The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-07

hsck 10 the old state of affairs. more es-
5ecially after part of the same tribe
came in and traded with US on the same
friendly terms as before, without making
dny allusion to the tragic event In ques'
n was about three months after the
death of Cross John, that l was one
night awakened by series of the most
appalling yells, mingled with the terri,
bic screams of women and children and
the reports of firearms. was alone In
the house. My family, consisting Of my
wife and two little children, had set OH
the week before to visit her parents In
the State of New York-a most consollng
fact to me now, when / believed that
few, if any, would escape the horrible
massacre already going on around me.
My first act, after leaping out OF bed, was
to see that my doors and shutters were
strongly secured; and the next, to collect
my weapons together--my rifle, PISTOLS
ak and knife, and be prepared osen my
life as dearly as possible.
had just accomplished this, and put
on some of my garments in the dark, l
thinking it imprudent to strike a light,
when a reddish gleam, coming In thro'
here and there crack or crevlce, made
me aware that the Indians had already
begun to burn the village, that they
might the better see to catch the lnhaol'
tants, and running from one side OF the
house to the other, and putting my eye
to the different apertures, soon had a
general view of all. that was taking
place.
The Indians, in great numbers, were
scattered all over the village, and while
some were engaged in plundering the
shops and different dwellings, others
were pursuing the flying inhabitants,
shooting, tomahawking them without
mercy, seemingly spariDg none OF either
sex or age. The few men yet left alive
were making what resistance they could
and here and there could see a saw
age drop by a well-aimed shot from some
dwelling not yet carried by storm; but
the numbers of the foe were 30 great
that the few thus picked off did notseem
to lessen them and l quickly became
convinced that there was no hope of a
successful repulse, and / mentally bade
my dear wife and children farewell, nev-
er expecting to behold them again.
"Death it is" muttered / "but | will
die doing my best 70 rid the world of
as many human fends as possible" and
l hurried up to my roof with my rifle,
intending to load and fire as long as life
should remain.
But on thrusting my head out into the
air and taking in the whole horrible
scene at glance, at once became
struck with the remarkable fact that
mine was the only dwelling which had
not been surrounded and assailed. What
could it mean2 Was it chance or de-
sign? Did they believe my house de.
serted, or did they intend that | alone
should escapeP If the latter, it was Ger.
tainly the strangest Indian freak l had
ever heard of, and l knew not what to
make oft.
But one thing, under the circumstan-
Ces, seemed highly proper, and that was
not to assault them till they should at.
tack me. By firing at them l should
certainly draw attention upon myself,
and do the villagers no service; while
keeping quiet and concealed 1t was pos
sible should, as had done, remain un-
molested to the end.
This, strange as it may seem, was the
result. l was not molested, and my
house remained untouched. Around
me my friends were butchered on every
side, and their houses plundered and
burned to the ground and yet, in the
midst of the slaughter and burning ruin,
myself and dwelling were protected, as
if guarded by some invisible power.
When the Indians finally deserted
with their booty and trophies, and
found myself free to escape to the near
est settlement, 1 could hardly credit my
senses, or believe the tale myself told
There were some suspicious people who
accused me of being in league with the
Indians and sharing their spoils, citing as
a proof the previous departure ormy,
family and my own testimony of remain"
ing unmolested in the midst of the
scene of destruction. I never blamed
any one for their suspicions-for / sho'd
have had them of another so circum.
stanceed- for all that, [ was as in
nocent as child, and as ignorant of the
true reason of my escape as they were.
1t was afterward asserted by the saw
ages themselves that the attack upon the
village was made in revenge for the
death of Cross John, and that l was
spared because had acted in friendly
manner toward him and his compan.
ions. Be this as it may, 1t is certain l
was saved in the manner related.
Two others providentially escaped the
general massacre. All the rest persisted
by the hands of the human fends, and
our once thriving, happy village became
an awful scene of death and desolation.