Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-15
F;om fhe Missouri Republican.

euItlUu VI OuuUus
From the Missouri Republican.
THR nEcrsN1se OF SORROWS The following
letter, detailing the death OF most respec table
citizen of Washington county. by portion OF
Gen. Jackson's Emigrating Indians. does not take
us by surprise. Ever since the passage OF the
Law locating the Indians upon our borders, we
have regarded it as thing certain, that murders
and collisions between the whites and the sava-
ees, would take place. Here we have the hrst
fruits of policy which we have reprobated, but
which the majority of the people Of Missouri have
seen fit to sanction. The offending Indians, it
may be said, will be punished But what Of
that? Does not all experience prove, that this
will not deter them from the commission Of crime,
when revenge or the love of gain urges them to
it, and an opportunity is affordedf The Seneca
Indians approach, perhaps, as near to civilization
as any other nation that has been placed on our
borders by the Government; yet. when an oppor
tunity is afforded TO them, they do not hesitate TO
take away the life Of the white man. Is it
then likely, that more savage tribes will not i'm.
prove the time, and commit the most barbarous
cruelties upon those who who may be SO luckless
as to fall into their hands.
Poros1. June 2slh, 1885.
Messrs Charles s. PaschaH:-
GEsTLEMEN:-lt becomes my painful duty to
give publicity, through the medium OF your paper.
Of the murder which was committed By the Sene.
ca Indians on the night Of the 22d Of April last,
on the person Of ABRAHAM BRINKER, Esquire,
Of this place. The circumstances attending the
fatal occurrence, SO far as am informed, will
give you. Mr.. Brinker being man Of conside-.
rable enterprise, had left home in the month Of
December last, on trading excursions; and, for
the purpose of making himself acquainted with
the settlement on the Arkansas, had proceeded
to the extreme western borders Of this state,
being within one mile Of the state line in
Green county; where he had stopped and put
up his goods in log hut The Indians, six in
number, entered his house about dusk, where it
appears Mr.. Brinker had fallen asleep, with
book in his hand. Being an upright man, con-
scious Innocence resting on his peaceful mind,
he never dreamt Of danger, until he awoke in
the struggles Of death, the Indians having toma.
hawked him. The noise brought to his aid
faithful negro man, whom he had taken with
him from home, and who VAS in the act Of cook.
ing supper for his master in an adjoining cabin.
But he was glad TO escape with his life, leaving
bis shirt in the haEds of the Indians, who, short
time after, dispersed-when the faithful domes.
tic returned TO the house, aid found his master
Stlit dIlNes Uut Hc never sIIOhes duu III lew
mutes died. Thus expired. in the sixty-second
year of his age. one of our most respectable and
worthy citizens, far from home and from his ia
mily. without hand to administer comfort to him
in bis diving moments, save that unseen hand
which the Poet SO beautifully paraphrases, when
he says:-
+" Jesus make dying bed feel soft as downy pill
lows are
Whilst on his breast lean my head and breathe my
life out sweetly there ="
He has been for many years acting justice Of the
peace in this county, and has once been elected a
member from this county to the State Legislature.
But, alas, he is no more: that grim monster,
death. has taken him from US. As is frequently
said, death is no respecter Of persons, 80 may we
say Of the savages; the most peaceable and un
suspectiog citizen is not secure among them. -
But it is to be hoped, that proper measures will
be taken for the apprehension aud punishment Of
the murderers. Mr.. Brinker has left All anna
bic wife and eight children Ito whom he was
kindly endeared by all the ties which character
Use an agreeable companion and tender parent,)
together with many personal friends, to mourn
over his untimely end.