New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-14
Murder of rlr. schoolcraft.

lInrder of tlr. Schoolcraft.
We are still without any ntelisence as.o the par
ticulars OF this tragic event We find in the Commercial
Advertiser however letter irom Dr. c. A Lee OF this
city (who has recently returned from visit to the West
ern Lake courtry which throws light upon the motives
that probably induced the murderer 90 the bloody deed
We copy nearly the whole c: the letter as follows:
During recent visit Lake superior and the mineral
region adjacent made inquiries 81 The Sault respecting
Tanner Narrative Of whose Captivity and Advent
u-es" drawn up By DR.. James, published by the
Csrvls in th, city IN 1889 Vas Informed that he was
living entirely alone about mile ana a halt from the
Sault ST. Marie village, and considered by many de-
ranged as &c Kent secluded had been the village
for mouths and rarSiy L ever ,cen oy any one
should remark, perhaps. hst Tanner Il rot half
breed but born OF white parents his father was clergy
man. living the Kentucky river where young Tanner,
then two years taken prisoner By the Indians
among whom he lived for more than forty years chiefly
among the Chppew.s the head waters OF the Mis-
sissppi Lake Wrnlpes, Rainy Lake and hed River
When about years OF Tanner discovered some clue
"a his paenisse and visited his friends in Kentucky but
he was dissatisfied with civilized life, and soon returned
! 10 his forme. residence among Indians.
He had been married twice and bad several chharen
AND his excuse leaving Kentucky was TO bring his
dau eh,rrs back with him On his return In ascending
Sturgeon river he severely wounded by ball fred
Al him by an Indian which broke his snd lodged In
some part Of his body he however succeeded In gain
ing the trading Rainy Lake, wheru be SAYS be- had
lain tueuty eight days when ne assisted by Major
Dr!.fi-ld OF this city. who then acting as Comns
.oner tor the United States boundary and who furnish
ed him with clothing aud large supply OF pro
vsians Two his daughters then grown up were Wiin
him and be had three other children al Maeknsw. whom
wished visit and where he purposed to spend Tee
| Winter.
His tro daughters however. we're entlced 20 leave
him Major Long Chen returning from his Western ex
peditian after arriving at The station offered "a
take Tanner his and carry bin TO Lake
SUPERIOR he embarked but being zoo weak 10 trav. he
back the fort 10 the Spring he eo to Fond
du Lsc on Lake Superior, thence to Ssut ST Marie -
From here he vent 10 Mscknaw to visit bis children
where he acted interpreter Colonel Boyd until Sc
when he says that dissatisfied with his Colonel b -
treatment left Mackinaw and proceeded 10 New YORK.
for the urpose of making for the puoica
ZION my narrative; and my return 10 the North
was employed By Mr.. Schoocraft Indian Agent At the
Sault Marie his interpreter to which place tooS
my family and have siDce resided there"-p. $50. He
concludes follows Three of nv children are still
among the Indians the North. The two daughters
would | am informed. gladly join me, it Ii were 10
their power escape The son Is older and 10 attached
10 toe life be has long led AS huDter have SOME
hops thar YET may be ae'o so and make another effort
10 bring away my dsughters give this history as IL
serves 10 throw light on subsequent events. Tanner
tnis city In 1890. Il l. h.l!-3 IL company WIKI
Dr. James then of the United States Army, and made ar
angsrehs for publishing his narrative for which ne
tnd me he received S50tn money and had 200 copies
Of the book. Hs portrait painted BY the late Henry
inman Esq and engraved by l. lliuan and may be seen
on the fronts page of bis narrative In the New York So
cety Library. II must have been striking likeness at
| the time when IL was taken
Feeling strong d. sire Tanner, and converse with
him on the state OF medicine among the Indians partcu
larry In reference several vegetable which they employ
with considerable but the names OF which had
been able learn. determined notwithstanding
accordingly the sth OF June last, set out about sunset
his residence, which is on the ST. MARY
River mile and half from the Sault village.
HIS house. which is neat one story dwelling OF squared
logs and painted white stood the centre Of enclosure
containing two three of meadow or grass land
and surrounded by high rail fence without any gate bars
Cliu1hi ing 10
ly toward the house, and when had reached within
few rods OF Of stout frame and middle size, ap-
and the most savage v!ndicve, suspicious and
may add tcmoniac expression ever made his ap-
pearance at the corner OF the house.
His hair was long and shaggy but he had neat blue
coat coarse CLOTH vest calico shirt and black panta
looms. dirk his side completed his ouiht. Though
his appearance was not very prepossessn had gone TOO
lar rccece approaching him. therefore, told him NY
and otjec, IN calling and added that esteemed Il
honor take by the hand who had given so
much information relating to the habits and manners OF
the Indians OF country. He looked at me for Few
with mingled expression Of surprise distrust
anger finally remarked that be would ask me INTO
his house II came as friend. Assuring bin that did.
be the house and came in on the other sice
the font docr as he had requested soon
heard the bolt turn and he asked 10 walk In did
So while DE carefully Barred and boted the door behind
US now began feel that my curiosity had probably
got M into difficulty and this impression was not relieved
when l malignant smile creep over MS wFnA!ea
face and that the room in which We were contained
guns and rites Ratchet and several other weapons
As had nothing but hickory cane with me- watched
his motions with some anxiety determined 10 knock nl
down and make my escape, II ne Showed me s'ehleol os
position 10 attack took seat sn one OF the Stools
and he another about six feet distant and began Tie
conversation by asking him contained
In his book. said h.. speaking In broken English,
that book bias into all this diculry wou!o
give Ten thousand dollars, had II, If had never had
any thing 10 do with H." Why So" asked. BE
Cause" he said, they gay IL Is all pack OF lies. Why.
heRrd man passing along the road this morning. say
to another, pointing down this way. There lives thai
old internal lisr John Tanner" :" asked him If the
book Was not ali rue Eo,' said he, 1t IS not bot
that IS Dr. James, iult, mine. What told hin
al true, but he put down great many other things ;ha
told him, and these all Lies, bat have 10 axe
the credit OF them Is Il possible p said l. "ouIc
Dr. James 60 such thing IS that 2" He Ia. tche 1t,
ssit Tanner. and wish could get sizht OF LIN OF &c
mere" What then. said l. To tbs he Face no reply,
but savage and malignant expression told very plainly
what ne meant After talking some ne ABOUT me oooA
! asked Il he knew Hr. Senoo!cf4ti
AT this moment hole soul seemed ire; be rose
from nis seat he rav-d. and expected The tine had
corr. VIXEN should Try my strength. The sub
stance Of sait that Mr. Schoolcrsf hs1 been
the cause ri. wife and dsug leaving h, and that
all his irou ald miserJ bad been occasoDed oy hir
Why .ad he, nobody Will hive with me- here have
lived alone for yesrs-every body hss left e-ney have
away my chtdrcc my furniture, every Thing had,
and left ne you without any thing even
have make my clothes (porrin 10 those ne hsd
90 and co ny cooking; every BODY IS ny enemy,
and is all owing Henry Schoo.crefL" He gave no
opinion,
ssc-.ta.ned il whou, the signt-s; foundation
Icnsnged te subject as coon as possible. and after
few moments ind extending UJ hand, told him
must CO. ihs, friend wss waiting for me. &c. PROT
HAdley OF Geneva lad accompanied far the
clo.utel found her cacu!ry In getting OF
house than sd in getting IN, bur after while he
proceeded unlock his and lefs very well salts
ned 70 get away without abiding :he matters
ABOUT wsich I called 20 inquire. | Was. however, SO
strongly impressed with the belief thar Tanner would at
,sck Mr.. Schoo!crair Il he him that called
Immediately on ny return 10 This city esour Two weeks
since TO see ar Schoo.crsfs and put him dis guard
IN case be should WAX SAUL 81. Marie learned he
was expecting 20 do soon.
Mr. s., however, had already lett Washington ior tie
Saat by the way OF tie Onio and 81 probability we
passed each other in he night Mackiaaw l. however,
;olt MIS- j. Schooc-a, 81 The SAUL OF Tanners state
oimiDd and feelings of revenge toward her
but found he already well apDrtsec Of II Il Was
common report the SAINT that Tanner had said he IL
tended 20 kill Mr.. Henry Schoolcraff, II he ever got
chance Under these circumstances should not be sur
pret find The truth Of the Geographic dispatch con-
Hea and 70 learn friend and distinguished fell
cw-c!zen had indeed fallen victim 70 Tndeye passion