Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-10-19
WAR IN FLORIDA.
From the Charleston Courier.

st. Augustine, we received an extra from the
Jacksonville (E. F. Courier, which will be found
below
Cipt. Pennoycr informs us verbally, that
large portion of the troops are suffering from dis
ease, but that preparations were making TO open
an early campaign--which we confidently hope
and trust will be prescott I'd with an earnestnsss
and vigor that will ensure ths def,at of the re-
lsntlsss savagcs, who are engaged in the butchery
Of our defenceless citiz ems.
INDIANS-BUTCHER Y-PURSUIT-ES
CAPE.
Our townsmen who went the day before yes
terday, to the rescue of Mr.. Higginbotham's finn
lily, as stated IN our last, have just returned
themselves and horses jaded and looking as if
they had a hard pursuit. They are the best and
bravest of our men, and went with the expocta-
ton and Diet termination to pursue, and overtake,
and destroy these daring Indians.
NJ ,jor ii irt, to whom we are indebted for the
following PARTICULARS, reports, that on Thursday
about III O'Clock, they reached the house Of Mr..
Iigginbotham, which was attacked. Tney
found two men (ono of whom was sick) and
the two ladies' on guard with guns in their hands.
The Indians had not rc-lppsarsd after their being
beaten off befors Mr.. Higginbotham left to report
TO us in town. On slight examination they
saw a number of bull It marks in the hous,, made
by the Indians shots-lnd saw the clothes OF the
young lady, through which the bill passed, grl-
zing the skin Of her person. She had risen curly,
and going out towards Branch for water, when
the attack was made upon tho house, between
which and herself werc the Indilns. The Indi-
ans fired at her, and one ball passed her side so
closo as to cut through all her clothes but touch
ed not her body. Sac ran to the Branch and
seated herself therein, and subsequently made her
way into the houss, passed the Indii ans in safety
After little time spsnt in search, the party IN
der Mi. ii irt found where the Indi ms enc amp
ed the night previous, not three fourths of mil,
from the house, and also the spot wher, the hor-
sas We're tied while the attack WIS made on the
house. From that spot our rty took tho Indi-
ans tr all. 1t struck the Tallahassee rold, and
thes, d ring devils kept the rold for ten mills
riding at full sp ,ed as tn cir trail showed, till they
cans to Mr.. McCormick's HOUSE, then occupied
by Mr.. johns and wis, on tho rold l8 miles from
Jacksonville. Our party in pursuit reached this
hous, about o'clock, p. M. 1t was shoulder
ing pilo ofruins.
On examination, Mi. Hart states that they
found tho calcinee bonJs, of a human bsing
burned in the house. A piece Of the blck bon,
was found with some fl Ssh upon it. The skull
was TO b, SEEM but at the touch it fell in and
crumblsd to pieces. The bones wero mostly re-
duced TO ashes. Near the houso was a quantity
of hair, to Appearances that of female. Theme,
the trail seemed to be still on the road and our
ovcrtiko the numbering Indians. They exp ects I'd
to do so at the next house mr. Lowder's) 9 miles
ahead. On arriving there they found the house
abandoned by the two females and their children
who lived thers, but unvisited by the IndiLns.-
TIE inmates had evidently fed in alarm, us the
dinner they were preparing was still at the fire
and warm, of which our party plrtook-and
then, doubtful of the trail they were on, set out
for Mr.. Sparkman's, four miles distant. 1t was
aG.1 hal
nor was it possbs for them to determine whether
they were trail or not. Great distress fill I'd
the house of Mr.. Spirkman. There was Mrs.
Johns-her arm liid open with rifle bullet
ball shot through the neck-and her scalp, so far
as the hair extended over her head, most horribly
and mlnglingly taken of'-and she still alire !
Good Col! VINO can heir tho bare recital Of
such deed, and not fyel horror stricken ut the
cold blooded barbarityi Who can hear and no
f5el thirst to revenge such Outrage?
She was able to state the circumstances of thu
attack upon herself and husband. They wor,
about 30 yards from the house, between 10 an(
III O'CLOCK, Thursday morning, when the Indi
ans showed thems ,lves by the corner of fenc
close to them. Ths Indians fired and wounded
Mr.. Johns in the left breast. Both rIn for thu
3 house, entered and closed tho door. The Indian.
came up and firsd on the house. They called on
in English, and told them if they would com
out they should not be hurt. Tue IndiIns look
ed in Through tho cracks (the house. was made o
logs) and told Mr.. Johns and his wife to com, out
but they did not consent to do so, but begged to
their livos. The order was given in Engnsh Il
chargo the house. The IndiLns burst ii--sho
MIR. Johns through the head-he fell, and hi
, wife fell upon his body. An Indian dragged he
10 the door, and said to her " hi-epuscha,"" 60.
: She asked where and he pointed towards tn
head OF Block Creek At that momsnt she saw
5 another Indian level his rihe-she threw up he
, arm-the Indian fred-lnd the ball pdssin
lengthwiss through the Asa OF her arm, pLssj
through her neck. She fell. The indians C Am
up-dragg ID her into the hall OF the house, th
Y house is what is called doubl' log house) an
2 then taking out her comb, and tearing the strih
! from her hair, scdlped her. He did not tear VA
sc alp off, but cut it as butchers take the ski
from beef.
During this operation, Mrs. Johns was sens
4 BILE of what was doing. She saw the Indian
. scalping knife, and says it was round point"
common butcher knlfa--sh, lay us if dad
:. The Indians plundoring the house, taking pal
u of portmanteau containing 800, and evory tnin
7. of vdlue-set fire to the mouse, and one lnoii
il applied the torch to her cothes-lSft tho hous'-
n gave whoop, and hurried off in the direction
. she thought from thsir noise, to the head
u Black Crock. She fit tho irs ofhsr clothes vi
o on ono leg, and as soon as she dared 10 move !
S much, gr,ppled in her hInd quantity OF n
G own clottsd blood, with which shs put out HI
burning clothes. And then, when tn, Indiir
were out OF hearing she got up--saw her mu
dsrsd husbands body unscIlped and unmov,
from the position in which he fell, except the Il
e dilus had put one foot upon the edge OF tabl
+ Tie house. was on firS-she made h,r way out
IS it, flinting every fsw minutes. She reached Il
r edge of ths sw amp, got some water and there IL
:, down, unable to got further. There shs :
I" mlined till 10 O'clock, p. M, when 3 mon, M
r. JOINS, tn, flther of her husband, Mr.. Lowd.
IN and Mr.. McCon, by, came along Tney Jaw Il
re burning house all fallen in except the corners
>. the logs, the body th,rsin burn,d-ind discovl
?. cd her, whom they took to be an lndiln
VI first, then squaw. on aavincing 10 her' wh
must have boon the feelings of her f.ther.in-li
to reconizo in the butch,rsd, bloody, and lif,le
T. womln, his dlughter-in-llw-lnd to know til
a tho burned human franz in tho house was ia
v ofhis son! These three msn cIrried her to N