The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-26


ravine and the rocks in few sec
onds Of time, thus taking them COM
pletely by surprise. and leaving
hardly an instant of time for con-
cert Of action or deliberation. Now,
the rife, in Tie hands Of our expc-
rienced ana determined hunters did
its deadly Office. In the space of a
few minutes, nine Blacklcet were
killed outright and many more NOR
tally wounded, who were borne away
in the arms of their companions.
Our men retaliated upon the Indi-
ans their own barbarities, by scalp
ing every one that had fallen. The
savagcs, who were now driven com
pletely out Of the rocks, fled with
the greatest Precipitation.
In the sudden panic with which
they were seized, they came near
leaving one of their women, who had
come along, it is probable for the
purpose Of holding her husbands or
lovers horse during the engage
nent; and who was on the point Of
berg made prisoner BY our men,
when fine looking Indian mounted
upon superb black horse, dashed
up to the place where she stood,
when, not having time 10 mount be-
hind him, she graspcd the animal by
the tail, and he giving it the whip,
she was dragged, or rather few be-
hind him for some two hundred yards
at full speed without relaxing her
hold. Our men, in admiration Of
this heroic exploit, ceased firing uD-
on the retreating foe, fearful of
wounding the Indian maiden and her
gallant resouer.
had almost forgotten TO mention
THAT among the brave little band
which made this attack was gen
tlemon named Newell, a native Of
Cincinnati, who highly Distinguish
ed himself in the encounter. Dur
ing the affair, was assailed by a
powerful savage, who started out
suddenly from behind a rock, and
fired, his ball piercing my cap, and
innicting slight wound upon my
head.
As returned his fire a rifle was
discharged almost at the same in
slant with my own; and turning
round | discovered my friend New
ell, who had fired bis piece with ia
tai precision. The Indian jumped
into The air, several feet, and fell on
his face pierced by two balls. Both
of our shots had taken effect. New
ell scalped the Blackfoot as dexter
ously and neatly as if he had been
accustomed to it all his life, having
first stabbed him several times with
his hunting knife, to make sure OF
life being extinct. I shall not at
tempt to justify the action, thinking
as do with Coopcr's Deer slayer
that Indian and white man ought to
act according to his gifts; and DO
not think it white mans gift to
scalp, but can only state in extenua-
ton, that circumstances of the kind
when they do occur-which but sell
dom-are in some measure palliatcd
by the Righteousness and unrelent-
ing cruelty of these savagcs.--The
following circumstances were relat-
ed to me by Karson after the fight:
After leaving the main body Of the
hunters, as we related in the begin
ming OF this sketch, he and his com
panions rode about five or six miles
along the side of Madison river, and
after ascending high bluff, on look
ing below, they discovered a large
party of Blacklcet, who were just in
the act Of raising camp. The men
and women of the savaCes were
scattered about, some on horseback
some packing their little movable
property, and all in state of TN.
suSpec,ing security, unconscious o
the presence of foe. karscn. il
whose breast burned q deep and in.
cx;inguishablc hatred of this tribe
called ont FOR each Of the party tc
select man, pointing at the same
time TO the Indian he had chosen a,
his victim, who was tie chief Of iii,
band. Taking deliberate aim, they
fred and killed four Of the savares
The panic among the Blaclfeet was
tremendous. The screaming Of NO,
men and children, the yells Of the
savage, ,he bowling of dogs and con
fusion that ensued, were described
os being frightfnl in the extreme
They very soon, however, discover
ed the paucity of the force that ha'
the temcrity to attack thcm in t|,'
very midst or their women and chill
drcn: and maddcnrA with ragc, an,
burning with an eager desire Of ven
ccaucc, thcy dashed upon Karsor
anal his companions, who only save'
themselves by The hcetness Of thci
horses add their close proximity &
our cncompmcnt.