The Trinity journal., 1856-06-21
Mrs. Harris. An Incident of the late In
dian War in the North.

1t was on the 9th of October last, about
Q O'Clock in the morning, that the Indians
made an attack upon the house of Mr.. Geo. /
w. Harris about thirty miles from Jackson
Vile, on the road to Northern Oregon
Mr. Harris and wife, with their little daugh-
ter, p years of age, were the only persons
at the house, their little son David having
gone about half mile distant to a field
When the Indians approached and were in
the yard, to the number of about twenty
they fred two or three shots, one of which
passed through the door and struck Mr.
Harris in the breast, which caused his death
in less than an hour. The little girl ran
down stairs and to the door, where her
fsther was lying shot. Several shots were
fired by the Indians one passing through
the little girls arm, but without breaking
the bone. Mrs Harris closed the doors,
and was advised by her dying husband to
fight until she was killed-not to be taken
prisoner. The little girl, Ann Sophia, then
went up stairs, her wound bleeding profusely
Mrs. Harris had two guns, one rifle, the
other double-barreled shotgun also two
pistols, one Il siX-shooter, the other single
barrel She commenced firing at the In
dlans through the cracks of the house. but
thinks she did not at first hit any of them.
Her husband soon expired, and her daugh-
ter being badly wounded and bleeding, was
unable to afford her any assistance for some
time. The Indians having taken all the
horses out of the barn, set fire to it, as well
as the out-houses, and were making desper-
ate efforts to fire the dwelling house also.
Mrs. IT, still kept up her firing, though it is
impossible to tell the number of shots she
fired, as she has no recollection. only that
she fired from the hour of the attack until
late in the evening. During the day, the
Indians made parley, running some hun
dred yards from the house, which enabled
her to examine her little daughters wound
At that time, or before, there is no doubt
but they murdered her little son, David, only
ten years of age, who as before stated was
some half mile distant at the time of the
attack
In the evening the Indians drew off, not
able to approach the house on account of
her continuous fire-haying burned every.
thing except the dwelling house. Mrs.
Harris and her little daughter left the house
and crawed into a very thick brush of will
lows, Immediately by the road side, and re-
malned there during the night. Next
morning she saw several Indians, but they
did not discover her. When the attack was
made by Major Fitzgerald and his command
on the Indians at Wagoner's, she heard the
report of the guns, and knew, she says, thai
battle was going Cn. In a short time sh,
saw the volunteers approaching, but still
preserving her selfpossession, she remained
in her place Of concealment until no doub
remained that those approaching wer,
whites, and her friends.
Mrs. Harris is the daughter of Jame
Young, formerly of the State of Tennessee
She was married to Mr. Harris in Iafayett,
county, Missouri. Enigrated to Oregon il
the year 1852. She is a relative of thai
well known and celebrated pioneer, Ewing
Young, who died in Chehalem valley Yam
hill county, in this Territory, in lS43.
Well might Gen. Lane say that he woult
ask for pension for this noble-hearted
patriotic lady. She is not heroine of
iancied romance, but the heroine of hare
fought battle, wherein she saved the life O
herself and daughter, by lighting over tn
corpse of her husband
She merits the undivided sympathy of ;
nations gratitude-by bestowing upon he
and her little daughter pension for life
- Table Rock Sentinel.