The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-11
An lnala,l n~Iassacro.

The massacre at Blackburn's Ferry,
CAL, was but n of many scenes of
blood that marked the intercourse ofthe
two races for several years. The ferry
was established in the spring Of 1851 and
was under the charge of the man from
whom it derived its name, who was liv-
ing there with his wife and three as
sistants. The proprietors were Gwin r.
Tompkins and Charles McDermit, the
latter of whom afterwards became a col
onel in the army and fell in battle with
Indians in Nevada in 1866. The mana
ger and his wife occupied a small shake
shanty not far from the river bank,
while the three assistants slept in a tent
near by. Between these was an open
space used for q kitchen and dining
room. Mrs. Blackburn was a noble
wornan 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 wa nearly ex-
hausted. and with the usual promptness
of such people ut once nodded a
large quantity. Some would
callit providential, 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 vlcti.hs and
waited until their eyes were closed in
peaceful 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 crept
stea lily to the ten where the three
men lay sleeping, and commenced the
work of death. Besides bows and ar
rows these 1ndisns were armed with
long knives, guns not yet having fallen
into their possession. Two of the men
We're instantly killed. while the third,
badly wounded, sprang to his feet and
rushed toward the cabin, crying loudly
for hep. He had taken but a few steps
when he fell under the blows of a dozen
tent. Aroused from their slumber by
the cry and sounds of struggle, the in
mates Of the cabin hastily barricade,l the
the doorand prepared for defense. Their
arms consisted Of two rifles and a revol-
yer, and, thanks to the woman's care, a
plentiful supply of bullets. The night
was dark and the foe could not be seen,
but their continued wells and volleys OF
arrows were wen the more horrible on
that account. Blackburn maintained an
incessant fire In all directions, his wife
reloadiiIg the weapons as fast as he dis,
| charged them. All that long and ter.
rible night the defense was made, unit
the yells died out about daybreak ant
the enemy departed.
Early in the morning A. Raynes, WI.
liam You gand William Little appeared
on the opposite side Of the river, ans
shouted to Gus the ferryman. Back
burn emerged from the house and
walked down to the boat, saying:
I'm glad 10 see you, boys. They are
all 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. "Did you kill
any of the devils?,' asked one.
y don't know; the night was dark, 1
could not see"
well, let ns take a shin around and
see what we can find. They always carry
off their dead and wounded, and YOU
never can tell whether any are killed or
not
"Here is one they didn't cart Off"
said one, as he noticed a body about 100
yardsfrom the house. No" he added,
lit is a white man."
They fastened to it, turned up the
face to get a better view, aud Blackburn
exclaimed, "Great God. it is my father
The old gentleman had not seer his
son for ten years, and had followed him
to California. He started from Trinidad
with a pack train, which camped that
night some ten miles from the ferry.
Too eager to wait, the anxious father
pushed on alone and fell beneath savage
knives in front of his sons cabin.