The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-20

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Mrs. Jones if she had given them any whisky,
and she said mo, we don't keep whisky
for such black devils as they" The Indians
appeared to understand what she was saying,
for they became very savage in their appear
ance. and Mrs. Webster begged Mrs. Jones to
desist.
The Indians, irritated by Jones, had now de-
termined on murder. Presently Jones traded
Mr.. Bakers doubleb arreled gun with one OF
the Indians for his and the Indians proposed
that they should go out and shoot at a mark
for the purpose of having the white men dis
charge their guns. Jones accepted the banter,
saying ''that he wasn't afraid to shoot against
any damned Re skin that ever lived, and they
went out and fired at a mark. Webster had a
gun, but did not 60 out with the party, and one
of the Indians said the lock of his own gun was
defective and persuaded Webster to take the
lock off, and to loan him his own. After they
had discharged their pieces they carefully load
ed them again, which Jones and Baker omitted
to do.
Then one of the Indians started in the direc-
ton of Forest City for the purpose of ascer-
tanning if there were any whites near. On his
return the four cOunseled together, and acted
as if they were going away, when they sud
denly turned and fired the shots taking effect
upon Jones and his wife, Baker and Webster.
Jones started for the woods, bnt a second shot
brought him to the ground. The Others were
MORALLY wounded at the first fire. Mrs. Baker
and Mrs. Jones were in the house. Mr. Web
ster was hit while going toward his covered
wagon to bring some things which his wife
was handing him from it. The Indians went
Immediately TO Jones' house, broke it open,
shot Miss Wilson and departed. Mrs. Baker,
who had a child in her arms, in her fight fell
down cellar, and was not noticed; nor was
Mrs. Webster. who was in the covered wagon
When the Indians LETT, Mrs. Baker came up
from the cellar. and she and Mrs. Webster put
pillows under the heads of the wounded. Jones
was man of powerful and athletic frame. six
feet and an inch in height, straight as an ar
row, with dark complexion, jet black hair and
whiskers, and fiery eye-the beau-ideal of q
cavalry officer, as Whitcomb often told him.
His fine physique offered great resistance to
death. So terrible were his sutferings that he
crammed handfuls of dirt in his mouth in his
agony, and dug great holes with his heels in
the hard ground. He ordered his wife to fly
and save her child, but she insisted on remain
ing until he died. and then went into the
woods.
10 add to the terrOrs of these helpless wO-
men in the lonely place while they were listen
ing to the grOans of their husbands a white
man passed along, and on his assistance being
requested, looked at the bodies and laughed,
and said that they now only had 1.-THE nose
bleed, and that the Indians would soon come
When the wounded were dead, Mrs. Baker
and Mrs. Webster fastened to the house of
Norwegian few miles distant, and, half dead
with fright, narrated what had occurred. There
was no man at home, and a boy was dispatched
to give the alarm at Ripley, twelve miles dis
tant. where a meeting was then being held to
raise volunteers for the war. So incredulous
were the people of any hos ility on the part of
the Indians, that they did not credit what the
boy said for some little time, but finally they
sent a messenger with the news to Forest City,
twelve miles distant, where Captain WhitcOmb
had number of recruits and twelve or fifteen
horsemen rode to Acton, which they reached at
dusk. They placed wagon-box over Jones,
but did not disturb the bodies until next morn
ing, after an inquest was held
While the inquest was progressing, the eleven
Indians before referred to, not knowing what
their companions had done, appeared on horse
back, and some of the whites who were mount
ed gave chase. They crossed a slough, and all
the whites checked their horses at the edge eX-
cept daring fellow from Forest City, who fol-
lowed over and fired. One of the Indians dis
mounted and returned the fire, and then
mounted his horse again and fled with the
others.
There were seventy-five persons at the in
quest. The surrounding country wos thrown
at once into the greatest alarm. The danger
to be apprehended from the dissatisfied condi-
ton of the Indians upon the reservation was
now fully appreciated. A total uncertainty as
to their designs and their numbers prevailed.
Mak-pe yah-we-tah and his four companions
had been to Captain Whitcomb's on Saturday
and Sunday and had demanded the delivery of
the formers wagon without paying the amount
for which it had been pledged, and on Whit
combs refusal to deliver it, had threatened to
cut the wagon to pieces and had flOurished
their axes over his head-and these still re-
maLed in the neighborhood.
Then thirteen had been at house five miles
from Acton on Sunday and cleaned their guns
and ground their knives and fourteen of Lit
tie Crows band were in the adjoining county to
MODongalia Messengers were dispatched at
once to the Governor at Saint Paul for assist
ance.
The four Indians who committed the muir
ders Immediately proceeded to the house of a
Mr.. Eckland, near Lake Elizabeth, and stole
two horses, one of them engaging the owner
in conversation while it was done, and then
mounting, two on each horse, rode at rapid
pace to Shakopee's village, at the mouth OF
Rice Creek, which they reached before day.
light, and stated what had occurred.
The work is on sale at our bookstores,
and, as will be seen from the extract we
have made, it is well worth purchase and
perusal. 1t treats of the most interesting
and thrilling incidents in the frontier his
tory Of the country, from its settlement to
the present time, and it treats of them in
a graphic and authentic manner. 1t is
highly creditable to its author, and We
hope it may bring him fame and profit.