The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-07
Select Stnr9
THE NIGHT MA GAgREs

ed a large tfao \ lI fiehjsan and
began 4 Asllsra lhe ySldertess
There Nefa a lbn Il NJ
men and l0ysh. q
the laits 4hd 'sssoungI
est sls qek possession or
our new Iii the autumn OF the
wear. eR with our teams, pro-
visions ~ 4 4 iew in tpepsble house
keepin1 articles Fof The first few days
we were compelled toencamp, but by the
end Of the week we had block.house
constructed large enough to hold all OF
us, andat the end of month we had
cleared large space and put up six sub
stantisl cabins.
. Fortwo years we progressed to the ex-
tent Of our most sanguine hopes, and the
result of our labors and management was
a hourishing little village, with five ad'
ditional families, three births, a saw
mill. grlst mill, several stores, and a
building that served the double purpose
of "a school house on week days and a
chapel on Sundays.
We first went to this new region with
fear and trembling, for we knew our
selves on the extreme border of civiliza.
ton, with a long range Of Indian coun-
try beyond, but when the natives of that
vicinity came to US with friendly words
and opened profitable trade, we tho't
ourselves quite fortunate in having such
neighbors,
One afternoon, toward the latter part
of August, as I was standing in shop
Conversing with the proprietor-there
being no other person present exceptthe
owners son, youth of thirteen-some
six or eight Indians, whose faces werec-
ognized, came stalking in, single file;
and the foremost, haltiDg in front of Mr..
Bracket, the shopkeeper, said abruptly;
"Me want big drink whisk P o r
swell, did you bring anything to pay
for it2" inquired Bracket observing
that neither of the savages carried any.
thing in his hand.
"Me pay much some time-by. and-by
two, four moon-ugh good W
"No, Cross John, can't afford to you
any more" replied the storekeeper
"You have been promising to pay up the
old score till don't believe word you
say" .t.
me gentlemen-me pay me no lieP
returned the savage, with an angry
frown, and fash of his eye, as he
Strengthened himself up to his full
height and struck his breast almost
fierCely.
Cross John-so named from an ugly
scar across his face-was drunken,
worthless fellow, who had some inhu-
ence in his tribe, and was not to be alto
gether despised for that reason. He
might never pay what he owed, it is
true; but still did not think itgood pol
icy to treat him discourteously, So l
said to Bracket:
"Let Cross John and his companions
have drink all around and charge it to
me-"
Cross John turned toward me, nodded
his head, held out his hand, and said:
""Good, you gentlemenW
"He shall not have drop more out of
this shop till he pays for all he has had!"
cried Bracket, who was very fiery, de-
termined man when aroused. He has
lied to me three times at least, and | am
resolved to show no more favors till he
redeems his character, or make some at
tempt to do 3d."
On hearing these words, the Indian
30 locn oil on,nfrcl hi tam
per, and be wholly governed over
wicked impulse. Quick as lightning he
whipped out his knife from his belt and
made blow at the barkeeper, who was
on the other side of the counter. Brack.
ct saw his intention, sprang back, laid |
his hand upon pistol, and before cod |
interfere, fred and lodged the contents
in the breast of the savage, who fell back |
with yell of rage. Then catching up
loaded rife that was near at hand the |
shop keeper pointed it at the remaining
Indians, who, with yells and disnay,
turned and fed.
All this passed so quickly that 1 could |
hardly believe that tragedy had taken
place till saw the Indian, deserted by
his companions, bleeding and dying
alone at my very feet. stopped down |
and raised him up, but he only fetched |
one long, gurgling grasp, and expired in
my arms, his eyes fairly glazing in death
while fixed upon Bracket with an ex.
preston of the most malignant hate.
Of course the firing and the yells of the
retreating Indians created a wild alarm
throughout the village, and in few min
utes the shop was crowded with excited
men, women and children, all eager to
learn the cause and the result of the
affray. A few words made the whole af.
fray known, and while many were dis.
posed to think that Bracket was justlf-
ed in what he had done, the majority
believed with me that he had been too
insulting and too rash, considering our
exposed locality and apparently defence.
less condition. But the deed was done;
there was no altering that; and though
no jury in the world might bring in any
other verdict than justifable homicide,
yet it did not follow that the Indians
would view it in that light.
Men few to arms, all kinds of labor
and business ceased, and all the women
and children, with plenty of provisions
and small articles of value, were hurried
into the block. k.house. Then by lot the
men were divided into two parties, one
OF which was to garrison the block
house anu re other to act as sentries,
scouts and paci6cators in case the flying
Indians could be oyertaken and treated
with any reasonable terms.
need not go into detail here. Suffice
it to say that it fell to my lot to go in pur-
suit Of the Indians that had fed after the
death Of Cross John, and, being we'll
mounted, overlook them few miles
from the village. AS / was alone it re-
quired some screwing up of my courage
to ride right into the midst of them, and
thus place myself in their power, even
though was so we'll armed as to make