The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-29
An Indian Hassacr,

v.
Cal, was but one Of many scenes Of
blood that marked the intercourse of the
two races for several wears The ferry
was established in the spring Of 1851
and was under the charge OF the man
from whom II derived its name, who
was living there with his wife and three
assistants. The proprietOrS were Gwin
r. Tompkins and Charles McDermit,
the latter of whom afterwards became
a Colonel in the army and fell in battle
with Indians in Nevada in 1866. The
manager and his wife occupied small
shake shanty hot far from the river
bank, v lille the three assistants SLEPT in
a tent near by. Between these was an
open space used for kitchen and din
inc room. Mrs Blackburn was noble
woman of that pioneer class who have
been led by love to follow the footsteps
of their idol into the very heart of the
wilderness. She noticed one day that
the stock of bullets was nearly exhaust
ed, and with the usual promptness OF
such people ut once nodded large
quantity. Some would call it providen-
tial, and So it was -a pr0vidential pre-
caution The ferry had never been mo-
Tested by the Indians and they felt no
unusual alarm, and Vet that very night
had been fixed upon for massacre OF
them all As the evening shadows
blended in a universal gloom the lndi-
ans gathered in the forest about the
abode Of their intended victims and wait
ed until their eyes were closed in peace
full slumber and the place was wrapped
in a mantle of silence.
When the night was so far advanced
that they felt free from the interruption
of belated travellers, the savages crcpt
stealthily to the tent where the three
men lay sleeping, and commenced the
work Of death Besides bows and ar
rows these Indians were armed with
| long knives, guns not having yet fallen
into their possession. Two Of the men
were instantly killed, while the third,
badly wounded, sprang to his feet and
rushed towards the cabin, crying loud
ly for help He had taken but few
steps when he fell under the blows of a
! dozen Indians who had remained out
| side the tent. Aroused from their slum-
Der by the cry and sounds of struggle,
the inmates Of the cabin hastily barri-
caded the door and prepared for de
Tense. Their arms consisted of two
rifles and revolver, and, thanks to the
woman 5 care, plentiful supply of bull
lets. The night was dark and the foe
could not be seen, but their continued
yells and volleys OF arrows were even
the more horrible on that account.
Blackburn maintained an incessant fire
| in all directions, his wife reloading the
weapons rs fast as he discharged them.
All that long and terrible night the de-
Tense was made, until the yells died out
about daybreak and the enemy departed.
Early in the morning A. f. Raynes,
William Young and William Little ap-
peared on the opposite side OF the river,
and shouted to arouse the ferrYman.
Blackburn emerged from the house and
walked down to the boat saying:
I'm glad to see you, boys. They
are all killed but myself and wife -
As he fcrried them over he related the
details OF the attack and how the de
Tense had been made.
Did yOu Kill any of the devils?
asked one
Il don't know; the night was dark,
could not see.
We'll. let us take Il shin around ane
see what we can find. They always car
) ry off their dead and wounded, and yor
aever can tell whether any are killed OIL
not
Here is one they didn't cart of. ,
said one rs he noticed a body about ION
: yards from the house. No" he added
: lit is a white man"
They FASTENED to it, turned up thu
! face to get better view, and Blackburn
, exclaimed: Great God! it is my father.
The old gentleman had not seen hi
son for ten years, and had followed hin
/ TO California. He started from Trinidad
With a pack train, which camped tina
| hight some ten miles from the ferry
Too eager to wait, the anxious fathe
, pushed on alone and fell beneath savag
| knives in Sipht nf his son = rah