Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-08-20

| JAChSON, mlCH., July 10.
David P. Greer, man about forty
five years old, and his son Charles, a
boy of ten, reached this city about two
or three days ago, intending to remain
here week or SO among relatives, and
then proceed to Bennington, VT, where
Mr.. Greer has two sisters and other rel
atives. Both father and son are in a
weak and nervous condition, and the
reader will not wonder when it is stated
that the boy is partly scalped and has a
tomahawk wound in the shoulder, while
his father has a rife-bullet in his shoul-
der, bullet wound in the leg, a stab in
the cheek and a bad wound on the head
where an Indian clubbed him with a ri
1e.
Up to few weeks since Mr.. Greer
was citizen of Idaho. having cabin
on the Cottonwood River, near its mouth,
and just where the hostile Indians have
put in their most savage work. He had
wife and three children, and the boy
Charles is the only member of the fami-
ly now left to him. The pioneer says
he was comfortably situated, having all
the necessaries of life and saving up
something. He had a sort of trading
post connected with his cabin, and was
well patronized by Indians and hunters.
When asked what caused the outbreak,
he replied:
81 haven't felt safe for an hour dur
ing the last FIVE years it was like stand
ing beside boiler which you knew
would sooner or later explode. While
there had been no open rupture until
this came, the redskins picked off a
white man whenever they could safely
do it. They were always boasting of
what they would some day do, and the
longer peace lasted the longer they SEEM
ed spelling for a row. few old heads
among the tribes were against war, and
their counsels have put it off until now"
Then you knew the war was brew
ing?"
1--WE all knew it, sir; but all we
could do was for each man to look out
for himself. | had real estate and live
stock worth $4,000, and l didn't want
to jump the country unless forced to.
And | was fool enough to believe that
the redskins would pass me by if they
killed all the rest, for I've fed 'em, Civ
en- 'em credit, made 'em presents, and
treated every mothers son of the gang
like brother. These wounds here are
proof of an Indians gratitude, d-n
'em !"
When asked to detail the particulars
of the first outbreak, Mr.. Greer said:
"Well, L was ready, and yet wasn't
The reds had been skulking about for a
week and every one entering the store
wanted ammunition and nothing else. l
had overhauled the houses as we'll as l
could, knowing that would have to de-
fend them until help could come, and
one morning didn't open the store at
all but set out to bring in three horses
which were grazing about mile down
the river. gave my wife orders to keep
all the doors fastened and not TO let any
Indians in, no matter how friendly they
appeared. She had Spencer carbine
and revolver. and l took with me a
Henry rife and another revolver. was
in hurry, having my mind made up
that there would be trouble before night.
Having good horse under me l soon
reached the valley, but my horses were
gone, run off the day before by Indians.
/ didn't wait around there long, as
feared an ambush, and | was about half
way home when heard shots and shells
and knew that my post had been attack
ed. The trail was along the river. and
1 couldn't see the cabins till close on
them. While l was riding that half mile
| heard the Spencer carbine growing
away, and knew that my wife had not
been taken by surprise"
"Well, sir" he went on, his voice
trembling, "there were at least forty
yelling devils around the place, and
rode right into the crowd before they
saw me. Ny wife had all the doors and
windows secured and was firing from the
loop-holes. l saw two dead Indians ly-
ing on the ground as l dashed up, while
wounded one was crawling away. My
horse was perfectly wild, but sir, l rode
around the post at least five times, pop
ping at the Indians, calling to my wife,
and being shot at and struck at every
second. 1 don't think my wife recog-
nized my voice, as all of US we're yelling
at once. and when l found that she
wouldn't open the door l made for the
bluff half mile away, followed by over
half the gang, some on foot and some
on horseback. While riding around the
post l got this stab in the check, but l
didn't even feel it for quarter Of an
hour. While galloping for cover the
brutes put bullet into my leg here, but
| didn't know it until l was running
over the rocks to find sheltered place.
- u-.o.,<. corno houldaro a hit