River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-01-10
ans,n0Ion massacre.

two races Tor several years. lfe Terry
was established in the spring Of 1851 and
was under the charge of the man from
whom it derived its name, who was liv-
inc there with his wife and three as
sistants. The propretors were Gwin X.
TompkiEs and Charles McDermit, the
latter of whom afterwards became COL
onel in the army and fell in battle with
Indians in Nevada in 1866. The mama
GER and his wife occupied small shake
shantv not far from the river bank,
while the three assistants slept IN tent
near bv. Between these w9s an open
space used for kitchen and dining
room. Mrs. Blackburn was q noble
woman of that pioneer class who nave
been led by love to follow the foot
stems 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
large quantity. some would
cali providen -ial, and SO il was--a prov
identiaL precautiOn. The ferry had never
been moested by the Indians and they
felt no unusual alarm, and yet thai very
night had been fixed upon for a massa-
ere Of them ALL As the evening shad-
ows blended in universal gloom the
Indians gathered in the forest about the
abode OF their intended victihs and
waited until their eyes we're closed IN
peaceful slumber and tie place was
wrapped in mantle Of silence.
When the night was so far advanced
that they felt tree from the interruption
of belated travellers, the savages crept
stea lily 10 the tent where the three
men lay sleeping and commented the
work OF death. Besides bows and ar
rows these Indisns were armed with
long knives, guns not yet having fallen
into their posse sion. Two of the men
were instantly killed. while the third,
badly wounded, sprang to mis- feet and
rushed toward the cabin, CRYING iouily
for hep. He had taken but few steps
when he fell under the blows of a dozen
Indians who had remained outside the
tent Aroused from their slumber by
the cry and sounds Of struggle, the in
mates Of the cabin hastily balricade the
the doorand prepared for defense, Their
arms consisted OF two rifles and Il revolt
yer, and, thanks to the woman's care, a
plentiful supply of bullets. Tho night
was dark and the foe could not be seen,
but their continued wells and volevs of
arrows were even the more horrible on
that account. Blackburn maintained an
incesSant fire in all 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
the Wells died out about day break and
the enemy departed.
Early in the morning A. Haynes, W IL
liam You gand William Little appeared
on the opposite side Of the river, and
shouted to arouse the ferrymln. Back
I,,yen opA
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 tie de.
Tense had been made Did you Kill
any Of the devils?,' 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
oil 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, rs he noticed a body about 100
yards from 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
VI,
The old gentleman had not seen his
son for ten years, and had followed him
to California He started from Trinidad
with a pack train, which eamped 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.
---a~~--~--&as------~----
A Story of the Late Peter Cooper
Mr.. Cooper was always a careful and
prudent business man, He was strongly
opposed TO the methods of many mer-
chants, who launched ont into extraya-
gait enterprises on borrowed money for
which they paid exorbitant rates of in
terest. Once while talking about a pro.
iect with an acquaintance, the latter said
he would have to borrow the money for
six months, paying interest at the rate
of 3 per centum per month. Why do
YOU borrow for sn short a time3 Mr..
Cooper asked. Because the brokers
will not negotiate bills for longer"
well, il you wish" said Mr.. Cooper,
al will discount your note ut that rate
for three years. ''Are YOU IN earnest"
asked the wouldbe borrower. Ger
tainly am. ] will discount your note
for 500 o for three years at that rate.
Will you do it " 'Of course | will -
said the merchant. very well" said
Mr.. Cooper; Just sign this note for
10000 payable in three years, and give
me your check for $50 aud the transac-
ton is complete" but where is the
money for me?" asked the astonished
merchant. "You don't get any money"
was the reply. Your interest for thir-
ty-six months, at 3 per centum pei
month, amounts to los per centun, or
Sl0,S0O therefore your check for 500
Just makes us ev N" The force of this
practical illustration of the folly of pay
ing such an exorbitant price for the
use of money was such that the mer-
chant determined never 10 borrow at
such r1inous rates, and he frequently
used to say that nothing could have so
fully convinced him as this rather hui
morOus nrop0s,l hv Mr.. Cooper.
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