Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-02
No. TX.
Detroit, Oct. 81, 1915

Detroit, Oct. y, 1915.
His ErceAencv Coz. Cass,
SlR-Agreeably to request, I transmit
to you for your Information, statement of
the facts relative TO the killing of an Indian
on the shore Of Gross Isle.
was on my way, in a battesux, accom-
panied by nine men, to Cross Isle. When
arrived within about mile of my house,
on Gross Isle, heard the report of rife,
which proceeded from the shore. imme-
diately ordered the men to put to shore
with the boat. The shore where the bat
teAuX landed, was high on a bluff as
cended it unaccompaned by any of the
men: when arrived at the summit of the
bank, discovered an Indian tent pitched
and bark cabin. ! entered the cabin,
where / found one Indian. seuaw, and 2
or young children. I observed the squaw
was working at something which she en-
ceavored to conceal upon nearer OK
animation OF the matter, found that the
object oil her labor was number of catt!es'
feet. | asked the Indian where he pro-
cured so many of them he informed me
lie had got them at the gcig EyQnl, pointing
10 my house. told him had not killed
any cattle this sumner, and consequently
ne must have taken that liberty himself. I
then left him and returned TO the batteaux,
where | desired two or three of the men to
come with me and see what these fellows
had been committing. The men followed
ME up the hill and catered the cabin, where
in addition to the cows or cattle's feet,
they found two or three tails, viii h ap-
peared to be taken from animals that had
been bat lately killed. then Informed the
Indian, that If caught him or any of his
tribe upon the Island after tomorrow, that
would come with the men l had with me
then, and massacre every one of them.
was then proceeding t. the battcaux, with
the intention of going of, when perceived
or Indians issuing from the woods,
with their rifles upon their shoulders. They
came up to the place where / was standing.
and passed by NE to their canoe, which
lay about twenty yards from the batteaux.
When they had arrived at their canoe and
were entering it, (still standing on the
top of the hill with the. three men) called
to them and bade them be of, and never
more make their appearance on the island,
Whilst was speaking to them, the Indian
whom found in the cabin, came forward
and addressed them in the Indian language
upon which they set M the most hIdeous
yell ever listened TO in my life. The ca
noe in which they were during the time I
was speaking to them, had BEEN showed or
paddled from the shore about ten or twelve
feet, when one Of toe Indians seized his ri
He, which he had placed in the bottom of
the caroe1 and levelled it at me, with what
intention, | could not divine at the tine
The men in the boat cried out, " Mr.. Ma
comb, he is going 10 Sho0t you! I" upon
which enc of the three men who was near
me, Immediately fired upon him & killed
him. He fell in the bottom of the canoe x
was taken over to the English side. 1t was
with the greatest difficulty could prevent
the men in til boat from firing upon them
after the first one had fired. / then order
ed the men to return with me to the boat,
and we proceeded on our way to my house.
This, sir. is the true statement Of facts :;
and, permit me to add, that have often
been annoyed b. these insolent fellows, who
have heretofore been instrumental in Kill
Ing my cattle on the island.
have the honor to be, sir, your most o.
bedient serv't,
DAVID B. MACOMB.
Sworn to before me
at Detroit, the