The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-02-05
WOODSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1916

tween th> '..iami rivers. In the fol-
10" .,g spring, several stations were es.
tablished in the surrounding country,
Dunlap's, at Colerain, on the great Mi
ami; Whites and LudIow's on Mill
creek; aud Garard's and one at the
Roundbottom, on the little Miami. AT
each of these posts a few soldiers were
generally stationed, to assist in their de-
fence.
About the last of March, three men,
ascending the Ohio in a canoe, were
killed by the Indians, near the mouth OF
the Scioto. A few days afterwards, a
boat was descending the river from the
mouth of the Kenhawa, on board OF
which were Mr.. John May, a surveyor
of Kentucky and a young man in his
employ, named Johnston, Jacob Skyles,
who was taking a stock of goods to
Lexington, a man named Finn, and
two sisters named Fleming. One NOR
ming at daylight, near the mouth orthe
Sciota, a smoke was seer at some dis.
lance down the river upon the Ohio
shore, and the boat was directed TO-
wards the opposite side of the river.
Just at that time, two white men ran
down the bank, and begged to be taken
on board, declaring that they had been
taken prisoners a few days before, and
had just escaped and that they would
be overtaken, and killed by their cap
tors,if they We're not admitted on board.
Those in the boat suspecting t~reachery
refused TO land, and kept down the
stream; but the cries of the men on the
shore caused them at length to put faith
in their declaration, and Finn proposed
that the boat should be turned to the
bank, and that he would jump out; and
if any Indians should appear, he should
be left to his fate and the boat could be
got out of danger before it could be
stopped by the enemy. The proposal
was assented to, and the boat was turn
ed TO the bank, and Finn jumped a.
shore when he was instantly seized by
several Indians who ran out of the
woods, and a fire was commenced upon
the boat. Those on board Immediately
attempted to regain the current but
they got entangled among some trees
and we re unable to extricate them
selves. Other Indians continued to
arrive and the crew threw themselves
upon their faces IN the bottom of the
boat, but the enemy make a fire, by
which the horses in the boat were soon
killed, and at length one of the girls was
shot dead, and Mr.. Skyles was wound
ed; Mr.. May then made a signal Of sur
render, but was instantly shot dead; on
on showing his head above the side of
the boat. At last the Indians swan to
the boat and took possession Of her
without any resistance, and plundered
her. The two men who had deceived
the boat ashore had really been taken
prisoners a few days before and had
been ordered by the Indians to do what
they did; but one of them had perform
ed his part with much alacrity, in the
hope of finding favor among his cap
tors, while the other acted with reluc-
lance and only joined in the deceit to
save his life. During the course Of the
day, the prisoners were ordered TO pre-
pare new oars for the boat which the
Indians determined to use in attacking
other boats. On the next morning six
men were seen ascending the river, in
a canoe, on the Kentucky side. The
prisoners were compelled to go down
to the waters edge and decoy them
over, as they themselves had been de-
coyed by a tale of distress. Johnston
%endeavored to make them suspect the
treachery but without success; and
they came across the river and were
all killed. Soon afterwards three boats
appeared in sight, descending the river,
with a good many horsesand dry goods
on board, but weakly manned. The
Indians embarked in Mays boat, and
placing the prisoners at the oars, COM
PEELED them to bear down upon the 9TH
ers as theyspassed, and iopened a heavy
FIRE upon them. They o approach