Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-03-04

! Bigson and his two sons, from the en-
campment. They were excited with
whiskey. and endeavored to decoy John
Diver to their camp, on some frivolous
pretence. Failing in this stratagem,
they became more and more boisterous,
but were quieted by the mildness of
Daniel Diver. They changed their tone,
reciprocated his courteousness, and vain
ly urged him TO drink whiskey with
them. They now again resumed their
impudent manner, and charged Daniel
with stealing their guns, declared they
would not leave until be returned them.
With much loss of time and alteration,
he at last got them out of the house.
Shortly after. John Diver opened the
door, and was on the point of stepping
out, when he espied Mohawk standing
in front Of him. with uplifted tomahawk,
in the attitude of striking. Diver shrunk
back unobserved by the company, and
not wishing to alarm them, said moth
ing at the time about the circumstance
About 10 o'clock, the moon shining
with unusual brightness, the night being
cold and clear, the snow being about
two feet deep. Daniel observed the In
dians. standing in a ravine several rods
from the house. He ran up and accost-
ed them in friendly manner. They
treacherously returned his salutation,
said they had found their guns, and be- |
fore returning to camp. wished to apol-
ogize for their conduct and part good
friends. Passing along the line he took
each by the hand, until he came 10
Mohawk, who was the only one that had
a gun in his hands. He refused to shake
hands, and at the moment Diver turned
for the house, he received ball through
his temples destroying both of his eyes.
He Immediately fell. On the report of
the gun, John Diver ran to the spot, by
which time Daniel had regained his feet
and was staggering about. Mohawk
was standing few PAGES of, looking on
in silence, but his companions had fed.
John eagerly enquired OF his brother
what, was the mater? 81 am shot BY
Mohawk" /" was the reply. John instant
ly darted at Mohawk, intending to make
him atone in frightful manner for the
injury done his brother. The savage
fled towards the camp. and as Diver
gained rapidly upon him, Mohawk threw
himself from the road into the woods,
uttering a horrid yell. Diver now per.
ceiving the other Indians returning to-
ward him, fled in return to his brother
and took him into the house. The wound
though dangerous, was not mortal, and
be was living as late as 1847.
The Indians hurried to their encamp-
ment, and from thence fed in a north
west direction. The alarm spread
throughout the settlement, and in few
hours there were twenty five men on the
spot ready for the pursuit. Before day
light, this party. among which was Alva
Day, Maj. H. Rogers. Jas. Laughlin.
Alexander K. Hubbard and Ira Mans
field, were in hol pursuit upon their trail.
The weather being intensely cold. aud
he settlements far apart, they suffered
Twenty of them had their
feet frozen, and many of them were
compelled to stop; but their number was
1ept good by additions from the settle
nents through which they passed.
On the succeeding night the party
,ame up with the fugitives, encamped
IN the west side of the Cuyahoga, in the
present town of Boston. The whites
them; but Nicksaw and No
nswk escaped. They were overtaken
md commanded to surrender, or be
hot. Continuing their fight, Williams
If Hudson, fred, and Nicksaw fell dead;
put Mohawk escaped. The whites re-
urned 10 Deer6eld with Bigson and his
wo sons. A squaw belonging to them
vas allowed TO escape, and it is said,
lerished in the snow.
On arriving at the center of Decr6eld,
where the tragedy had been acted, Big :
on appeared to be overpowered with !
,rief, and giving vent to food of tears,
ook an affectionate leave of his sons,
here to lose his life according
o custom of the Indians. They were l
aben before Lewis Day, Esq. who after e
committed them to prison u
4 Warren
Bigson and his two sons were subse- ,
uently tried and acquitted.