermination. No quarter was asked or shown by 
 either side. 
 
 Bed Bear through it all had never lost sight of Crowfoot, 
 who, keeping well out of harm's way, was pouring shot after 
 shot in the direction of the police. He suddenly darted out 
 and sprang full on the boy, who gave a cry of terror, and 
 dropping his gun, started to run. It was his last effort in 
 life, for a shot from Bed Bear's revolver brought him scream- 
 ing to the ground, and a second shot stretched him lifeless 
 at the threshold of the door, both bullets going through 
 Crowfoot and thence into and through the floor of his fa- 
 ther's house. 
 
 The hostiles, as Catch the Bear fell, ran quickly to the cov- 
 er of the brush, trees and anything that would afford s'.elter. 
 Out of all the men in sight a moment before, not one was to 
 be seen, save the little group of dead and dying that lay 
 where they had fallen, in front of Bit; ing Bull's house. 
 
 The old "medicine-man" lay with his face upturned to the 
 sky, his arms outstretched and with a look of hatred, as he 
 had last glared at Bullhead as he fell. No more would his 
 voice incite the warriors to battle and blood. No more would 
 his voice be heard in the councils of the Sioux. The restless 
 lii'e was gone out, and Custer was avenged. 
 
 And now from all points a deadly fire was being poured in 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 2l7 
 
 on the devoted band of police. From the brush, from the 
 
 ravines, from the hills even, came the spiteful crack of the 
 
 Allowed by the spat of the ball as it struck a house or 
 
 a lodging in tho body of one of the police. The brave 
 
 e band is being thinned out rapidly. 
 
 urierhad been sent back along the road to tell the 
 , to come on, as Bullhead had ridden down into the 
 with his men. Since then nothing had been seen of 
 urier or his troops. Bed Tomahawk, who had sue- 
 1 to the command of the police, was fighting away and 
 why the troops did "not come in response to the 
 r's request. Wh;.it Re ! Tomahawk did not know was, 
 , bout midway between the fight and the troops a rider- 
 Tse was standing beside the road, and near him lay 
 Ills rider, the messenger dispatched for help. A 1 ullet-hole 
 through his head had stopped brave Ha-.vk Man's career for- 
 ever. 
 
 Bayk on the road the troops impatiently awaited tho com- 
 ing of Hawk Man. I- till the minutes dragged slowly by, un- 
 til the major who had been scui.niugthc country ahead with 
 ass, said : 
 
 .vlll wait no longer. Our orders we're to wait 
 
 lie courier, but \ve will push on, anyway." And 
 
 I tho saddle, he gave the command, "Pre- 
 
 uut!''anda moment later the battalion 
 
 . 11 u gallop down the road. 
 
 L llav/k Man was discovered, a yell of exe- 
 
 n went up from the troopers, which was quickly 
 
 chcvked by a word from the officers. Oa went the column 
 
 od speed, and the determined lip and fiercer grasp 
 
 L revolver denoted that the spirit of revenge 
 
 risen, and nothing but blood would atone no\v for that 
 
 poor policeman's death, ia his effort to do his duty and save 
 
 mrades, 
 
 I Tomahawk turned to Thunder Iron, who stood beside 
 , and Faid: 
 
 in t you get your horse a d get to the white soldiers? I 
 don't know why they are net here now. Hawk Man started 
 back before the fight to bring them up." 
 
 Thunder Iron looked grimly out from behind the house 
 where they were sheltered, and said : 
 
>1H INDIAN MASSACRES, 
 
 " Brother, I will ;.o doubt be killed ; but our brave 
 is dead or dying, a>:d if help doj soon, v, e will all b. 
 
 killed. Brother, good -by ; 1 am going.' 1 
 
 Ee g'anced for an instant over the Held, a d then made a 
 dash for his horse, which had wandered some Distance away, 
 and luckily in the right direction for . Iron. As soon 
 
 as the hostilcssaw his purpose, .a hundred rifles were leveled 
 at him, a hundred messengers of death whistled after his fly- 
 ing form. His hat flies suddenly into the air. but the bullet 
 has not hit the man, and unscathed amidst it all, Thunder 
 Iron is on his horse at last, and flying like tlie wind to bring 
 the troops to the rescue. As he goes, a wild sh'out of tri- 
 umph rings out from the indomitable police, and the firing- 
 is renewed more briskly than ever. 
 
 One Feather was leaning against the back part of Sitting 
 Bull's house, where he could clearly see the open where lay 
 the bodies, when he noticed Spotted Horn Bull suddenly rise 
 from where he lay concealed and begin to work his way 
 cautiously toward the little group of dead and dying, where 
 Sitting Bull and Bullhead lay. " What can. he want?" 
 thought One Feather. Then in an instant the errand that 
 Spotted Horn Bull was on flashed through his mind; and his 
 face assumed such an expression of deadly hate that it would 
 have appalled the other had he seen it. But his eye was in- 
 tent on one single figure prostrate on the ground, and for 
 this, gun in hand, he was making his way. Bullhead, though 
 mortally wounded, was conscious of all that was going on, 
 and to wreak vengeance on his still living body was Spotted 
 Horn Bull's purpose. As he drew closer he said : 
 
 " Bullhead, I am going to kill you this time. You will not 
 escape now!" And suddenly rising to his feet, he dropped 
 his gun and rushed forward to brain Bullhead with an ax he 
 held in his hand. His cartridges had given out. 
 
 One Feather is there! See how he towers between his 
 prostrate chief and the v, ;ld-be assassin. Spotted Horn 
 Bull is surprised at this unlooked-for interference. For one 
 fatal instant lie hesitates ; that instant is his last. The re- 
 volver of One Feather speaks, and Spotted Horn Bull falls 
 dead, shot through the heart. A wild cry rings out from a 
 hundred throats, and a storm of bullets hurtles and sings 
 around One Feather, who, kuiliag kis revolver away, stoops 
 
jp 
 
220 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 and lifts Bullhead in his arms and carries him safely out of 
 further harm into the house. Well done, noble One Feath- 
 er ! 
 
 But now the ammunition of the police is nearly gone. Fly- 
 ing By holds up his empty belt and hurls it out defiantly 
 toward the enemy. Many others are out of cartridges, but 
 still the little band holds its own. No thought of surrender 
 could be tolerated a moment, even with ten of their number 
 dead or dying, and only about thirty of them left to fight the 
 ever-increasing enemy. It is only a question of time, and a 
 very short time at that, before the few cartridges left will be 
 gone ; and then, the slaughter of the police. 
 
 But hark ! What is that clear, ringing sound borne on the 
 breeze, high and clear above all the noise and tumult of the 
 firing and shouts? Once again the bugle calls out its wild 
 notes, and the eyes of all the combatants are turned to the 
 hills, whence, a second later, with a loud hurrah O Troop 
 comes dashing down to the relief, closely followed by N 
 Troop as a reserve, with the three-inch rifle and Hotchkiss 
 gun rushed into position on the crest of the hills. Once more 
 a blast on the trumpets, and simultaneously fifty carbines 
 belch out smoke and flame, carrying death into the now dis- 
 mayed ranks of the hostiles, who are preparing to seek safe- 
 ty in flight. Suddenly there comes a lull dead silence 
 which lasts for a single second,broken by a crash that wakes 
 all the echoes, and a shell has screamed its way from the 
 cannon and plunged into the stronghold of the savages. A 
 puff of white smoke goes up, followed by a dull, muffled re- 
 port, and the hostiles are seen fleeing for their lives, and the 
 ground occupied by them so recently covered with their dead 
 or dying. 
 
 Red Tomahawk was quick to grasp the changed actuation, 
 and as the troops, preceded by their sturdy commander, rode 
 upon the bloody scene, he drew up the little remnant of his 
 band in line and saluted. As for the hostiles, the fragment 
 of Sitting Bull's once numerous host, now dwindled to a 
 handful, had disappeared as the frost before the sun. Utter- 
 ly thrashed and cowed, they scattered and ran, uitfil, fi.-a\v 
 days later, they had ail surrendered, willing captive*. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAFTEB XXV. 
 
 SITTING BULL'S ADOPTED BROTHER STORY OF SCOUT GROUARD AND 
 
 HIS six YEARS' LIFE WITH TEE sioux INDIANS. 
 
 FRANK GROUARD, the Indian scout, who lived in St. Joseph, 
 Mo., at the time this story was given to the public by the 
 Chicago Record, recovered from the surgical operation in 
 which an arrowhead was removed from his groin, after hav- 
 ing been imbedded their for nearly a dozen years. The sur- 
 geons who cut the flint from his muscles told the scout the 
 operation would probably be fatal, and a few days later he was 
 told that he could not possibly recover ;but he had endured so 
 many tortures while he was captive among the Sioux In- 
 vs that he laughed at the fears of the physicians and re- 
 gained his health in spite of their predictions. While the 
 surgeons were operating on him he smoked a cigar, and ut 
 no time was he impressed with the idea that the injury would 
 prove fatal, although at one time he was so near death as to 
 be unconscious, and apparently lifeless. 
 
 The scout has never been willing to talk freely of his life 
 
 ijg the Indians, and all that has been learned of that ' 
 v>d has been drawn from him by close questioning in un- 
 
 ,-ded moments. He was captured by Sitting Bull and a 
 
 . 11 band of followers when ID years old, and remained with 
 
 the Indians during six years, a greater portion of the time 
 
 in the camp of Sitting Bull, through whose influence he was 
 
 a from torture and death. At the time of his capture 
 
 iuvd was a mail rider between Fort Hall and Fort Peck. 
 On the way to the Indian village he learned the name of his 
 : or, and made up his mind that nothing but torture was < 
 -tore for him. Great was his surprise when the chief an- " 
 nouiiced in council that he had determined to spare the cap- ' 
 tive's life, and, greater still, when he was adopted as Sitting 
 Bull's brother. 
 
 'No human being who has never been a captive among 
 
 ges can realize the horrors that constantly surrounded 
 
 / said Grouard. "I was sent to the lodge of Sitting 
 
 Bull's mother and sister, and to these two savage women I 
 
 also owe my life. I had never before attempted to live on a 
 
222 INBIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 meat diet alone, and I found that wis th enly food the In- 
 dians had, without salt or seasoning. I was stricken with a 
 strange illness, and do not know how long I was ill. Noth- 
 ing would supply my craving for bread, and in my troubled 
 dreams I saw loaves of it j ust out of reach of my outsti etched 
 arms. White Cow divine i the cause of my sickness, and in 
 the spring, when :,EB from the agencies came out to 
 
 the hostile tribes, she bought small quantities of flour, coffee, 
 salt and pepper, for which si-.e paid an enormous price in 
 ponies and furs. When I awoke one day there was a smell 
 of burning bread and boiling coffee in the teepee, and for a 
 moment 1 could not realize that I was still a captive. When 
 the flour was all gone White Cow would gather turnips, dry 
 them and pound them into a pulp, from which she would 
 make a porridge. In time I learned to live on a meat diet 
 alone. 
 
 "I was closely guarded for sixteen months after my capt- 
 ure, my guards being Little Assiniboine and White Eagle, 
 the latter a cousin of Sitting Bull. It was customary in the 
 spring of the year to move the camp toward the north, to 
 meet the vast herds of buffalo coming down, and in the fall 
 the Indians generally located on the Belle Fourche or Little 
 Missouri river, where game was plentiful. It was on the 
 first hunt that I killed a deer in a running shot at a great 
 distance with an old flint-lock gun that had been given me. 
 The feat so pleased Sitting Bull that he presented me with a 
 Hawkins rifle and from that time no restrictions were placed 
 on my movements. I roamed the wilds at will and acquired 
 a thorough and intimate knowledge of every mountain pass, 
 crag, ravine and canyon in the great stretch of country now 
 known as Wyoming, Dakota and Montana. 
 
 "My name among the Indians was Standing Bear. It was 
 given to me because I was dressed in a fur overcoat, cap and 
 mittens when captured. In the winter of 1 870 1 went out with 
 a war party for the first time. The Sioux and the Crows 
 were always at war. About the time we left the Sioux village 
 \ve struck the trail of a war party of Crows going toward the 
 Sioux camp, with the evident- intention of running off as 
 many ponies as they could. We returned to camp and met 
 the Crows, driving them into the bad lands, where they 
 sought shelter in a basin, behind a wall of rocks. The attack 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 was && wy Sitting Bull himself, and theirush toward the spot 
 where the Orows were intrenched meant death to many of 
 the Sioux warriors. The chief went in advance of his braves, 
 jumped over the rocks into the pit and had killed a number 
 of Crows betore the others arrived to assist him. In point of 
 numbers the war parties were about the same, but all the 
 Crows were killed and only a few of the Sioux. The bodies 
 of the enemies were scalped and left where they were slain. 
 There must have been a hundred dead Indians in that gulch, 
 and it was one ol the bloodiest scenes I ever witnessed. 
 
 " One of the biggest Indian clean-ups I ever knew any- 
 thing about occurred a short time before that, on Beaver 
 creek, about midway between Fort Hall and Milk river. 
 Tour hundred Gros Ventre Indians were camped there, some 
 of them confined to their lodges with the small-pox. The 
 Blackfeet made a raid on the village and only two of the 
 Gros Ventres escaped alive. We heard of the massacre and 
 a party of us went over there from the Sioux camp. A 
 month later I passed by the place with a hunting party. The 
 half-decomposed bodies of the victims were scattered about 
 in every direction, and were being eaten by wolves and other 
 wild animals. None of them were ever buried. I saw a 
 great many barbarous things while I lived with the Indians, 
 but the scene in the Gros Ventre village after the massacre 
 by the Blackfeet was the most sickening sight I ever wit- 
 nessed. 
 
 " From the time of my capture up to 1872 I was not re- 
 quired to undergo any of the self-inflicted tortures of the 
 Sioux, but after I became one of them to all intents and pur- 
 poses I knew what to expect. While we were camped where 
 Glendive, Mont. , now stands, the whole tribe gathered one 
 day about the sweat and I was informed ihat I was to be put 
 to the test. All the Indians gathered around, taking posi- 
 tions where they could watch my face. Sitting Bull, No 
 Neck, Gall, Four Horns, Little Assiniboihe and other head 
 men of the tribe sat near me smoking their pipes. Four 
 warriors squatted on each side of me and with needles raised 
 up the flesli between the shoulder and elbow on each arm 
 and cut out pieces the size of a pea, taking 480 pieces out of 
 each arm. The skin and flesh were taken off in five rows on 
 each arm. It was not paiaful at first, but before they were 
 
2*24 INDIAN MA3SAC". 
 
 through there was a stream of agony pouring from my arms 
 to iny heart that was almost unbearable. I did not open my 
 lips or make a sound while they were torturing me, although 
 the operation lasted four hours. The next time I was tort- 
 ured all my eyebrows and eyelashes were pulled out. After 
 that I went through the tortures as stoically as the Indians 
 themselves, even including the tortures of the sun dance, 
 when horsehair ropes were tied in the muscles of the breast 
 and back and torn out by sheer force. 
 
 "Sitting Bull would never make a treaty with the whites. 
 For the purpose of securing supplies he made a treaty with 
 the Bed river half-breeds to bring him such articles as his 
 tribe needed, and when the half- breeds came .they brought 
 five slcighloads of whisky. There was nothing but drinking 
 in the village as long as the whisky lasted, and it ended in 
 a terrible fight, from which the half breeds were glad to es- 
 cape with their lives. The faction opposing Sitting null 
 tried to kill him. There were 5,000 Indians in the village at 
 that time, and many were killed. Many lodges were torn 
 down or burned. 
 
 " The next spring a Yankton Indian from, the agency at 
 Fort Feck came into our camp. I sent a letter by him to the 
 agent, telling him what the Eed river half-breeds had done. 
 The agent sent the Yankton back in a few months asking me 
 to come in, as he wished to see me. He also wanted me to 
 bring Sitting Lull in so they could make a treaty with him 
 and get the hostile trade. In a short time Sitting Bull, Lit- 
 tle Assiniboine, Black Shield and myself went to Fort Peck, 
 where a big council was held, but Sitting Bull flatly refused 
 to have "any thing to do with the whites. While we were 
 there the agent told me he wanted me to go with a party to 
 Capture the half-breeds who had been selling whisky. 
 
 " To get away from Sitting Bull without him finding out 
 where I was going I had to tell him I was going on the 
 warpath to steal horses. I told him I was going up tho 
 Missouri. I went instead with some troops to a place on 
 Frenchman's creek, where the half-breeds were camped, and 
 picked out the ones who had taken whisky to the Indians. 
 The soldiers arrested a lot of them. They gave me three 
 horses so I could make Sitting Bull believe I had stolen 
 them. I gave the horses to Sitting Bull, and, as he was very 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 225 
 
 much pleased to think I would go out alone and steal horses, 
 he told every Indian he saw about it. There were some 
 Santee Indians in the camp of the half-breeds arid they rec- 
 ognized me. In about ten days they came into our camp 
 and told Sitting Bull all about it. He was the maddest man 
 I erer saw and said he would kill me on sight. His mother 
 kept him from killing me. Gall and the other members of 
 the faction who were opposed to Sitting Bull wanted me to 
 com over on that side of the village, but I would not go. 
 Sitting Bull never spoke to me after that, and when the 
 camp moved I got on one side and he went on the other,so we 
 kept apart. Soon after that I went over to the Ogallala camp 
 with Crazy Horse, and never went back to Sitting Bull's 
 camp again. 
 
 " After I went to the camp of Crazy Horse [I was still with 
 the hostiles, who never went to the "agencies. The agency 
 Indians would come to us, and it was from them that we se- 
 cured ammunition. One spring w were entirely out of am- 
 munition and our provisions were very low. The Indian village 
 was then on the head of the Rosebud river. We were expecting 
 a party of agency Indians with supplies, and it was decided to 
 send a party out to look for them. We saw what we took to 
 be smoke signals near the mouth of Tongue river, distant 
 about four days' travel. Myself and two Indians started out 
 to bring the agency Indians in. We left the village with one 
 days' rations and no ammunition. 
 
 " When we arrived at the mouth of Tongue river we 
 found where a fire had been, but there was no sign of the 
 agency Indians, so there was nothing to do but go back. On 
 the way back to the village all three of us became nearly in- 
 an from hunger, havingfceen eight days without a particle 
 of food. We were within twenty miles of the camp when \\o 
 managed to kill three prairie chickens with a bow and ar- 
 rows. My companions tore the fo\vls apart and ate them 
 raw. I roasted the necks and ate sparingly of them. We 
 were ten days in making the trip, aud when we reached the 
 village were nothing but skin and bones. The flesh ou our 
 faces was so drawn that we were almost unrecognizable. My 
 two companions died in a few days. 
 
 " The next year I wont into the agency with a party of In- 
 dians, but had no opportunity of making my escape. We 
 
226 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 only stopped a short time, and then went down on 
 river, /ill the time I was studying about a plau to escape. 
 The next spring I went out with a party i^oin^ to Laramie 
 river. It was a war party, and the night they started to 
 make a raid on the ranches I started for the agency. I nevsr 
 went back to the Indians again." 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 MOQUI MDULNS ON THE WAR-PATH THEIR LEADERS CAPTURED AND 
 PLACED IN PRISON AT TORT WINGKATE, N. M. 
 
 TROOPS sent out to the Moqui Indian reservation in No- 
 vember, 1894, returned in February, 1895, bringing with them 
 19 prisoners. All of the leading hostiles who were danger- 
 ous to the peace of the reservation were put under lock aud 
 key at Fort Wingate, New Mexico. There were some cele- 
 brated personages among them and, as long as the govern- 
 ment keeps them under surveillance, there is no danger of a 
 recurrence of the recent strife in Moqui. The causes that 
 led to the outbreak is told by Lieut. L. M. Brett, adjutant at 
 Fort Wingate. 
 
 There are several villages of the Moquis, upon the high 
 mesas, in Arizona. Their reservation is in the northern part 
 of the territory and is distant about 160 miles from Fort 
 Wingate. Oraiba is the largest of their towns and occupies 
 a commanding site, upon a very abrupt bluff, near the cen- 
 ter of the reservation. 
 
 Several years ago the government provided schools for 
 these Indians, and that was the first step toward the trouble. 
 The tribe almost immediately divided into factions, one pro- 
 gressive and inclined to take advantage of the opportunities 
 "offered them and the other averse to the inauguration of an 
 educational era. The split widened, and the following upon 
 either side. for a time was about equal, in poiut of numbers. 
 But Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma, the belligerent chief (who, by the 
 way, was not a chief at all, but simply a leader proclaimed 
 by the dissatisfied faction), so worked upon the minds of the 
 people that his following became very much stronger than 
 that of the rightful chief, Lo-lo la-mi. Then Lo-ma-lnmg- 
 yo-ma began a series of abuses and went to the extreme 
 length of seizing the cultivated lands of the friendlier and 
 khe confiscation of their personal property. Finally, in June, 
 18 ')!, a request for troops was received through the depart- 
 ment headquarters, and I was sent in command of a .small 
 hment to Oraiba to settle the difficulties, aud r 
 . We had no idea here that the Moquis would resist 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 the authority of the government, and therefore only ten men 
 accompanied me on this trip. When we reached a point 
 within two miles of Oraiba, the Moquis at work in a field 
 started to run. We headed some of them off and asked what 
 they were running for, but they would not give a satisfactory 
 answer. As we did not know whether they were members of 
 the hostile band or not, we did not detain them, but permit- 
 ted them to go on to Oraiba. I sent a boy to the village to 
 bring Lo-lo-la-mi to our camp, and the old chief came as 
 soo!i as my message reached him. When he saw the small 
 force of men I had with me, he counselled us not to go into 
 the village, and assured us that we would all be killed. The 
 hostiles, he said, numbered fully 100 men, all well armed and 
 desperate. They were determined to run the tribe their own 
 way, and would not brook the interference of the troops, and 
 especially in such small force as we presented. They had 
 barricaded the narrow streets of the village, and were pre- 
 pared for a siege. Oraiba is built upon a very high mesa, 
 and the trail leading up to it is very steep and narrow. We 
 were told that we would all be shot down as we ascended the 
 trail, and that we would not be permitted to enter the village 
 at all. I settled that point by capturing ten of Lo-ma-huug- 
 yo-ma's men, who were hovering about, watching us ; then I 
 sent word to him that I was coming into town, and that if 
 we were fired upon each soldier would shoot his prisoner on 
 the spot. We went into the village unmolested. I thought 
 there was a good deal of talk about Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma, ancfr 
 was not very much afraid of him. I marched my small force 
 to the center of the village and suddenly found myself sur- 
 rounded by at least 300 of the Moquis, all armed and ready 
 for fight. Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma (which translated means 
 "bad") informed me that my time had arrived to pray ; that 
 I had only five minutes in which to arrange my earthly af- 
 fairs and take my departure to the happy hunting grounds. 
 It was a predicament I had not thought of, and it looked 
 veiy gloomy for us j ust about that time. We would have 
 killed some Moquis, but we would have been wiped out as 
 effectually as was poor Ouster and his gallant men, in that 
 death trap in the Little Big Horn country. 
 
 I thought I would try a ' bluff,' anyhow, and I made him 
 a talk, which was generously interpreted. I told him a great 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 2 
 
 many things that would happen to him if ho fired upon us, 
 and concluded by assuring him that, if he killed us, within 
 three days the plains all around and about Oraiba would be 
 teeming with soldiers and that every Moqui in tin village 
 AY ould be slaughtered. This last was a contingency he had 
 not thought of. He pondered over it a long time, finally al- 
 lowing us to retreat slowly from the dangerous pocket into 
 which we had walked. Other troops were sent for and, upon 
 their arrival, Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma and six of his lieutenants 
 were arrested and escorted back to the post. That eii'.ed 
 the matter for the time being, and we thought no more of 
 the Moquis. Just one incident occurred there, by the way, 
 that will illustrate how easy it would have been at one time 
 to have precipitated a massacre. Lo-lo-la-mi, the friendly 
 chief, was with us, and, seeing a chance to shoot Lo-ma- 
 hung-yo-ma when that ge :tleman wasn't looking, he 
 snatched a pistol from the belt of one of my men and leveled 
 it at his enemy. I caught it by the barrel j ust in time to pre- 
 vent his firing. That shot would have sealed our fate. 
 
 Nothing more was heard from the Moquis until October, 
 1894. Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma had, in the meantime, been re- 
 leased from prison and had returned to his tribe. Discon- 
 tent soon broke out, and in the month named a request for 
 troops came through School Superintendent Kussell and 
 Captain Constant Williams, Indian agent at Oraiba. In his 
 communication, Captain Williams stated to the Interior De- 
 partment that the host-lies were again taking the lands and 
 crops away from the other faction, and that a murderous 
 outbreak was likely to oq.cur at any time. Orders were, 
 therefore, issued by Colonel Hunt, commanding the post, 
 directing Captain Frank U. Kobinson, Second Cavalry, to 
 proceed, with two troops of cavalry, to Moquil, arrest all the 
 leaders in the disturbance and settle matters to the satisfac- 
 tion of the local authorities and the Indian agent there. 
 Captain Robinson left Fort Wingate Nov. 17, with Troops G 
 and H of the Second Cavalry and a Hotchkiss gun. The lat- 
 ter was in charge of Lieutenant C. C. Smith, Second Cav.-vry, 
 and a detachment of four men from K Troop, of the s.-inie 
 nent. 
 
 command reached Reams' Canyon on the 21st of No- 
 or, where Captain Williams, tho Indian agent, joined 
 
230 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 it. Captain Robinson was in formed fully regarding affairs 
 at Oraiba, and prepared to meet certain emergencies which 
 seemed inevitable. The command left Reams' Canyon on the 
 24th of November, and reached camp at the foot of the mesa 
 upon which Oraiba is situated, at 1 o'clock the next afternotfn. 
 Mr. Thomas Keam, a trader, joined '.the troops here and 
 proved a valuable aid to Captain Robinson, for the reason 
 that he personally know all of the hostiles and knew every- 
 thing about the Moquis as far as related to the present troub- 
 le. With Mr. Keam was an Indian named Tom Po-la-ka, an 
 interpreter, who was aiso well acquainted with the hostiles 
 who were wanted by Captain Robinson. Couriers had evi- 
 dently been sent out to all the surrounding tribes announc- 
 ing that a great fight was to occur between Lo-ma-hung-yo- 
 ma ? s men and the soldiers, for Navajos and Moquis from re- 
 mote villages had flocked to the scene to witness the fight and 
 to pillage the vanquished, whichever way victory might go. 
 The first thing Captain Robinsoa did was to place these In- 
 dians where they would do the least harm. 
 
 When everything had been arranged, Captain Robinson 
 moved upon the village. He marched his force to the rear 
 of the town, and there formed in line, with H troop on the 
 right, G troop on the left, and the Hotchkiss gun in the cen- 
 ter. In the meantime there was intense excitement in Orai- 
 ba. Indians were seen scurrying here, there .and every- 
 where ; some were armed, others carried sticks and clubs ; 
 Lo-ma-hung-yo-ma and his body guard had barricaded them- 
 selves in a strong house and everything seemed ripe for a 
 conflict. The soldiers were ready, too, and only wanted a 
 chance to clean up a few hundred Indians, as they expressed 
 it, just to get a little rifle practice. But Captain Robinson 
 wasn't there to sacrifice life unnecessarily, and before order- 
 ing an advance into the streets ^of the village, criers were 
 sent in, ordering all the Indians to come out where the 
 troops were and hear the orders of the commander. Soon 
 there was a great gathering in the open space in front of the 
 houses, or in the rear of them, rather, and when all had ar- 
 rived, the names of the Indians who were wanted were read 
 out. As fast as their names were called, they were pointed 
 out by Mr. Keam or Captain Williams, and all save two were 
 under arrest before they knew what was happening. The 
 

 wi 
 
 ~^j* 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 arrest of the chief and the medicine man, who were the chief 
 instigators of all the discontent and trouble, left the ho, tiles 
 without leaders and they did not know how to act. The war 
 was over before it had fairly begun, and there was no chance 
 for a fight, which both sides were spoiling for. The arrest 
 of eighteen prisoners was accomplished within a few min- 
 utes, and Captain Robinson returned to his camp at the foot 
 of the mesa. Two Indian.--,, however, could not be found. 
 One of these was Ha-bi-ma, a medicine man who was partic- 
 ularly wanted, and the other a leader in Lo-ma-hung-yo- 
 ma'sbaad. Several attempts were made to get them, but 
 neither of them was caught until late at night, and then 
 only Ha-bi-ma was found. Lieutenant Sawtell, Second Car- 
 ;:lry, refers to this ia his narrative of the campaign. Among 
 other things he said : 
 
 " I was left in charge of the camp at the foot of the mesa 
 when the troops went to the village to make the arrests. I 
 had six men with me, and, while I regretted very much not 
 being able to be at the village, yet we had enough to do to 
 keep us awake down there. There was a fee 'ing prevalent 
 everywhere that there ^oird be a big fight. This caused all 
 the roving bands of Navajos and Moquis in the country to 
 come there, and if there had been a battle it is not difficult 
 to guess which side they would have assisted. Whenever 
 one of these bands came within hailing distance of the camp 
 they were stopped and asked to step up to the fire. There I 
 ordered them to be disarmed, and all their guns and pistols 
 were piled up in a heap before the fire. Those who had been 
 armed were kept prisoners until the troops returned from 
 Oriiiba. When I saw the troops returning with their prison- 
 ers I knew there would be no fight and consequently turned 
 my prisoners loose, after returning their belongings. 
 
 '* In the evening Captain Eobinson directed me to detail a 
 sergeant, a corporal and six men, to go into the villagb to 
 capture the two Indians who had escaped arrest in the after- 
 noon. It had been reported to us that both of them were in 
 a certain part of the town. 1 sent Sergeant Hensor with six 
 men and another non-commissioned officer to apprehend 
 them. I think Sergeant Henser's adventure, as he narrated 
 It to me, was the most exciting episode of the campaign. My 
 instructions to him were to divide the guard, sending three 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 233 
 
 men with the corporal to one house and taking three men 
 with himself into another house, wheief x 'the men were sup- 
 posed to be in hiding. Sergeant TIenscr caught his man, but 
 the other detail of the guard were less fortunate, for they re- 
 turned empty handed. 
 
 *'* The Indian boy, who brought us word as to the whereabouts 
 of the two Indians, guide:! the guard to the houses. One of 
 these was the house in which were kept the ceremonial robes 
 of the Moqui priesthood and it is a house tint had never 
 been entered by a white m in. f he houses, as you know, are 
 entered through the roofs. A ladder reaches the roof from 
 the ground and the doorway is only a scuttle hole in the top 
 of the house. The tirst room may be three or four stories 
 from the ground, a-,id communication is had with the lower 
 rooms by means of rickety ladders, similar to the one used 
 to scale the outer wail, except shorter. Ttn house was as 
 dark as Egypt and there was no knowing at what moment 
 the soldiers would be shot or stabbed from behind. They 
 got trace of the medicine man in the middle room and the 
 chase led them to the cellar, which was cut out of the solid 
 rock underneath the ho:;se. There were two rooms ; in one 
 of them a woman was found, standing in the corner. There 
 were masks and robes of all sorts hanging on the walls all 
 about the room. False faces, made from wolf and wildcat 
 heads, masks and head ornaments, painted in the most fan- 
 tastic and savage manner, weapons, spears, bows, arrows 
 in fact, everything pertaining to the uses of the priests was 
 stored in this cellar or estufa. 
 
 " The entrance to the second room was screened by a hang- 
 ing blanket of unusual design. The Indian woman, who was 
 evidently the custodian of the place, stood ready to prevent 
 the entrance of the sergeant and his men into that holy of 
 holie-s. Sergeant Henser thrust the hanging blanket aside, 
 and stepped into the doorway. As he did so he saw a mov- 
 ing figure underneath a pile of priestly wraps, and grabbed 
 it. It proved to be the medicine man, very much alive and 
 full of fight : At the instant he caught the medicine man, 
 the Indian woman on the other side of the doorway sprang 
 upon him like a tiger cat and struck him a. furious blow in 
 the back with a bunch of steel-tipped arrows. His heavy 
 overcoat saved him and the blow glanced off. The infuriat- 
 
INDIAN MAK 
 
 ed haj snatched up a bow, fitted an arrow to it in the twink- 
 ling of an eye, pulled it taut and in another second the brave 
 sergeant would have been killed in his tracks, but for the 
 fortunate arrival of one of his men, who had been searching 
 the. other rooms. The soldier took in the situation at a 
 glance, threw himself upon the priestess and diverted her 
 aim. A struggle ensued for the possession of the bow, and 
 eventually the woman was overpowered, but not until she 
 h id given the soldier a fight that he would not soon forget. 
 The modicine man was delivered safely at the camp within 
 an hour." 
 
 The return of the troops with their prisoners to Fort Win- 
 g;ite was accomplished in three days and a half after leaving 
 us' Canyon, the Indians traveling on foot all the way. 
 O e mounted guard was assigned to each of the nineteen In- 
 dians. The troopers rode their horses at a trot the greater 
 p-.ut oT the distance and the Indians ran alongside, the horses 
 easily keeping up the pace for five or six hours at a time. 
 The prisoners were placed in the guard house at Fort Win - 
 gate to remain there until disposed of by the Interior De- 
 partment. They were givon a comfortable, clean room, 
 good beds and blankets, three meals of substantial army ra- 
 tions every day and seemed to be perfectly contented. They 
 \\ ill profit greatly in every way by being the guests of Uncle 
 Sam. 
 
INDIA!* MASS ACRES. 235 
 
 CHAPTEK XXVII. 
 
 A TRAGIC CHAPTER IN THE PIONEER HISTORY OF THE UPPE$ 
 DELAWARE 
 
 AMONG the papers and old documents left by Paul S. Pres- 
 ton of Wayne county, Pa., and now in the possession of his 
 daughter, Anna Preston, of Middlttown, N. Y., is a diary 
 kept by his father, Judge Samuel Preston, more than a cent- 
 ury ago. Samuel Preston was a Quaker from Philadelphia, 
 and was a pioneer of the upper Delaware Valley, whithei he 
 went as a surveyor in the employ of Robert Morris, the fi- 
 nancier of the Revolution, and others, while the most of 
 northern Pennsylvania was still comprised in the manors of 
 the descendants of William Penn. In 1787, Preston was ex- 
 ploring and prospecting in what is now Pike county, Pa., 
 near the present village of Shohola. Following is an entry 
 he made in his diary at that time : 
 
 JULY 6, 1787. Started this morning with Ben Haynea, John 
 Hessum and Felix Hooper. Reached the river Before night 
 and crossed iu a canoe to Ben Haynes' house in York state. 
 He being lame from running a stub in his foot, I settled with 
 him and paid him. As to his character, he is a Low Dutch<= 
 man, a gro:;t hunter, and well acquainted with the woods. 
 There is a dark stain on his character. * * * One evening, 
 some time ago, there came a panti.er into his house and took 
 one of the children from out of the cradle and was carrying 
 it off, but his wife, a lesolute woman, with the dog, rescued it. 
 The child was much wounded. It is still living. I have seen 
 the scars. 
 
 The stealing of this child by the panther has been a f; 
 ite tale in the upper Delaware Valley for generations, but 
 the household version of the incident varies much from tkat 
 in the old Preston diary, and the latter is undoubtedly the 
 true a As the story is told by the backwoods fireside, 
 
 Mrs. Haynes, one day when her husband was absent on a 
 hunting trip, took her baby from their cabin, which stood 
 near where the village of Barryville, Sullivan county, N. Y., 
 now is, and went to the creek to do her washing. The baby 
 was but a few months eld, and Mrs. Kaynes plaeed it a the 
 
236 ' INDIAN M;*SSACRES. 
 
 ground near where she was at work. As she was busy 
 pounding the clothes she heard a cry from her baby, and, 
 looking around, saw a large panther moving deliberately off 
 with the child in its mouth. The mother started in pursuit, 
 carrying her heavy clothes pounder as a weapon. The 
 panther did not move very fast, and Mrs. Haynes soon over- 
 took it. Attacking it with her pounder, she forced the bold 
 beast to drop the child, and a fevv additional blows from her 
 formidable weapon put it to flight. 
 
 The "dark stain" on Ben Haynes' character, mentioned 
 by Samuel Preston in the above entry in his diary, is a ref- 
 erence to a cold-blooded murder. One of the historic char- 
 acters of the Delaware Valley, whose career was one of blood, 
 was Tom Quick, the Indian slayer. When he was a young 
 man Indians killed uis father, the first settler at the present 
 site of Milford, Pa., and Tom swore vengeance against all 
 Indians, although he had lived among them, and was almost 
 an Indian himself. For many years he carried on a relent- 
 less warfare against them. Tradition says that he killed 
 ninety-nine Indians, and on his death-bed his only regret 
 was that he ould not make the number an even hundred. 
 He is cannonized in the Delaware Yalley as a hero, but, as a 
 matter of fact, his exploits show him to have been an assas- 
 sin. 
 
 In 1784, the Indians had nearly all been driven from the 
 Delaware Yalley. A few solitary and miserable members of 
 a once proud and defiant tribe remained, scattered here and 
 there through the region, living by fishing a-;d hunting and 
 on charity. Among them were two named Huycon and Ka- 
 nope. In 1784, they appeared near Shoiiola to hunt afid li.-h. 
 Ben Haynes, who had himself been a deadly enemy of the 
 red men, had his cabin on the N*e\v York state side of the 
 Delaware, and Tom Quick's cabin was on the Pennsylvania 
 side, up the Shohola creek a mile or so from the river. 
 
 Hayues, having discovered the two Indians, went to their 
 camp and invited them to go fishing with him next day in 
 Handsome Eddy, in the Delaware not far below his cabin. 
 The Indians, knowing Haynes of old, were at first suspicious 
 of him, and not inclined to accept the invitation, but he per- 
 sisted, and seemed so siuoere in his offer of hospitality, that 
 they at last accepted his invitation, 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 237 
 
 After dark that night Ben Haynes paddled his canoe to the 
 Pennsylvania side of th river, and went to Tom Quick's 
 cabin, up the Shohola. He told Quick about the Indians, 
 and the two hunters planned that Tom Quick should hide in 
 the bushes on the river bank at Handsome F.ddy, and when 
 Haynes brought the unsuspecting Indians to the rocks to 
 fish, Quick was to shoot one and Haynes to kill the other. 
 
 Next day Huycon and Kan ope went to Hay lies' cabin, and 
 he paddled them to the eddy, and they larded at the rocks 
 and began to fish. Quick, from his ambush, shot Kanope. 
 The bullet passed through the Indian's skull but did not kill 
 him. Huycon sa;v the flash of Quick's gun, and, jumping 
 into the river, swam toward the New York shore. Haynes 
 finished Kanope as he lay wounded on the rocks, by knock- 
 ing his brains out with a pine knot. Quick, in the meantime, 
 reloaded his gun and fired at Huycon, who had got well 
 toward the opposite shoiv. Quick missed him, and before he 
 could load again the Indian had reached the shore and es- 
 caped to the woods. ?' of the murderers was ever 
 brought to justice, and f-yr roars afterward they boasted of 
 the killing of Kanope, and regretted that his companion es- 
 caped them. Yet the memory of Quick is kept green by a 
 fine bronze statue at Milford. It was erected by the late 
 Lieut.-Gov. William Dross of Oiieago, who was pleased to 
 give it the heroic title of " The A verger." 
 
 The story of the panther that tried to steal the resolute 
 Mrs. Haynes' baby is Dot comp'ete without its sequel. The 
 baby grew to manhood. His name was Ben, and he proved to 
 be a worthy son of his father. He became known as one of 
 the most desperate characters along the river. When the 
 lumber business cf the Delaware Valley was developed, 
 Young Ben Haynes, as he was known, became a raftsman. 
 He piloted rafts clown the then treacherous rapids of the 
 Lacka waxen river. O:io afternoon he started with a raft 
 from Parpack Eddy, now Hawley, Pa. The freshet was high 
 and strong. Haynes was asked where he intended to stop 
 for supper. 
 
 " In hell, maybe !" was his reply. 
 
 Perhaps he did, for his raft was wrecked in the fierce 
 rapids kuown as the Narrows, four miles below the eddy, 
 and he was drowned. 
 
238 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 INDIAN TEKEITORY LAWS THE "NATION" A REFUGKE FOE CRIMI- 
 NALS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 DURING a trip early this year (1895) from Chicago to the 
 Southwest the Record correspondent took pains to make 
 some personal observations in the Indian Territory, and 
 came by rail thro ugh the strongholds of the Cook gang, near 
 the southern Kansas border. Before leaving Kansas City 
 the writer read of fresh "hold-ups" in the region he pro- 
 posed to visit, and even the Missouri Pacific passenger agent 
 at Kansas City admitted that his company could not guaran- 
 tee a safe passage through the Territory. The agent com- 
 plained bitterly of want of protection by the United States 
 Government, and said that the business of not only his com- 
 pany but each of the other companies running through the 
 Territory had been ruined by a prevailing lawlessness. The 
 last sleeping car sent through the Territory had come back 
 riddled with bullets, and the night train service had been 
 discontinued as a result. Nothing short of martial law, ac- 
 cording to the railroad official, would meet the situation, 
 which became more desperate day by day. The express 
 companies declined to receive money or valuables for trans- 
 mission through the Territory, and business was rapidly 
 being paralyzed. 
 
 At Nowata, a small station near the Kansas border, the 
 agent said he had been " held up " a few hours previously by 
 some of the Cook gang and about $100 of the company's 
 money had been stolen. It was the evident purpose of the 
 bandits to hold up the train at that point, but as the latter 
 was some hours late, they robbed the station agent and left 
 before daylight came. At Bragg's, another small station, a 
 group of coffee-colored natives were seen guarding the dead 
 body of an Indian who had been murdered a fe'v hours be- 
 fore. At a third stopping place there was a scrimmage on 
 the station platform, in which the train porter, a burly Creek 
 Indian, scored one or two knockouts and restored quiet be- 
 fore the train left. According to the train officials such inci- 
 dents as the above are daily witnessed, and it was freely ad- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 239 
 
 mitted that never before had crime been so rampant in th 
 Territory. 
 
 At Fort Smith and Little Eock the correspondent ques- 
 tioned leading officials of the United States courts, with 
 jurisdiction in the Indian Territory, and also leading officials 
 of the Arkansas State Government, as to the most feasible 
 methods of breaking up the gangs of criminals that have 
 brought about this reign of terror. Opinions widely differ, 
 but it is noticeable that the only pleas for a continuance of 
 the present condition of affairs come from United States of- 
 ficials. There are a good many Federal Commissioners, 
 Judges, and other officials whose usefulness would be gone 
 and whose salaries would be stopped if the present tribal re- 
 lations of the five civilized tribes of Indians were broken up 
 and either Territorial or State Government adopted. With- 
 out a single exception, the opinion of all others than Federal 
 officials is in favor of a change. Men who have lived in the 
 Indian Territory for a generation, and others who have lived 
 on its borders and traveled through it for an equally long 
 period, all pronounce the present condition of affairs a dis- 
 grace to the national Government, 
 
 In a recent magazine article Gov. Fishback of Arkansas, 
 who has lived most of his life at Fort Smith on the border of 
 the "nation,"' as the Indian Territory is called, says : "This 
 territory in its present condition has become a national peet- 
 house ! It is a disgrace to our country, to civilization, and 
 to humanity!" He takes the Government to task in this 
 way: 
 
 ''We have entered into treaties with the five civilized tribes 
 as if they \vere an independent nation, and yet we, at the same 
 time, assert jurisdiction over them as if Indian Territory 
 were a part or parcel of our national domain. We try them 
 in courts just as we try citizens of the United States in any 
 state or territory. This dual jurisdiction makes law and 
 order impossible. If an Indian kills a white man or a white 
 man kills an Indian, he is tried in the United States courts. 
 If an Indian kills an Indian of the same tribe he is tried in 
 the Indian courts. This, with the sparsely settled condition, 
 makes the Territory a safe harbor for criminals. Almost 
 every week I am asked to offer a reward for criminals who 
 commit crima In this state and flee to the nation for refuge. 
 
240 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 The Territory has become a school of crime for the younger 
 Indians. The recent bands of desperadoes are almost all 
 young men. Our Government's relation to the Indians is a 
 sham. It treats them as foreigners, and at the same time 
 treats them as citizens. It does not protect the real Indian, 
 who has been driven to the wilds and fastnesses by the 
 squaw men and sharpers who now control the Territory. "We 
 pretend to protect the poor Indian from robbery by the rich, 
 while in reality we protect nobody but the rich in their rob- 
 bery of the poor Indian." 
 
 A remedy is the next thing. Gov. Fishback and others who 
 consider present conditions a disgrace would welcome either 
 Territorial or State Government for the Territory. No one 
 talks of taking any land from the Indians. It is even pro- 
 posed to allow the new Indian State, like Texas, tosabsolute- 
 ly control its own public domain. All that is asked is that 
 the Indian Territory shall change its form of government 
 and come into line with the rest of the nation either as a Ter- 
 ritory or as a State. 
 
 Judge Farker, the Federal Judge at Fort Smith, and per- 
 haps the most conservative living authority on our relations 
 with the five civilized tribes, has sentenced more Indian 
 criminals to death than any other Judge, and yet so just is 
 he in the interpretation of Indian treaties and so fearless in 
 the punishment of crime that the Indians regard him as their 
 greatest friend. He says: " Territorial government would 
 not better the condition of the Indian Territory, neither 
 would it repress crime. I favor State government for the 
 Indian Territory, and believe the Indians themselves will 
 ask for it in time, say within ten years. But the process of 
 civilization is slow, and the Indians are not yet ready for 
 state government. There should be no intermediate Terri- 
 torial process, which would only aggravate present condi- 
 tions and would overrun the Territory with carpet-baggers 
 and troken-down politicians. I do not believe that crii&e in 
 the Territory is worse than it was ten or fifteen years ago, 
 and the courts are fully able to cope with it."' 
 
 On the latter point the preponderance of testimony is 
 against the conclusions of Judge Farker. Traveling men 
 who have regularly visit, d the "nation " for a dozen years 
 or more say that ten years ago they thouerht not king of mak- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 241 
 
 mg collections and carrying large sums of money on their 
 persons. They do not dare do s now, and most of them ara 
 walking arsenals. 
 
 The Indian Territory is no longer an Indian reservation, 
 and there are four or five whites to every Indian within its 
 borders. Squaw men and adventurers hold sway and have 
 fenced in all the desirable lands, with the consent of the In- 
 dians who are too rich to work. The full-blooded Indians 
 live i a isolated corners and are rarely seen. The wealth of 
 some of the tribes is remarkable, although the whites absorb 
 most of every Government allowance and rob the Indians by 
 every artifice known. Even after being plundered for year?, 
 the Oage Indians in the Territory are worth about $20,000 
 for every man, woman, and child in the tribe. There are 
 many very rich men among the Cherokees and Chickasaws. 
 But the Indians have already practically surrendered their 
 lands to the whites, and by inviting the latter into the Terri- 
 tory for purposes of tribute have, it is claimed, themselves 
 abrogated their treaty with the United States. 
 
 Whatever may be the force of the treaty with the five civi- 
 lized tribes, it is manifest that law and order cannot be sac- 
 rificed. Post-offices are being robbed, mail trains are held 
 up, and inter-state commerce is interrupted by the Terri- 
 tory's gangs of bandits. The United States Government is 
 set at defiance daily, and the public at large do not really 
 understand the situation. 
 
24:2 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXTX. 
 
 TH3 FIVE TRIBES OF CIVILIZED INDIANS -PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN 
 CONGRESS TO GIVE THEM TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 IT is a difficult matter for Congress to supply legislation of 
 a sort that will at once bo acceptable to the Indians and de- 
 sirable for the Government. The j;awes Commission, j-p- 
 pointed to confer with the tribes was unfortunate in not be- 
 ing able to get any counter propositions from the Indians in 
 response to their own. On the day appointed the Indians 
 met the Commissioners, listened attentively to what was 
 said, and asked time for consideration, but promised noth- 
 ing, and all the indications were against a favorable con- 
 clusion. 
 
 The proposals submitted to the Five Tribes by the Com- 
 missioners were, with slight modifications, the same for each 
 of them. First, all lands except town sites and coal and min- 
 eral lands were to be divided in severalty among the citizens 
 of the tribes according to treaties now in force, the land thus 
 taken for homes being made inalienable for twenty-live 
 years, or such longer period as was agreed upon. Each al- 
 lottee should receive his land without expense,any trespassers 
 being removed. Town sites, coal and minerals already dis- 
 covered before allotment were to be disposed of by fair and 
 just agreement, protecting the interests both of the tribes 
 and those who had invested in them. Ail claims against the 
 United States were to be settled, and all invested funds not 
 devoted to school purposes and all moneys found due from 
 the United States or derived from the sale of town sites, coal 
 and minerals were to be divided per capita among the citi- 
 zens. Finally, a Territorial Government should be formed 
 by Congress over such of the tribes as might consent to it, 
 the pi osent tribal government meanwhile continuing until 
 a.fter fie allotment of land and money. For some tribes a 
 board of three persons, one to be a member of the Dawes 
 Commission, another a member of the tribe, and a third se- 
 lected by those two, was to be appointed upon all questions 
 of citizenship and right to allotments. But in the case of the 
 Cherokee tribe, which; according to a decision of th Interior 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. HC> 
 
 Department, is the exclusive j udge of who are citizens, this 
 proposal was withdrawn. 
 
 State legislation proposed in Congress covers the two main 
 points thus presented, namely, allotment in beveralty and a 
 change to Territorial Government. Uut it proposed to deal 
 with them in a compulsory manner instead of allowing the 
 Indians a voice in the matter. One of the propositions of 
 the Dawes Commission was that an agreement for a Territor- 
 ial Government, " when made, shall be submitted for ratifi- 
 cation to the Cherokee Government, and if ratified by it shall 
 then be submitted to Congress for approval/' This appears 
 to be a very fair arrangement in any case. 
 
 But the question arises whether, after all, the Indians 
 would ever consent to these two main provisions. It appears 
 that on Jan. 23rd, 18;/4, the Dawes Commission met, at Mus- 
 cogee, a commission appointed by Chief Legus C. Ferryman 
 of the Creek Nation ; but, after a conference, the Creek dele- 
 gates requested a public meeting at Okmulgee, their capital. 
 At that point,on April 3rd,a u umber of Creek citizens expressed 
 themselves as desiring the proposed changes on account of 
 the poverty-stricken condition of the common people ; but 
 after the Commissioners had addressed the large gathering 
 the Chief followed in the Creek language, which was not in- 
 terpreted to the Commissioners. They were informed, how- 
 by one who was present, that the Chief told the people 
 that they would each receive a lot of land only 8 feet by 4. It 
 was unfortunate that the Commissioners did not take the pre- 
 caution to provide themselves with an interpreter, as they 
 would have learned whether the Chief's statement was only 
 a jocose reference to the fact that allotment might yield a 
 burial lot. At all events they found that on a vote the entire 
 meeting " passed over to the side against our propositions." 
 Immediately thereafter the Creek Council met and passed 
 resolutions declining to appoint persons to treat with the 
 Commissioners, or to take any steps looking to the allotment 
 of lands or change of government. Nevertheless, on July 
 25th, the Dawes Commission sent in the formal propositions 
 already spoken of, but received no answer to them. 
 
 The Choctaw Council was addressed in like manner at its 
 capital, Tuskahoma, on Jan. -J ~,th, and afterward the Commis- 
 sioners, by request, addressed meetings on various points 
 
244 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 during the spring and summer ; but it seems that they were 
 accompanied by three persons appoiuted by the Choetavv 
 Council who could speak both English and Choctaw, and 
 " were instructed to use their influence to prevent favorable 
 consideration of the propositions submitted." In fact no an- 
 swer came from the Choctaw Council. Like results followed 
 the labors among the Chickasaws, who were addressed, at thft 
 suggestion of Gov. Jonas Wolfe, Feb. 6th, 1894, atTishomingo, 
 and afterward elsewhere. 
 
 The Cherokees were in like manner called upon ; but at the 
 outset, on Jan. 30th, 1394, a Commission, instructed to deal 
 with the visitors, informed the latter that their tribal Council 
 had forbidden them to enter upon negotiations looking to al- 
 lotment or changes of government. Afterward Chief C. J. 
 Harris asked for an extension of the time for answering the 
 propositions until the November meeting of the Cherokee 
 Council, but nothing came of it. The negotiations with the 
 Seminoles were of the same fruitless character. 
 
 Taking these facts into consideration, it seems absolutely 
 hopeless to secure either the suggested change of govern- 
 ment or severalty allotment without taking compulsory steps 
 or else offering to the Indians inducements greater than have 
 yet been mentioned. The conclusion of the Dawes Commis- 
 sion was in favor of overthrowing the present Governments, 
 on the ground that the Indians themselves had violated the 
 spirit of the treaties allowing lands to be held in common 
 and securing tribal rule. 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 SURVIVORS OF INDIAN WARS ONLY ABOUT 4,000 VETERANS AND 
 WIDOWS -NOW ALIVE. 
 
 THE report accompanying a bill introduced in Congress to 
 pension the surviving soldiers of the Indian wars whose 
 names are not now borne on the pension rolls, and which was 
 written by Mr. Tawney of Minnesota, contains some interest- 
 ing statistics. It shows that there still remain of the Semi 
 nole war of 1817 only five survivors and 120 widows; of the 
 " La Fevre" Indian war, which occurred sixty-eight years 
 ago, there remain only 14 survivors and 107 widows ; of the 
 Sabine war of 1836 there remain on!y 21 survivors and 155 
 widows ; of the Cayuse war of 1 >47 there are 114 survivors 
 and 32 widows ; of the Texas and New Mexico Indian wars 
 there still survive 1,418 veterans and 8, 1 widows ; of t',e Cali- 
 fornia Indian wars there still survive 470 and 230 widows ; 
 of the Indian wars of Oregon and Washington, prior to 1 
 t ijore still survive 2,399 and 1,340 widows. In many cases the 
 so man's name appears twice on the rolls, and it is esti- 
 mated that a proper accounting of the soldiers will show that 
 not more than 4,000 are alive at present. 
 
 ' The last of these wars/' the report continues, " occurred 
 forty years ago, and the estimated age of the survivors is 
 fixed at 63 years, while the estimated age of the Sominole 
 survivors is 94 years. We owe to them largely, if not entire- 
 ly, the acquisition of the vast empire of the Pacific North- 
 west. Most of the old survivors are in needy circumstances, 
 while all are in old age, and it is estimated by the Commis- 
 sioner of Pensions that the pensionable period cannot extend 
 more than about seven years hence. Many of these men 
 were omitted from the act pensioning survivors of Indian 
 wars between 18.2 and 1842, and for this reason the latest bill 
 is the more just, since it includes all the survivors of the 
 recognized Indian wars prior to Ib56." 
 
246 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 OHAPTEE XXXI. 
 
 INDIAN GAMBLING A FLIGHT OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUSTS A 
 PRAIRIE FIRE. 
 
 A YOUNG captive among the Indians told his friends after 
 escape that the tribe holding him were greatly addicted to 
 gambling. They had a variety of games ; one was that of the 
 moccasin. It is played by a number of persons divided into 
 two parties. In one of four moccasins, a little stick, or small 
 piece of cloth, is concealed. They are then laid down by the 
 side of each other in a row, and one of the adverse party 
 touches two of the moccasins. If the one he first touches 
 has the thing hidden ^ in it, the player loses eight to 
 the opposite party ; if it is not in the second, but in one of 
 the two passed over, he loses two ; if it is not in the one he 
 touches first, and is in the last, he wins eight. The articles 
 staked are valued by agreement. A beaver-skin or blanket 
 is valued at ten ; sometimes a horse at one hundred. There 
 is another game played with circular counters, one side of 
 them being plain, while the other is painted black. Gener- 
 ally nine are used, but never fewer. They are put together 
 on a large wooden bowl, which is placed upon a blanket, 
 when the two parties playing, numbering perhaps thirty 
 people, sit down in a circle. The game consists in striking 
 the edge of the bowl so as to throw all the counters into the 
 air, and on the manner in which they fall upon the blanket 
 or into the bowl, depends the player's gain or loss. If the 
 player is fortunate in the first instance, he strikes again and 
 again until he misses, when it is passed on to the next. So 
 excited do the Indians become, that they often quarrel des- 
 perately. On one occasion the captive was staked by the In- 
 dian who considered himself his owner, and he was lost to a 
 chief. The squaw, who had the care of him, on hearing that 
 he had been lost with other property cried, and declared that 
 she would not agree to his being given up. Thereupon sev- 
 eral packs of peltries, the whole of his remaining property, 
 were staked in a fresh game by his owner, who won, and the 
 captive remained with his Indian mother. 
 
 One of the strange sights that frequently came over the 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 247 
 
 vision of Indians and on several memorable occasions has 
 been witnessed by settlers, to their sorrow, in the region of 
 the Rock Mountains, was the army of locusts en route over 
 the plains. The horizon at first wears an unearthly ashen hue, 
 giving one the impression of an approaching storm. Present- 
 ly it seems as if the whole air is filled with light silvery clouds, 
 and what looks at first like flakes of snow falling turn out to 
 be numberless large insects with wings. The number in the 
 air in a short time becomes so great that at intervals they per- 
 ceptibly lessen the light of the sun. In looking upward as 
 near to the sun as the light will permit, the sky continually 
 changes color from blue to silvery white, ashy gray, and lead 
 color, according to the density of the masses of insects. Op- 
 posite to the sun the prevailing hue is silvery white, percept- 
 ibly flashing. The hum produced by the vibration of so 
 many million wings is quite indescribable, and is more like 
 what some people call a ringing in the ears, than any other 
 sound that is anything like it. The sight is very awe-pro- 
 ducing to the mind. At first the locusts take short flights, 
 but as the day increases, cloud after cloud arise from the 
 prairie and pursue their way in the direction of the wind. 
 Later in the day, they settle down upon the leaves of shrubs 
 and grass to rest after their long flights. The whole district 
 where they alight presents a curious appearance, for they 
 cut the grass uniformly to one inch from the ground. If 
 they settle on any cultivated ground, the entire crops of 
 corn, wheat or rye is destroyed. They leave nothing green 
 behind them, and even devour such things as woolen gar- 
 ments, skins and leather with the most astonishing rapidity. 
 Though they fly very high in the air when on their journeys, 
 they pitch usually on the ground by preference. Occasion- 
 ally the forests are stripped of their leaves, and are left with 
 a thoroughly wintry aspect, by these rapacious insects. In 
 1875 , great deprivation was caused by the ravages of the lo- 
 custs in a certain meridian of the West. It has been assert- 
 ed that locusts boiled, and afterward stewed with a few 
 vegetables and a little butter, pepper, salt and vinegar, make 
 an excellent frioaases. This land of meat might have satis- 
 fied John the Baptist, but no one need be alarmed that lo- 
 custs will ever beoonae a staple article of food in the United 
 
v*o INDIAN IvJASoACivES. 
 
 For the benefit of those who never witnessed a genuine 
 prairie fire a vivid description of one is here published. The 
 story is told by a camping part . About half a mile away 
 appeared what looked like a vast burning lake about a mile 
 in width arid extending to a much greater distance. Pres- 
 ently, beyond it, another began to blaze up, increasing with 
 terrible rapidity ; and, further off a third bright light was 
 seen, which also began quickly to extend itself. Nothing, 
 save a volcanic eruption, could surpass it in grandeur. The 
 flames rose to an extraordinary height, rushing over the 
 ground v. ith the speed of race horses, and devouring every 
 tree and shrub in the coursb. The wind blew it away from 
 us ; but we could surmise how fearful would have been our 
 doom had we been on foot traveling across that part of the 
 country. We should have had no chance of escape, for the 
 intervals which at first existed betweeu these lakes of fire 
 quickly filled up. The conflagration swept on to the west- 
 ward, gradually also creeping up toward us. We continued 
 watching it, unable to tear ourselves away from the spot. It 
 was grand and awful in the extreme. To arrest its progress 
 would have been utterly beyond the power of human beings. 
 The Indians have a paradoxical way of saying they have 
 " put out fire" w r hen they mean they have just started one. 
 They frequently committed this destructive act simply as a 
 signal to let their friends know that they had found buf- 
 falo. Streams of water or marshes, or a heavy rainfall, are 
 the only extinguishers of prairie fires. 
 
 THE SCOUTS AND THE SIOUX. 
 
 A niount-iiiciosed valley, close sprinkled with fair flowers. 
 As if a shattered rainbow had fallen there in showers; 
 Bright-pluinaged birds were warbling their songs among the trees, 
 Or fluttering their tiny wings in the cooling western breeze. 
 The cotton woods, by mountain's base, on every side high tower, 
 And the dreamy haze in silence marks the sleepy noontide hour. 
 East, south and north, to meet the clouds the lofty mounts arise, 
 Guarding this little valley a wild Western Paradise. 
 Pure and untrampied as it looks, this lovely flower-strewn sod 
 One scarce would think that e'er, by niau, had such a sward been 
 
 trod ; 
 
 But yonder, see those wild mustangs by lariat held in check, 
 Tearing up the fairest flora, which fairies might bedeck; 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 219 
 
 And near a camp-fire's smoke, we see men standing all around 
 'Tis strange, for from them has not come a. single word or sound. 
 Standing by cottonvvood, with arms close-folded on his breast, 
 Gazing with his eaglo eyes up to the mountain's crest, 
 Tall and commanding is his form, and graceful is his mien; 
 As fair in face, as noble, has seldom here been seen. 
 A score or more of frontiersman recliae upon the ground, 
 But starting soon upon their feet, by sudden snort and bound ! 
 A horse has sure been frightened by strange scent on the breeze, 
 And glances now by all are caut beneath the towering t*ees. 
 A quiet sign their leader gives, and mustangs now are brought, 
 And, by swift-circling lasso, a loose one fast is caught. 
 Then thundering round the mountain's dark adamantine side, 
 A hundred hideous, painted, and ficrca Sioux warriors ride; 
 Wuile, from their t'aroats, tho well-kaowu and horrible dcath-kneli, 
 The wild blood-curdling war-whoop, and the fierce and fiendish yell, 
 Strike the ears of all, now r?ady to.fight, a K! e'en to die, 
 In that mount-inclosed valley, Ic-ncath that blood-red sky! 
 Nov riu^s throughout the open, on all sides clear and shrill, 
 Tho dreaded battle-cry of him whom men call Buffalo Bill! 
 On, like a whirlwind, then they dush the brave scouts of the plains, 
 Their rifle-barrels soft caressed by mustang's flying manes ! 
 On, like an avalanche, they sweep through the tail prairie grass; 
 Down, fast upon them, swooping, tha drtad and savage mass! 
 Wild yells of fierce bravado come, and taunts of deep despair; 
 While, through the battle-smoke there fiuunts each feathered tufcof 
 
 hair. 
 
 And loudly rings the war-cry of fearless Buffalo Bill ; 
 And loudly rings (lie savage yells, which make the blood run chill! 
 The gurgling death-cry n.ingles with the mustang's shrillest scream, 
 And sound of dull and sodden falls and howie's brightest gleam. 
 At length there slowly rises the smoke from heaps of slain, 
 Whose wild war-cries will never more ring on the air again. 
 Then, panting and bespattered from tha showers of foam and bio xl, 
 The scouts have once more halted 'neath the shady cottonwool. 
 In haste they are re loading, and preparing for a sally, 
 While the scattered fee, now desperate, are yolling in the valley. 
 Again are heard revolvers, with their rattling, sharp report; 
 Again the scouts are seen to charge down on that wild cohort. 
 Sioux fpll around, like dead reeds, when fiercest northers blow, 
 And rapid sink in death before their hated pale-face foe ! 
 Sad, smothered now is music from the mountain's rippling rill, 
 But wild hurrahs instead are heard from our brave Buffalo Bill, 
 Who, through the thickest carnage charged ever in the van. 
 And cheered fainthearts around him, since first the fight begun. 
 
250 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 Deeply demoralized, the Sioux fly fast with bated breath, 
 
 ADC! glances cast of terror along that vale of death ; 
 
 While the victors quick dismounted, and looking all around, 
 
 On their dead and mangled enemies, whose corses strewed the ground. 
 
 " I had sworn I would avenge them" were the words of Buffalo 
 
 Bill 
 
 " Tie mothers and their infants they slew at Medicine Hill. 
 Our work is done dona nobly I looked for that from you; 
 Boys, when a cause is just, you need but stand firm, and true! " 
 
 " Buckskin Sam," in Beadlefs Weekly. 
 
INBIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXXII. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE THE MORMON CHURCH THE IN- 
 STIGATORA SCENE OF HORROR. 
 
 THE massacre of 1807 by the Indians, instigated by Mor- 
 mon rulers, for baseness of motive and fiendish ferocity of 
 execution has no parallel in the history of civilized nations. 
 A party of emigrants from Arkansas to California, number- 
 ing nearly 150 persons, pursued their uneventful journey un- 
 til thoy arrived at the Mormon settlements of Utah. On all 
 sides there seemed to be a premeditated agreement to refuse 
 the emigrants the slightest courtesy or any information. 
 Even money, so potent everywhere, would purchase no deli- 
 cacy for the children, medicine for the sick, or food for them- 
 selves and their starving animals. The party journeyed 
 wearily onward until they reached the Mountain Meadows, in 
 Washington county, 325 miles from Salt Lake City. This 
 . was an oasis, indeed, with verdant grasses and crystal springs 
 of water. In order to recruit their stock, it was decided to 
 remain on the beautiful spot a few days, not suspecting any 
 danger ; but they were doomed to encounter a fate as horri- 
 ble as it was unlocked for and undeserved. 
 
 The Mormon sp.as reported to their superiors this fatal 
 decision of the emigrating party, and the Indians, who had 
 been incited to fury against these unfortunate people, were 
 led on to the attack. Among them were fifty or sixty Mor- 
 disguised as Indians. The force was led by John D. 
 Lee, and several fiendish associates, one of them being a 
 Mormon bishop. Having surrounded the unsuspecting emi- 
 grants on the 12th of September, the next morning, at dawn, 
 they made a furious attack upon them, killing seven and 
 wounding sixteen, three of them fatally. Although taken 
 unawares, they made a noble defense, and the savages and 
 their allies were beaten off with severe loss. None of the 
 Mormons were killed, but several Indians were. Infuriated 
 at the loss of their warriors, runners were sent out to various 
 tribes for reinforcements, and Mormon militia were hurried 
 forward also to render certain the annihilation of the heroic 
 men who bravely held their corral against overwhelming 
 
2A3 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 numbers of their assailants. S > successfully had the Mor- 
 mons disguised themselves that two of the Arkansans slipped 
 through the Indian Hues the next night and were making 
 their way back to Cedar City to as'c help from the Mormons, 
 when they were met by some of the faithful. Their errand 
 was stated to these fiends, when one of them instantly shot 
 one of the messengers. The other was wounded, but man- 
 aged to get back to the corral with the report that they could 
 more hopefully look for mercy from the Indians than the 
 Mormons. After the first attack 0:1 Tuesday the emigrants 
 drew their wagons close together, and dug a rifle pit in their 
 midst, and from this the emigrants poured out a deadly fire 
 on the hordes of savages whenever they attempted a charge. 
 On Thursday, just at daylight, another furious attack was 
 made by the combined forces, but it proved disastrous to the 
 besiegers. One band of Indians left in disgust, and drove 
 off some of the emigrants' cattle. 
 
 The same day one of the leading Mormons ciossed the val- 
 ley to get on higher ground to spy out the best method of 
 attack. The emigrants saw his movements, and also per- 
 ceived that he was a white man. Two little girls were sent 
 out to liini with a flag of truce, to implore terms for the 
 doomed train, but were unrecognized. He satisfied himself 
 that some other method than assault would have to be re- 
 sorted to dislodge the emigrants. That night there was a 
 Mormon council held, a]: \vhich it was decided that on the 
 morrow the Arkansans should be decoyed from their fortress, 
 and all of them who were . old enough to talk were to be 
 butchered. The arrangements agreed upon were, that John 
 D. Lee was to treat with the emigrants under a flag of truce. 
 lie was to demand that all of the young children were to be 
 put into one wagon, the wounded into another,ana the arms in- 
 to a third. They were then to be protected from the Indians 
 and conveyed in safety back to Cedar City, where they could 
 wait until the arrival of some other train and go through to 
 California with it. The three wagons were to be driven with- 
 out halt past the Mormons and savages, who had been < m- 
 cealed in a growth of scrub cedars, over a quarter of a mile 
 from where they had dug the rifle pit. Following the wagon 
 were to come the women and youth. These were to pass the 
 Mormon militia and not to halt until in the midst of the ce- 
 
INDIAN MASSACRES. 253 
 
 dar thickets, where the Indians were hidden. The men were 
 to be halted opposite the militia, who were to form a line on 
 tho right of the emigrants with their guns lying across tkeir 
 left arms ready for instant action. The march was then to bo 
 resumed until the three wagons had cleared the cedar thir 
 aid the women were in the midst of it, with the men about a 
 hundred yards behind them. A signal was then to be givers 
 at which. the militia was to shoot the unarmed men, the In- 
 dians to rise from their ambush and butcher the women an. I 
 the larger children, while Lee and others were to murder the 
 wounded. The emigrants accepted the terms proposed. Tho 
 arms and ammunition were surrendered. 
 
 While all were moving forward in the order stated, the sig- 
 nal was given. After a moment of deep silence, there came 
 a report of a single gun, and the carnival of murder had be- 
 gun. Before the echoes of that gun, or the death moan of 
 its victim had died away, there came the fierce rattle of 
 musketry, the skrieks of the wounded and the groans of 
 dying men. Further up the line toward the wagons, where 
 the red savages had waite 1, was 'heard their blood curdling 
 whoops and the screams of women and children. Bow and 
 rifle, spear and tomahawk, were doing the infamous work of 
 the Mormon church. Childhood and age; the matron and 
 maiden ; the hoary octogenariau and tiny prattler, and babes 
 at the breast were ruthlessly butchered. Nearly every one 
 of the male emigrants was killed by the first fire ; but strange 
 to say three escaped death and made their way almost to 
 the borders of California before they were overtaken and 
 killed. Two girls escaped into the cedar brush, but were 
 trailed by an Indian chief, who wanted to save them. 1 
 cut the throat of one, and commanded the chief to shoot the 
 other. When the massacre was complete the dead bodies 
 were robbed of money and jewelry, and the Indians carried 
 away all the clothing stripped from the victims. The next I 
 day the corpses were thrown into ditches and covered light- 
 ly with dirt, which was entirely washed olT by the next 
 spring, and their flesh and bones became food for beasts of 
 prey and carrion birds". 
 
 Nearly 20 years after this horrible massacre the Mormon 
 church surrendered Lee to suffer for this terrible crime. On 
 March 23rd, 1877, he was taken to the meadows and shot to 
 
254 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 death the laws of Utah Territory giving the condemned a 
 choice of death h ,g or shooting. A single life to 
 
 atone for the murder of one hundred and thirty-five souls ! 
 

256 INDIAN MASSACRES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. } \J 
 
 INDIAN TERRITORY COURTS THE NEW SYSTEM ADOPTED BY CON- 
 GRESS FOR ENLARGED JURISDICTION THERE. 
 
 IN a former chapter some idea has been given of the law- 
 lessness that has prevailed in the Indian Territory for 
 several years. Congress has at last afforded partial relief to 
 the oppressed by talking an important step to improve the 
 judicial system of that section of the country. Under an 
 act, which became a law just befoiv adjournment, March 4th, 
 1895, the Indian Territory is divided into three judicial dis- 
 tricts, each to have at least two terms annually of the United 
 States Court. The Northern district, consisiing of the Creek, 
 Semiuole, Cherokee, Quapaw Agency and Miami Tounsite 
 country, will have sessions at Yinita, Miami, Tahlequah and 
 Muscjogee; the Central district, or Choctaw country, at South 
 McAlester, Atoka, Antlers and Cameron; the Southern dis- 
 trict, or Ciiickasaw country, at Ardmore, Purcell, Paul's 
 Valley, Ryan and Chickasha. Two additional judges will- 
 be appointed, there formerly being only one, who is hereafter 
 to be the judge for the Central district, the new ones then 
 being, of course, for the Northern and Southern. The salary 
 of each judge is to be $5,000, and the additional judges may 
 be appointed and commissioned during the recess of Con- 
 gress. Provisions are also made for appointing an attorney 
 and marshal in each district at a salary of $4,000 for each, 
 with deputy marshals at $1,200. Other provisions relate to 
 the manner of summoning jurors and to the general admin- 
 istration of justice, including, of course, the extent of juris- 
 diction and the methods of serving process. 
 
 Especially important to note is the provision that after 
 Sept. 1st, 1896, the United States Court in the Indian Terri- 
 tory is to have exclusive original jurisdiction of offenses 
 committed in the Territory except in such cases as the courts 
 at Paris, Tex. ; Fort Smith, Ark., and Fort Scott, Kan., shall 
 have acquired jurisdiction of before that time. Again, it is to 
 have original jurisdiction of civil cases as now, and appellate 
 urisdiction of cases tried before commissioners acting as 
 justices of the peace in which the judgment exceeds $2 >.