The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-06-05

plan Of instantly blowing a ship and
her crew into the air by my new
preparation of Eliminating powder,
| shall withhold until | see how my
present project is patronized by a
liberal and enlightened public.
TIaE l7DsAN CREEK uAsssgEE.
Few Of our readers, it is preSum-
ed, are aware that an Indian massa-
ere, scarcely fourteen years ago,
took place almost in our midst, in
the present county Of La Sale, and
about GO miles from Chicago, and
that the whole population in the vici-
nifty, which survived had to seek pro-
lection under the guns of Fort Dear
born. Such however is the meIan-
cholly fact. We insert, therefore,
for the information of our readers,
the narrative of Mrs. Rachel Munson,
miss Rachel Hall, young lady of
IS, J who, with her sister, young
lady Of l6, was taken prisoner on
that occasion, in the Black Hawk
war, 1882, and her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Hall, both murdered. 1t is
from Browns History of Illinois,
page 3S2, &c.-Gem q the Prairie.
"On the 2lst of May, 1882" says
tie narrator, Mrs. Munson, cat
about four o'clock in the afternoon,
as Mr.. Pettigrcw's, and our (Mr.
Hall'S) family were assembled at
the house of Mr.. William Davis, in
Indian Greek settlement, in La
Sale county, Illinois, large party
of Indians, about 10 in number, were
seen crossing Mr.. Davis fence,
about eight or ten PAGES from the
house. As they approached Mr..
Pettigrcw attempted to shut the
door, but was shut down in doing so.
The savagcs then rushed in and
massacred every one present, ex-
cept my sister and myself. The
persons mastered were, Mr.. Petit
grew, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Pettigrew,
Mrs. Hall, (my mother,) and Miss
Davis, young lady of about fifteen
and six children, four of them heye
ard two Of tl.em girls. These were
IN the house: Mr.. Davis, Mr.. Hall,
. (my father,) William Norris, and
Henry George, were massacrcd
without-fiftecn in all. The time
occupied in the massacre was less,
probably, than ten minutes. When
the Indians entered, my sister aud
myself were sitting near the door
sewing. got Immediately upon
the bed, and stood there during the
massacre. The confusion was such
the terror inspired by the firing oil
guns in the house, and the shrieks
Of the wounded and dying so grea,
/ that have no rccollc ction in what
manner they were killed. As soon
as the massacre was over, three In
dians seized and dragged me from
the bed without much violence, and
led me into the yard. was then
taken by two of them half way
across the creek-ilty PAGES or
more, perhaps, distant. From
thence, | was led back into the yard,
in front Of the house, where | saw
my sister for the first time since our
separation.
eve were then taken by four In
dians-two having hold of each
and hurried off on foot in northern
direction as fast as we could run
for about two miles, through timber
bordering upon the creek, when we
came to a place where the Indian,
had left their horses, previous to til,
attack. We were then placed, with,
out constraint, upon two Of THEN
poorest horses, each Of which wa,
lead by an Indian, and proceeded
as fast as, our horses could travel, il
a direction, as | supposed toward,
the camp, accompanied by abou
thirty warriors. We continued tray.
cling in this manner until about mid
night, when we halted to rest on
horscs-thc Indians exhibiting al
f the while, symptoms of great unea
siness, arising, apparently, from
: their apprehensions of being pursu
ed. After resting for about tw,
, hours, we started on the same hor
} ses as before, and travelled at
, brisk gait, the residue of the night
J and all the next day till about noon
, when we halted, and the Indian
) having scalded some beans, an,
l roasted some acons, desired us t
eat. We eat some Of the beans an
, tasted of the acorns, not from an
r disposition we had to eat, but t
! avoid giving any offence to our, gap
tors. We remained frr thrsr,ac 70
I one or two hours. The Indians, al
ter having finished their scanty mca
r busted themselves in dressing tll
: scalps they had taken, streachin
e them on small hoops. Among thel
s Frecognized, by the color of the hal
o my own mothers. 1t produced
LII l,I:, 4