The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-05-10
FIGHT ON THE SANTA FE ROAD.
THREE INDIANS KILLED.

|
ance took place on the Santa Fe road. near
the residence of A. I. Baker. on Saturday
last. We are furnished with the following
particulars of the affair by Mr.. Bergen
Vanness, who is engaged on the Kaw build
ings in course of erection in that neighhor-
hood g
About sixty Kaw Indians were encamped
near the residence of a Mr. Hume, on Rock
creek, four miles above Bakers place.
During Mr.. HIS absence, some forty of the
Indians broke into his house and stole half
a barrel of whisky, on which they became
! intoxicated. In this condition they came
down to the road. and went to small gro
Gerry owned by Mr.. French. Here they
demanded more whisky, but Mr.. F. refused
it, and with the assistance of son aged
about sixteen, and four of his neighbors.
succeeded in driving them out of the gro
Gerry, and barring the door. At this the
Indians became enraged, and with an ak aud
clubs broke the door open and demolished
the front window-rushed into the grocery.
about thirty strong, rolled. out barrel of
whisky and commenced drinking, filing
their jugs and canteens. Mr.. French sent
his son, who spoke the Kaw language, to
drive them away. thinking they would not
harm the boy. They Immediately fired on
him with their bows and arrows, but he
lodged into the house, unburt. The whites
in the house, seeing the Indians were deter
mined upon fight, began to get into the
most secure places in the room, which was
open enough to admit arrows and bullets.
The Indians opened fire on the building
| with their bows and a few shots from guns.
They lodged at least one hundred arrows in
the room. At this the whites thought that
the matter had become so serious as to com
pei them to fight in self defense. They had
about dozen guns in the house, and Mr..
F. seized one and commenced loading, but
was so excited that one of his neighbors had
to take the gun and finish the job. telling F.
to fire while he loaded. He knocked out a
piece of the chinking. and fred, wounding
a squaw At the second shot he killed one
of the Indians, and the third wounded an
other. Mr.. French's neighbors did not
seem willing to assist him. One of the
balls from an Indians rifle struck his son
in the side of the hip, and came out behind,
inficting a very bad wound. At this time
the Indians intoxication had reached it's
highest point, and the devils made a rush
for the house, to murder the whole crowd
inside. The whites saw their perlous sit
ualion, and made their escape through the
back window into field in the rear of the
building, and ran for deep ravine, to hide.
They were followed by few of the red |
skins, who seemed determined to have their
lives; but larger number of them were
content to rob aud plumber the little store.
In the pursuit, another Indian lost his life,
it is believed, by the gun of Mr.. French.
The whites finally made their escape to
their neighbors without further injury.
While the fight was going on, Santa
Fe train came by, and the Indians attempt
ed to stampede their cattle. but did not sue
coed. The Mexicans jumped into their
wagons and prepared to fight, but escaped
without injury, and only shot one Indian.
Two farmers came along, and saved their
skins from the Indians arrows by lying fiat
in their wagons and running their horses.
The Indians took everything from the
store, including Mr.. F.'s groceries, some
sixty buffalo robes, and $50 in money.
The.affair created great excitement in the
whole country around, and measures were
instituted to recover the property and
bring the Indians to justice. While we are
in favor of teaching the Indians that they |
cannot commit such depredations on the
whites, under any circumstances, we also
think it would be a good idea to teach the
white men that they cannot keep whisky
where Indians can get at it, by force or any
other means. We do not know that Mr.. |
French ever sold whisky to the Indians;
but we venture the assertion that if he had
not been engaged in the disreputable busi--
ness of selling whisky, the Indians would
never have disturbed him. The better
class of people cannot have much sympathy |
for him, from the very fact that he dealt in
the identical ''aecursed fire. that lead the
Indians to do this deed. The attack by the |
redskins was one of the legitimate results
of whisky selling. The matter has prob
ably been laid before Commissioner Farms
worth, before this. We hope he will do all
in his power to punish the Indians. We
should not be sorry to hear of their being
compelled. By some means. TO leave the
section Of country where they are now 10