Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-02-23


from the Lexington (Missouri) Express
Mr.. Harris,as will be seen,w native oil
this County, having emigra;ed to Nilsson
ri in the year 1871. He leaves many re-
lalives and acquaintance in this nelghbor-
hood who will no doubt feel sad to hear OF
his unlimeIy end.
WELLINGTON, LAFAYETTE Co., Mo.
Jan. "a, 1856.
MEssRs. EDITORS BY letters and pa
pers from Oregon, recently received, we
have the particulars of Indian hosrlues
IN Rogue river valley. Among the first
victims O: their savage fury is George w,
Harris, who with Rev. Jacob Gillespie,
VIM. Cook and others, emigrated from
this county TO Oregon in the spring OF
1852. Mr.. Harris was native of Jelier-
son County, Virginia, from whence he
came TO Missouri, in l84l. His wife,
Mary Ann, is the daughter of James
Young, recently deceased, one of the ear
! " settlers of this county. Her defence Of
herself aud child against the attack of the
savages, is one of the most remarkable IN
stances of female heroism and courage up
on record--a struggle in which she main
tanned spirit and bearing worthy the
daughter of a 6lock-house settler--and
should be handed down 10 poslerlty as all
example Of bravery in woman, under the
most trying and heart rendlEg circumsIan-
ces.
We attach the following, in Mrs. Har-
ris' own language, as nearly as possible
CAT about or Q o'clock of the NOR
ming of the 9th of October, 1885, as her
husband was engaged in making shingles
near tie house, and she was washing al
the back of the house, he suddenly enter
ed with The axe in his hand much alarmed,
the house being surrounded by Indians,
whose counlenanCes and manner lndCa-
ted that their intentions were not good
He seized his rife, but in endeavOrlng To
close the door was fred upon by them, The
ball taking effect in the breast. Mechanl-
cally he discharged the gun twice at them,
as she believes with no effect, and passing
across the room fell upon the floor. The
daughter, in the excitement OF the moment,
rushed out Of The front door, where she
vas shot through the right arm through
the shoulder and elbow. The husband
reviving encouraged his wife TO bar lhe
doors and load the guns, OF which there
were rifle, a shot gun and two pistols,
and revolver and holster pistol. She re-
piled that she never loaded gun in her
life. He then proposed 10 give them
presents to induce them 10 leave she re-
piled il would not answer, upon which
he instructed her in the manner Of loading
the guns, and expired. She now was
left entirely dependant upon her own eff
forts--her husband dead--her daughter
severely wounded. Not discouraged, she
commenced vigorous discharge upon the
savages, who were endeavorlng 10 fire the
house, having already burned the out
buildings. She thus continued TO defend
herself and daughter, she watching at one
end of The house and the child at the 9TH
er, for eight hours and until about sun
down, when the savages being attracted
by firing on he flats, about nile below
the house, left to discover from whence 1t
proceeded. Size embraced the opportuni-
ty and fled 10 a small insulated thlcket or
chapparel near the house, taking with
Them only the holster pistol. Having
barely secretcd themselves before the In
dams again approached the house, but
finding it abandoned, they commenced
securing the thicket, about eighteen in
NUMBER armed with rifles. Upon their
close approach she discharged the pistol,
which produced general stampede. This
was repeated several times and always
with the same result until finally surround
ing the thicket they remained till daylight.
Her ammunition was now eXhausled.---
She heard the approach of horsemen, at
which the Indians became alarmed, and
concealed themselves in the rear of the
thcket. She discovering the hOrsemen
to be whites rushed out towards them, but
they had advanced so far beyond that they
did not discover her. They were the
advance of The volunteers. Concealng
herself again with the empty pistol in
hand, the main body soon approached,
when the savages precipilousIy fled.
Mrs. Harris having sent her little son
David, ten years of age, 10 neighboring
house the evening previous, has not since
heard from him, but he is supposed to be
murdered Also Frank Reed, the partner
of Mr.. Harris is supposed to have been
killed.
A correspondent of the Oregon States
man says:
Il shall be very much disappointed if
Congress don't grant the heroine, Mrs.
Harris, handsome pension, within TWEEN