The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-03-30


am informed, an exhibition of their skill
with the rifle. which exploit was no less
dangerous In character than shooting
pint cup from each Others heads, of
hand, at a distance of 80 PAGES. A subse-
Iuent match of this kind had tragic
and memorable termination. In shoot
ing the cup from Stevens head Mike had
made furrow in the scalp. Stevens
constituting this into an attempt upon his
life, resolved upon terrible revenge.
Mike, without suspecting Stevens de
sign. placed himself against tree, and,
with the glittering target upon his head,
awaited the shot that should signalize
Stevens triumph. The ball came, but in
stead of hitting the cup, crashed through
Mikes brain, killing him in his tracks.
But Stevens had no time in which to
gloat over his triumph. lie fell an in
slant afterwards shot through the brain
by ball sped from rifle in the hands of
Mikes brother, who, availing himself of
the excitement consequent upon the dou-
Die homicide, jumped into canoe, and
rapidly descended the river. Recovering
from their stupor of horror. number of
the lookcrs-on made pursuit: but the
fugitive seemed to be followed by an
avengcr as merciless as he himself had
been. Before getting out of sight of the
scene of the tragedy, his canoe cap ,izcd,
and before his pursuers could come to
his rescue. the waters of the river closed
over him. and he entered the portals of
eternity upon the very heels OF his COM
pahlons. Thus, with spice of the dra-
matte, persisted three men, who carried
terror with their presence. and vet who,
In their characters as spies, Indian-flght-
ers aud backwoodsmen, seemed more of
a necessity to the age in which they
lived, than curse and scourge to the
people.
a few yeats previous to this event. in
the year 1912, the Mounds massacre took
| place. OF the six families then living
between the junction of the rivers and
| the Grand Chain of the Ohio, two-the
families of Clark and Phillps-residcd at
the Mounds. In the fall of the year
named, ten out-lawed Creek Indians ap-
pcared at the door of Clark's cabin and
demanded dinner. After partaking of
their meal, the savages divided, five of
them going TO the cabin of Mr.. Phillips.
the balance remaining ut Clark.. At a
given signal the work of slaughter COM
menccd, and in less time than consume
in relating it the Indians had
tomahawked Mr.. and Mrs.
Clark; Mrs. Phillips, her son and
daughter, and man named Kenneday
who was stopping at the time, with Mrs.
P's family. a Mr.. Shaver, who had called
at Clark's cabin to replcmsh his wills
Ky jug, received n stunning blow in the
head from a well aimed tomahawk; but. be-
ing ileet-footcd man of great physical
vigor, he dashed past the two sentinels at
the door, and with the yelling devils at
his heels, succeeded in reaching what is
known as Trinity slough, which, although
greatly swollen and partially filled with
lee, he swan in safety, and thus escaped
| the scalping knife of his mcrcilcss pur-
suers. Anew days aftcrward Capt. Phil
lips, who was then stationed Mt Fort
Mns-ac, visited the Mound to bury the
dead. Clark and his wife were found In
their cabins, their heads split.open by
! blows from the savagcs' hatchets; the
body of young William Phillips, horri-
bly, mutilatcd, had driitcd ashore near the
mouth Of Cache river; the body Of his sis
ter was not found. kcnneday was dis
| covered near the scene Of the tragedy
literally hcwn to pieces. The body of
Mrs. Phillips was found near by, ripped
open, ant her unborn babe 6npaled upoa a
stake a picture this, to excite chill
OF borrow; but unless paint it, who will
be left, when our gray haired pioneers
pass away, to contribute it to history.
which cannot be made complete with
out 1t. The man Of history will thank me
for the rccord-cven for lis horrible min
utcness.
Compatriots of Col. Webb in pioneer
ing Alexander county and Southern ILL.,
nois were Capt. John 5. Hacker, Lieut..
Governor Doughcrty, Moses NJ. Raw
lings, and at later date DR.. Daniel Ar
ter, Bryan Shannessy, and others,-all of
whom deserved well OF their fellow-citi-
zens, and will not, when the history of
the country is written, escape honorable
mention. Capt. Hacker located in Tn
ion county, or what is now Union county,
about 90 years ago. lie too raised n |
company and led it through many Of the |
ploodlest battles of our war with Mexico.
winning such distinction, that, upon his
return home, his reception amounted to
a grand ovation. He is now fast an
preaching the sunset of life which.
though crowded full of events, he can re-
view without remorse. 1t has been
truthiully said, alike OF him, ofCol. Webb
ana DIR. AFTER, that they have seen the
pass successfully through the
war oil 1872, the war with Mexico, and the
clNll war the like of which the world fur
lllsies no record. They have seen the
west, from the Mississippi TO the Pacific
settled and started on the hlgh-road to
It's destined greatness, Astounding in
towns and cities; and bound by fraternal
feeling and bands of iron into what wo
may now regard an indssolublc union.
am not ignorant of the fact that some
OF the details into which lisc,g.;o -,