The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-22
MisFeAaneuns.
[For the Democrat
THE
INDIAN FIGHT
ON SANDY.


were subject to frequent invasions by
predatory bands. Horses were stolen,
murders committed, property destroyed
and children carried into captivity. AS
measure of protection to these people,
the general government authorized the
formation of scouting parties, known as
Scouts or "spies," whose duty it was to
reconnoiter the country beyond the Ohio,
and as far west as the Tuscarawas river,
At that time this vast territory was unln-
habited except by Indians. These scout
ing parties were made up of men Injured
to hardships, and accustomed to the pri-
vations and exposure incident to border
life. Many of them had encountered In
dams before, and knew something Of
their habits and mode of warfare. They
received from Government monthly pay
and what ammunition they required, fur
nishing their own arms. 1t was their
duty, on the discovery of any sign of In
dians, to return Immediately and give
the alarm, that the frontier settlers might
adopt measures for their own protection,
either by collecting the families in fort
or fort!fying their own homes,
The company engaged in the fight, the
particulars of which we are about to re-
late, was composed Of six men James
Downing, jr., John Cuppy, Isaac Miller
George Foulk and Thomas Dillon. Dill
lon and Foulk had been captured by the
Indians when young,and lived with them
many years, and were familiar with
their habits and customs, Downing was
captain of the company.
On the occasion of this encounter, the
party left their place of rendezvous for a
scout in April 1893. They crossed the
Ohio river at the mouth of Yellow creek,
followed up the north branch of that
stream to near its source, then directed
their course west toward the head waters
ofSsndy. After reconnoitering this Sec
tion of country for miles around without
discovering any sign of Indians, they
concluded there were none about. Up to
this time they had not discharged gun,
for fear of being detected. The rations
they had brought with them were nearly
exhausted, and they concluded to kill
some game for subsistence. Downing
shot deer and another of the party
turkey. This was on the morning of the
fourth day out, between Little Sandy and
Indian Run. AS they had not yet taken
breakfast, they concluded to prepare the
meal. Miller was kindling fire; Foulk
was preparing the turkey for roasting;
Downing was in the act of bending down
a sappling upon which he intended to
hang his deer, that he would be the bet
ter able to skin him. Cuppy was sitting
at the root Of tree with his gun on his
lap examining the lock,
A party ofIndians numbering eighteen
or twenty, as was afterward ascertained,
of the Shawanese and Wyandot tribes,
heard the firing and thereby detected the
locality of the scouts. They divided
their force into two parties with the view
ofapproaching them from different points
and from the direction the scouts would
be most likely to take IN attempting to
escape. One party of the Indians circled
round and advanced from the northeast,
the other from the southeast.
While Cuppy was engaged with his
gun he happened to look up, when he
saw at distance an Indian peering thro' |
the underbrush. Instantly he sprang to
his feet and gave the alarm. .As soon as
the Indian saw he was discovered he
turned and ran, and as he did so Cuppy
fred at him, but without effect. Miller
and Foulk snatched up their guns and
gave chase. The ground was sparsely
timbered. Miller was in the advance,
when Foulk called to him to halt, as he
knew Just as soon as the Indian reached
a more heavily timbered piece of ground
he would stop behind tree and shoot
Miller as he approached. Thereupon
Miller turned about and he and Foulk
started for the place they left: Mean
while the other party of Indians coming
from the other direction made their ap-
pearance in greater numbers; Downing
said to Cuppy and Dillon: "Let us stand
together and defend ourselves to the
last" Dillon replied-"Each one for
himself'-and suiting his action to the
sentiment, broke and ran. Downing and
Cuppy kept together and moved along
the higher ground or upper bench to-
ward the forks of Sandy. As the Indi-
ans pressed upon them they would turn,
raise their guns as though they intended
to shoot. Then the Indians would jump
about, some throw up their hands, and
others run upon their hands and knees,
undoubtedlywith view ofdiverting their
aim.
By degrees they became bolder and ad-
vanced closer, when Downing shot the
nearest. which had the effect to keep the
others at a greater distance. Soon after,
Downing and Cuppy caught up with Dill
lon, who seemed much exhausted, and
was staggering, as though about to fall
Dillon begged for Gods sake that they
would help him; and as Downing turned
and saw his face, he discovered he was
choking with his neCk-tie. Dillon in his
haste in trying to loosen it to improve
his wind pulled the wrong end and made
it tighter instead. Downing cut the neck
erchief with his belt knife, thereby re-
lieving him, when Dillon Immediately
took fresh start, and was soon out Of
sight.
Downing and Cuppy were both past
middle age and somewhat feshy. They
were nearly exhausted, and knew they
could not hold out much longer. Down
ing said to Cuppy, 81 can't go any further
--I'll stand and fight under this thorn
bush, if die" and stand he did. AT. the
same time Cuppy got behind a tree, and
both awaited the approach of the sava-
ges, determined to make the best resist
ance they were able. They had not long
to wait, for soon the Indians were seen
approaching, Downing reserved his fire
until the first Indian came within close
range, then taking deliberate aim, fred
and brought him down. The others re-
turned voley, which cut the bushes
around Downing and Cuppy, but failed
to strike either. Miller and Foulk hear.
ing the firing hastened in the direction
r. l.. L r /