The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-09-17

AID forty soldiers, Major Bsasely was in COM
maud.
Rumors of danger daily reached the fort, and
Gen. Claiborne had even visited the post,
warning them against . surprse, and recon.
mending the building of two additional block
houses Some friendly Indians gave them no.
tice of the proximity of Weatherford's warriors,
and two negro men positively declared, the day
before the fatal one, that they had seen twenty
mounted Indians in the woods around the
lake. And yet, strange to relate, the instinct
of danger seemed to die within the breasts of
all within the fort, but most particularly
within that of the commander, who actually
ordered the two negroes to be logged for giving
false alarm to the garrison On the 3Oth of
August, beautiful summer day. the young
people were allowed, as usual, to wander out
along the shores of Tensaw Bay, the officers
were enjoying themselves at cards, couples of
light daDoers were Willing away the time
within the fort, aud the great clumsy eastern
gate was left open and unguardedl
Major ,asely little thought as he partici-
pated in the biiarity of his subordinate officers,
that Thousand fierce warriors were creeping
steslthily up through the oaks and pines of the
grand old woods around them, ready to take
advantage of his strange and criminal pegli-
genoe. At the signal Of noon, the hour of din
ner, o wild yell buret over the heads of the
doomed garrison, and a cloud of painted sava-
ges poured through the open gate.
Beasely, realizing in an instant the terrible
responsibility incurred by his want of pru.
dence, rushed to the fatal spot, calling gal
lantly upon his men to aid him in his desperate
enterprise. 1t was in vain ; he fell at the post
he had failed to guard, and many of the bold
eat spirits in the Fort persisted ct his side. II
is needless to detail all the horrors of the
scene, so suddenly changed from joy to fear
from sunshine into gloom.
or FIVE hundred and fifty inhabitants, who
awoke within the Fort, on that Both August
1918, only seventeen survived to tell the horrd
tale. The Indians fought from twelve until
five in the afternoon, burning all the houses
scalping all the dead, and mutilating all the
women in a manner too horrible to be detailed
OF the two negroes who had given the alarm
one was actually tied up to be logged wher
the Indians rushed in, and the poor fellow wa.
killed by their muIderous tomshawks while
unable to raise hand in his defence.
The venerable Samuel Minis was struck
died with the agony of knowing that the de-
| fence his wealth had generously provided fol-
his fellow citizens had been of no a. all, because
of the stupidity of the commanding officer.
| Amid all the horrors of the day, some poor
| Spansrds knelt around the we'll, and crossing
themselves with simple, pious faith, prayed
aloud for their companions and themselves
Even while imploring Heavens aid, the In
| dams silenced them with their tomahawks ant
scalping- knives.
Westherford, whose eagle planes were rec
indeed that day with blood of the whites
vainly sought to stay the murder of the womer
| and the children, but the fierce spirits he hat
gathered for the work refused to listen to hi
appeal, and thus affixed to his already dreaded
name that of "the murderer of Fort Minis"
| OF those who survived, one, a soldier named
Mathews had showed himself coward, skulk
| ing behind the block-house at q time whel
| even the children gave their aid to the brav,
men fighting for their lives. 1t is true he wa
wounded, but it was by woman's hand, TO
Mrs. Bsily, provoked at the cowardics of tn
man, puDctured him severely with bayone
as he lay trembling against the wall.
| The blood-stained warriors revealed in thei
successes, and boosted that Tecumseh's mission
had already been accomplished. They though
the American settlers would never recover fror
this fearful blow, and that Alabama's sol
would soon be rid of their hated presence
They had yet to learn what Claiborne, Floy
and Jackson could do when the spirit of re
venge for their murdered countrymen inspire
the brave hearts under their command.
"Fort MimsW was the wsr-ory throughou
that brilliant series of engagements which
culminsting in the battle of Tohopeka, or tn
Horseshoe Band (March, 1919 enciroled tn
name of Jackson with almost Homerio glory
and crushed forever the oonfederscy of tn
Creeks, while it terminated the public oaree
of the brave but terrible Weatherfor
| RELIGIOUS POPULATION OF EUROPEAN TUR