The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-09-01
THE INDIANS AND ANTl.RENTERs.

ITS Organization, mode of operation, &c. interesting
The late ns esgaon Delhi has served 10 bring forth
some pretty free disclosures and to show all extent and
perfection OF organization, not before dreamed of by
those who were not in the secret We make the follow
ing extract from the report.
The testimony of Daniel Northrop, an Indian
chief, alias Hawk Ateluba, shows in substance
that he was warned out to attend the SALE to pre-
vent the property from being sold that he at
tended with his tribe at the first sale that there
were 63 Indians in disguise and armed there :
that alter the sheriff had postponed the sale and
left, they came OUT that Earl placed the property
at their DISPOSAL telling what time the sale had
been adjourned to that he again attended on the
day OF the murder with his tribe that several
tribes were there, and some from the adjoining
counties-n all about 260; about forty with rifles
lay in the bushes along the road side, lust below
Earls house, to shoot down the horses of the posse
should they approach relates the circumstance
of the killing of Steele and the horses Edger-
ton and Steele rode up-a chief stepped out and
presented his gun, and said halt E. said, "we
have right to ride in the road,'' and went along
the indian line-''we have got the chaps we
WANT twas said TO Wright if he bid on the
property he would go down the hill feet foremost
some said his head would be redder-(alludng
to Steele that if they bid on the property they
would get what they could not buy at the grocery
luding to Steele, who was sitting upon his horse,
using tooth-p pick; y they interrupted no one and
paid no attention to what the Indians said.
L saw Wright pass into the lot the Indians
had formed quarter circle around the bars Ed
gerton and Steele wanted to come in through the
bars Indians said they should not come through
they rode through, Edgerton on the right got
through the bars horse length or more Indians
fell back, forming half moon Edgerton and
Steele standing about stationary, Edgerton raised
himself in his saddle, and in loud voice COM
manded all spectators to assist in preserving the
peace; had not then drawn his pistol; Steele had
not drawn his pistol the order had been issued
to shoot the horses, shoot him, and man stepped
up and presented his gun at Edgerton's horse,
and then Edgerton again commanded the peace
heard the words, 'clip them off, gun was fired
just as Edgerton got through commanding the
peace three guns were then fred loud reports,
and Edgerton's horse reeled up to this time
pistol had not been fired at this fire, saw the
blood come out of the fore shoulder of Edgerton's
horse said, "My God, they have shot his horse;''
his horse then plunged forward Steele's horse
plunged forward; Indians kept up an incessant
fire until Steele fell ; Edgerton again command
ed the peace, and called them murderers Ed
gerton's horse fell just about where Steele fell:
said, "My God, | believe they have killed him
too; some left the ground, others remained saw
ing they would protect the sale; Steele was only
wounded ; quit the ground-it looked like hold
ing pow WOW around dead body they called
me coward; heard them say Steele was what
they wanted, and they had got hold of him.
The Indian organization was first formed wear
ago last May +; have constitution all enrolled
upon oath that they will support the constitution
OF the Anti-Rent Association and stand by each
other as long as life lasts. The committees of the
Anti Rent Association swear in the Indians. |
was sworn by, committeeman. 1t was the
intention that the society should pay the expenses
Last September, about the time Timothy Corbin
was about serving some declarations in BRAY Hol-
low, in Middletown, alarm was made, the ma
hves were called out, and | went up as far as
Henry Lynch's. The natives had returned and
given up the chase after Corbn Martin Kelly.
the president of the Middletown and Roxburv as
sociation, called the Indians across the creek in
the lot not far from Lynch's house, and addressed
them-twenty or more, of whom | was one
charging them that Corbin had fled, and had run
his horse down Bray Hollow Mountains and thew
must catch him at all events, and shoot his horse
down, and if they could not get him in any other
way they must break an arm or a leg
The committee told me that il | would provide
a dress and mosk for myself they would allow
it to me on my ten cent per acre tax done so
and 1t was allowed, the committee procured
dress for my son. Zadoc p Northrop the dresses
and masks generally were furnished by the COM
citation we were all sworn; the oath | took was
in substance as follows 90 do of nv own free
will and accord come forward to join this body of
men, promising in the presence of Almighty God
that will do all in my power to support the con.
stltuton; and will reveal secrets of the socie-
ty made known to me necessary to be kept
The Indians when out on duty were to be paid
out of the society when there was a surplus.
The following sketch of the testimony of Squres
another OF the arrested Indians, goes to prove the
same point
Witness resides in Roxbury joined the Anti
Rent Association in June, 1914 John Mayham,
OF Blenheim, first addressed us, and recommend
ed the formation OF an Ambient society told
us the landlords had no title, and it was wrong to
pay rent they had no title TO any land in Rox
bury. In order to avoid payment, he advised us
to form into associations and stand by each other.
that there was Indian force in other places he
recommended an Indian force to resist the col
lection OF rents; that was the only way to pro-
tect us the Indians would go to the sales and
prevent persons from bidding on the property =
to surround it, and keep the bidders from being
heard. An association was formed. Jonathan O.
Allabun has spoken on the subject. Doctor
Goodrich this summer. In September last. a
meeting in Andes was addressed by Gen. Root.
Gordon and Allabun; 200 Indians were on the
ground, neither OF the orators expressed anv die