St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-05-26

HIessas Wsnans Ezpssssaes vsss
Bloedthirsty Isdisas.
During the Seminole Indian war OF
1887 there werc times when the Inc
dams would leave OF hostilities in
order to make their crops and to pre-
pare anew for the warpath. All the
settlers had to live in forts. and in
planting crops ard cultivating them
some Of them would work while others
stood guard. During these cessations
Of hostilities some would return to
their homes only to be driven back 10
the fort aud sometimes killed and
scalped.
Fleming Johns and his wife re-
turned to their home. at what is now
Baldwin. as the Indians had not been
seen for some time. Early in the
morning Johns got up opened Me
door and looked around He saw no
signs Of Indians. and went out to cut
some firewood While cutting the
Indians fired at and wounded him.
He ran into the house and shut the
door. His gun was on . rack He
reached for it. but fell from loss OF
blood. knocking OF tho hammer.
J,hns hal no other weapon and
at the mercy of the Indians who ad-
vanccd to the door and began. with
the axe. to knock it down. Johns Cf-
fered them his home and all he had il
they would spare his life. The lndi-
ans only laughed and cursed lin.
They broke the door down and shot
him. and began to take what they
wanted. ripping open the father bed.
pillows and holsters and packing up
all they wanted
Johns w;f, looked on every min
expecting to be killed and scalped
She told mo they packed all they
wanted before they mOlested her. An
old Indian mOtioned her to leave. but
she was afraiI to move. He took her
By the hand and led her toward the
door. She looked back and an Indian
was raising his gun to shoot She
threw her arm over hcr eyes and he
shot the ball striking her arm and
going through her neck. She fell
forward stunned. with her arm under
her head. B fore they got through
scalping her she came to her senses.
bat feigned being dead. Tho Indians
then set fro to The house and left
quietly.
After they had been gone short
time. and the house was well on fire.
she got up and tried TO pull her dead
husband from the burning house. and
pulled him n far rs the door. when
she tainted In falling. pail of water
was upset upon her. which brought
kcr back to consciousness. She took
towel. folded it and covered her
head and left. taking the road Want.
ing water. and feeling faint she won't
to . pond Of water. where she wet the
towel. and put it on her head. She
saw horsemen coming and recognised
her fa,her-in-law. He also discovered
her The men levelel their guns 10
shoot her. and she was powerlcss to
speak. Her fathcr-in-law cried out 10
the men not to shoot, rs it was Jane.
She told what had happened. Some
Of them carried her TO the station aud
some went to the house. but too late
to get out the remains of her husband.
After she was we'll an Englishman
persuaded her to 60 to Washington to
get pension. and she was exhibited.
Her likeness was taken and hung in
the Capitol Tie E ,glishman ran Of
with all the money. She returned to
Savannah, whcre she had a sister. and
afterward she married a man named
Matthias. who was sta bbed years after
ward by q crazy man and died in Sc.
vannail. Mrs. Matthias then returned
to Florida, where she had one brother
and two sisters living. one Of whom is
my wife.
The Indians frequently came to my
house. and she said she recognised ono
Of them. the chief Tono man. as being
the ono that led her toward tho door.
She never would have any thing to
say to them. and said it made her sick
10 look at them The Indians would
talk and point to her as though they
recognised her. Mrs. Jane Matthias
died in 1874. and is buried in the ccm-
etery Of Fort Oglen.-Jaeksonrillc
Times. Union