The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-01-10
An lndlan massacre.

An ln0lan MASSACRE
The massacre at Blaekburn's Ferry,
CAL, was but one of many scenes of
blood that marked the intercourse ofthe
two races for several years. The ferry
was established in the spring IF 1851 and
was under the charge of the man from
whom it derived its name, who was Nv
ing there with his wife and three sss
sistants. The proprietors were Gwin r.
Tompkirs and Charles McDermit, the
latter of whom afterwards became COL
onel in the army and fell in battle with
Indians in Nevada in 1856. The mana
ger and his wife occupied a small shake
shanty not far from the river ba1a,
while the three assistants slept in tept
near by. Between these was an open
space used for a kitchen and dining.
room. Mrs. Blackburn was a noble
woman of that pioneer class who have
been led by love to follow the foot.
steps of their idol into the very heart Of
the wilderness. She noticed one day
that the stock of bullets was nearly ex-
hausted, and with the usual promptness
of such people at once nodded a
large quantity. Some would
call i. providen ial, and so it was-a prov
idential precaution. The ferry had never
been molested by the Indians and they.
felt no unusual alarm, and yet that very
night had been fixed upon for a massa-
ere of them all. AS the evening shad-
ows blended in a universal gloom the
Indians gathered in the forest about the
abode OF their intended victi.ls and
waited until their eyes were closed IN
peaceful slumber and the places was
wrapped in mantle of silence.
When the night was SO far advanced
that they felt free from the interruption
of belated Travellers, the savages crspt
| stea lily to the tent where the three
men lay sleeping, and commenced the
work OF death. Besides bows and ar
rows these lndisns were armed with
| long knives, guns not yet having fallen
into their possession. Two of the men
| badly wounded, sprang to his feet and
| rushed toward the cabin, crying lotSily
| for hep. He had taken but few Steps
| when he fell under the blows of d dozen
| Indians who had remained outside tie
| tent. Aroused from their slumber by
| the cry and sounds of struggle. the ill.,
| mates Of the cabin hastily barricade tho
the door and prepared for defense. Their
arms consisted of two rifles and a revolt
yer, and, thanks to the woman's care. q
| plentiful supply of bullets. The night
was dark and the foe could not be seen,
but their continued yel!s and voleys
| arrows were even the more horrib
that account. Blackburn maintai:!esr an
incesSant fire in Ill directions, his wife
| reloading the Weapons as fast as he dis
charged them. All that long and ter,
rible night the defense was made, until
l I- II uh0Iyf
the enemy departed. 4
Early in the morning A. Raynes, wy
liam You gand William Little appeared
on the opposite side of the river, and
shouted to arouse the ferryman. Back
turn emerged from the house and
walked down to the boat, saying:
I'm glad 10 see you, boys. They are
ill killed but myself and wife,
As he ferried them over he related
the details of the attach and how the de-
tense had been made. aid you kill
any of the devils3,' asked one.
II don't know; the night was dark,
could not see."
"Well, let us take shin around and
see what we can find. They always carry
off their dead and wounded, and yoH
never can tell whether any are killed a.
not" ~
"Here is one they didn't cart off,
said one, as he noticed body about 10y.
yards from the house. NO. be added,
lit is white man."
They fastened to it, turned up the
face to get better view, aud Blackburn
exclaimed, "Great God! it is my father"
The old gentleman had not seen his
son for ten years, and had followed him
to California. He started from Trinidad
with pack train, which camped thai
night some ten miles from the ferry.
Too eager to wait the anxious fathei
pushed on alone and fell beneath savast
knives in front Of his sons cabin.
A Story of the Late Peter Cooper
| Mr.. Cooper was always careful al
prudent business man. He was strong|
opposed to the methods of many mes
chants, who launched ont into extrav.
CANT enterprises on borrowed money fo
which they paid eXorbitant rates of in
terest. Once while talking about pr
| ject with all acquaintance, the latter aa'
he would have to borrow tn Snoney
six months, paying interest at the ii
of 8 per centum per month. "Why u
YOU borrow for 81 short a time?" N,
Cooper asked. because the brclj
will not negotiate bills for ioHs.i
''Well, if you wish," said Mr.. Cooper
81 will discount your note at that rate
for three years." "Are you IN earnest"
asked the would-be borrower. Gee.
taiuly am. / will discount your note
for $1,000 for three years at that rat
Will YOU do it" "Of course l viii
said the merchant. Very well,' sale
Mr.. Cooper; lust sign this note TO
10000 payable i'll three years, and civ
me your check for SIS 70, aud the transat
ton is COMPLETE" But where is the
money for ne?" asked the astonished
merchant. "You don't get any money"
wss the reply. Your interest for ,hir.
ty-six months, at 3 per centum PIT
month, amounts to los per centum, "
SlO,S0D; therefore your check for SSCsA
| just makes us ev.n." The force Of this
practical illustration Of the folly Of pay
ing such an exorbitant price for I
use OF money was such that the me
chant determined never TO borrow &
such ruinous rates, and he frequently
used to say that nothing could have s.
fully convinced him as this rat.
morous prnnosal bv Mr.. Cooper, =
The Luck Of Friday.
From tie New Yohk Mail and Express.
r. is fart mt n no 6isput.1 fhot j.,