The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-28
An Indian Massacre.

The massacre at Blackburn's Ferrv.
Cal, was but one of many scenes of
blood that marked the intercourse of the
| two races for several years. The ferry
was established in the spring of 1851
| and was under the charge of the man
from whom 1t derived its name, who
was living there with his wife and three
assistants. The proprietors were Gwin
/ X. Tompkins and Charles oheUermit,
/ 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 not far from the river
bank, whilesthe three assistants slept in
tent near by. Between these was an
open space used for kitchen and din.
ing room. Mrs Blackburn was noble
| woman OF that pioneer class who have
been Ted 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 at once nodded large
quantity. Some would call it providen-
tial, and so it was-a providential pre-
caution The ferry had never been mo-
Tested by the Indians and-they felt no
unusual alarm, and yet that very,i night
had been fixed upon for q massacre OF
them all. As the evening shadows
blended in :7universal gloom The Indi-,
ans gathered in the forest about The
abode of their intended victims andwait-'
ed until their eyes We're 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 creptl
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, willie the third,
badly wounded, sprung to his feet ana
rushed towards the cabin, crying loud
ly for help. He had taken but few
steps when he fell under the blows of q
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-7I
caded the door and prepared for de-
Tense. Their arms consisted of two
rifles and revolver, and, thanks tor the
woman's care. aplentiful 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 inceAsant fire
in all directions, his wife reloading the |
weapons as fast as he discharged them. |
All that long and terrible night the de-
Tense was made, until the wells died out |
about daybreak and the enemy departed i
Early in the morning A. f. Raynes, /
William Young and William Little APP |
peared on the opposite side of the river,
and shouted to arouse the ferEyman |
Blackburn emerged from the house and |
walked down to the boat, saying:
II IN glad to see YOU. boys. They /
are all killed but myself and wife. I
As he ferried them over he related the
details of the attack and how the de-
tense had been made.
did you kill@any- OF the devilsa''
asked one.
Il don't know; the night was dark.
could not see.
''WeIl, let us take Il shin around and
sec what we can find. 1heyalways car
ry. off their dead and wounded, and you
never can tell whether any are killed OF
not -
Here is one they didn't cart. off. >
said one, as he noticed body about 100
yards from the house. No, he added,
lit is white man
They fastened to it, turned up the
face to gets better view, and Blackburn
Exclaimed: .tGreat Godlitis my father. y
The old gentleman had not seen his
yon for ten years, and had followed him.
10 California He started from TrinidadI
with pack train, which camped that
night some ten miles from the ferry.
Too eager to wait, the anxious father
pushed onialonezand fell beneath savage
knives in sighto hisson's cabin.